Range management at military training areas.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify how much money will be collected from grazing fees.

Range Management at Military Training Areas

This law creates a program for managing land and grazing activities at military training areas, funded by fees collected from those using the land.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a fund to collect money from grazing fees at military training areas owned by the Wyoming National Guard.
• Allows the adjutant general to manage this fund and use it for range management and grazing operations.
• Requires annual reports about income and expenses related to these activities.
• Sets up rules for managing the program, including continuous funding of $200,000 per biennium.
• Appropriates $50,000 from the general fund for initial setup costs.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Wyoming National Guard and other military departments in charge of training areas.
• People or companies that graze animals on these lands.
• State agencies involved in managing state-owned land (not affected by this program).

Terms To Know

Biennium

A two-year period used for budget planning and financial reporting.

Adjutant General

The top military officer in a state's National Guard who oversees the management of training areas.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how much money will be collected from grazing fees.
• Only applies to lands owned by the military department and excludes state-owned lands.
• Details about initial setup costs are limited, as only $50,000 is appropriated.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0177
Bill No.:

HB0017

Effective:

Immediately

LSO No.:

21LSO-0177

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0068

Chapter No.:

121

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Transportation, Highways & Military Affairs Interim Committee

Catch Title:

Range management at military training areas.

Subject:

Military department administration of range management and grazing operations at Camp Guernsey.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act creates the Military Department range management and grazing program. There was already range management and grazing at Camp Guernsey, but its administration was paid for by federal funds. The created program also applies to any other Wyoming National Guard training areas.
The range management and grazing program encompasses
Day to day range management and grazing operations;
The personnel and materials required for range improvements, including maintenance and repair of fencing, vegetation management, water development, wildfire rehabilitation and restoration and management of invasive species;
Determination of animal unit grazing needs and usage and development of forage use plans;
Maintenance of lessee and neighbor relationships; and
Responding to cultural and environmental assessments related to grazing management.
The act creates the military department range management operations account into which the Military Department shall deposit monies from the range management and grazing program and from which the Military Department is authorized to operate the program. Amounts in excess of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) in the account at the end of each biennium shall be deposited into the general fund.
The act also requires the Military Department to promulgate rules to administer the program and appropriates fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for the program.

Comments:

This act creates the Military Department range management and grazing program.
This act requires a report annually by October 15 to the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee regarding all income to and expenditures from the military department range management operations account.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

21LSO-0177

ORIGINAL House

ENGROSSED
Bill No
.
HB0017

ENROLLED ACT NO. 68,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to the military department; creating a fund for the deposit of monies from grazing fees at military training areas; authorizing the adjutant general to administer the fund and expend monies for range management and grazing operations; requiring annual reports; providing for a continuous appropriation; providing for an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 19
‑
7
‑
209 is created to read:

19
‑
7
‑
209.

Military department range management operations; account; administration; rulemaking.

(a)

There is created the military department range management and grazing program. The military department shall administer range management and grazing operations at Camp Guernsey and any other Wyoming national guard training areas that are owned in fee by the military department and that are not state lands as defined in W.S. 36
‑
1
‑
101(a)(iv). The military department range management and grazing program shall:

(i)

Oversee the day to day range management and grazing operations within the training area;

(ii)

Arrange for personnel and materials for range improvements, including maintenance and repair of fencing, vegetation management, water development, wildfire rehabilitation and restoration and management of invasive species;

(iii)

Determine animal unit grazing usage and needs and develop and monitor forage use plans;

(iv)

Maintain lessee and neighbor relationships;

(v)

Respond to required cultural and environmental assessments related to grazing management.

(b)

The military department range management and grazing account is created. Monies received from the range management and grazing operations authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall be credited to the account, except as otherwise provided in this subsection. Funds in the military department range management and grazing account in an amount not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) per biennium are continuously appropriated to the military department and shall only be used for purposes of this section. The state treasurer shall invest monies received under this paragraph in accordance with law and the investment earnings received therefrom shall be deposited into the military department range management operations account. From the monies received from the operations authorized in subsection (a) of this section, any amount in excess of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000.00) in the account at the end of each fiscal biennium shall be deposited into the general fund.

(c)

The military department shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

(d)

The adjutant general shall report annually by October 15 to the joint transportation, highways and military affairs interim committee regarding all income to and expenditures from the military department range management operations account.

Section 2
.

There is appropriated fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) from the general fund to the military department range management program created in section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning with the effective date of this act and ending June 30, 2022. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2022.

Section 3
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1