[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4912 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 478
107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4912

                      [Report No. 107-763, Part I]

    To increase the penalties to be imposed for a violation of fire 
regulations applicable to the public lands, National Park System lands, 
or National Forest System lands when the violation results in damage to 
public or private property, to specify the purpose for which collected 
               fines may be used, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 11, 2002

Mr. Tancredo (for himself, Mr. McInnis, Mr. Schaffer, and Ms. DeGette) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
   Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

                            October 21, 2002

       Additional sponsors: Mr. Udall of Colorado and Mr. Hefley

                            October 21, 2002

       Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                            October 21, 2002

 Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a period ending 
                    not later than October 21, 2002

                            October 21, 2002

The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of 
  the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
 [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 
                               11, 2002]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To increase the penalties to be imposed for a violation of fire 
regulations applicable to the public lands, National Park System lands, 
or National Forest System lands when the violation results in damage to 
public or private property, to specify the purpose for which collected 
               fines may be used, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF PUBLIC LAND FIRE REGULATIONS 
              RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE.

    (a) Increased Penalties on Interior Lands.--Notwithstanding section 
303(a) of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 
1733(a)) or section 3 of the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 3), a 
violation of the rules regulating the use of fire by visitors and other 
users of lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management or 
National Park System lands shall be punished by a fine of not less than 
$1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, if the 
violation results in damage to public or private property.
    (b) Increased Penalties on National Forest System Lands.--
Notwithstanding the eleventh undesignated paragraph under the heading 
``surveying the public lands'' of the Act of June 4, 1897 (16 U.S.C. 
551), a violation of the rules regulating the use of fire by visitors 
and other users of National Forest System lands shall be punished by a 
fine of not less than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one 
year, or both, if the violation results in damage to public or private 
property.
    (c) Use of Collected Fines.--Any moneys received by the United 
States as a result of a fine imposed for a violation of fire rules 
applicable to lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, 
National Park System lands, or National Forest System lands shall be 
available to the Secretary of the Interior or the Secretary of 
Agriculture, as the case may be, without further appropriation and 
until expended, for the following purposes:
            (1) To cover the cost to the United States of any 
        improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work rendered 
        necessary by the action that resulted in the fine.
            (2) To reimburse the affected agency for the cost of the 
        response to the action that resulted in the fine, including 
        investigations, damage assessments, and legal actions.
            (3) To increase public awareness of rules, regulations, and 
        other requirements regarding the use of fire on public lands.
                                                 Union Calendar No. 478

107th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 4912

                      [Report No. 107-763, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To increase the penalties to be imposed for a violation of fire 
regulations applicable to the public lands, National Park System lands, 
or National Forest System lands when the violation results in damage to 
public or private property, to specify the purpose for which collected 
               fines may be used, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 21, 2002

       Reported from the Committee on Resources with an amendment

                            October 21, 2002

 Referral to the Committee on Agriculture extended for a period ending 
                    not later than October 21, 2002

                            October 21, 2002

The Committee on Agriculture discharged; committed to the Committee of 
  the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed