Cabin Fee Act of 2014

To modify the Forest Service Recreation Residence Program as the program applies to units of the National Forest System derived from the public domain by implementing a simple, equitable, and predictable procedure for determining cabin user fees, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Cabin Fee Act of 2014 2. Cabin user fees (a) In general The Secretary of Agriculture (referred to in this Act as the Secretary (b) Interim fee During the period beginning on January 1, 2014, and ending on the last day of the calendar year during which the current appraisal cycle is completed under subsection (c), the Secretary shall assess an interim annual fee for recreational residences on National Forest System land that is an amount equal to the lesser of— (1) the fee determined under the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq. (2) $5,600. (c) Completion of current appraisal cycle Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete the current appraisal cycle, including receipt of timely second appraisals, for recreational residences on National Forest System land in accordance with the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq. current appraisal cycle (d) Lot value Only appraisals conducted and approved by the Secretary in accordance with the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq. (1) was approved by the Secretary, the value established by the second appraisal shall be the base value assigned to the lot; or (2) was not approved by the Secretary, the value established by the initial appraisal shall be the base value assigned to the lot. (e) Adjustment On the date of completion of the current appraisal cycle, and before assessing a fee under subsection (f), the Secretary shall make a 1-time adjustment to the value of each appraised lot on which a recreational residence is located to reflect any change in value occurring after the date of the most recent appraisal for the lot, in accordance with the 4th quarter of 2012 National Association of Homebuilders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index. (f) Annual fee (1) Base After the date on which appraised lot values have been adjusted in accordance with subsection (e), the annual fee assessed prospectively by the Secretary for recreational residences on National Forest System land shall be in accordance with the following tiered fee structure: Fee Tier Approximate Fee Tier 1 6 percent $650 Tier 2 16 percent $1,150 Tier 3 26 percent $1,650 Tier 4 22 percent $2,150 Tier 5 10 percent $2,650 Tier 6 5 percent $3,150 Tier 7 5 percent $3,650 Tier 8 3 percent $4,150 Tier 9 3 percent $4,650 Tier 10 3 percent $5,150 Tier 11 1 percent $5,650. (2) Inflation adjustment The Secretary shall increase or decrease the annual fees set forth in the table under paragraph (1) to reflect changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, applied on a 5-year rolling average. (3) Access and occupancy adjustment (A) In general The Secretary shall by regulation establish criteria pursuant to which the annual fee determined in accordance with this section may be suspended or reduced temporarily if access to, or the occupancy of, the recreational residence is significantly restricted. (B) Appeal The Secretary shall by regulation grant the cabin owner the right of an administrative appeal of the determination made in accordance with subparagraph (A) whether to suspend or reduce temporarily the annual fee. (g) Periodic review (1) In general Beginning on the date that is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that— (A) analyzes the annual fees set forth in the table under subsection (f) to ensure that the fees reflect fair value for the use of the land for recreational residence purposes, taking into account all use limitations and restrictions (including any limitations and restrictions imposed by the Secretary); and (B) includes any recommendations of the Secretary with respect to modifying the fee system. (2) Limitation The use of appraisals shall not be required for any modifications to the fee system based on the recommendations under paragraph (1)(B). 3. Cabin transfer fees (a) In general The Secretary shall establish a fee in the amount of $1,200 for the issuance of a new recreational residence permit due to a change of ownership of the recreational residence. (b) Adjustments The Secretary shall annually increase or decrease the transfer fee established under subsection (a) to reflect changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce, applied on a 5-year rolling average. 4. Effect (a) In general Nothing in this Act limits or restricts any right, title, or interest of the United States in or to any land or resource in the National Forest System. (b) Alaska The Secretary shall not establish or impose a fee or condition under this Act for permits in the State of Alaska that is inconsistent with section 1303(d) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act ( 16 U.S.C. 3193(d) 5. Retention of fees (a) In general Beginning 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary may retain, and expend, for the purposes described in subsection (b), any fees collected under this Act without further appropriation. (b) Use Amounts made available under subsection (a) shall be used to administer the recreational residence program and other recreation programs carried out on National Forest System land. 6. Repeal of Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 Effective on the date of the assessment of annual permit fees in accordance with section 2(f) (as certified to Congress by the Secretary), the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000 ( 16 U.S.C. 6201 et seq. December 22, 2014 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: Cabin Fee Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Establishes a new process for the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to set annual fees for the issuance of special use permits for the use and occupancy of National Forest System land for recreational residences commonly referred to as cabins. Replaces the current process under which annual user fees are adjusted annually based on changes in land values, which are subject to reappraisals and appeals, with a new tiered system in which fees based on the current appraisal cycle are capped at a specified amount and adjusted annually for inflation only. Requires the Secretary to: (1) complete the current appraisal cycle, including receipt of timely second appraisals, for such residences within one year after enactment of this Act; and (2) assess an interim annual fee for them according to a specified formula. Specifies the annual fee for each of 11 fee tiers that are adjusted annually for inflation. Requires the Secretary to report after 10 years on these annual fees in order to ensure that they reflect fair value for the use of System land, and on any recommendations to modify the fee system. (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary to establish a transfer fee of $1,200 for the issuance of a new recreational residence permit due to a change in ownership of the recreational residence. (Sec. 5) Permits the Secretary, beginning 10 years after enactment of this Act, to: (1) retain and expend any fees collected under this Act, without further appropriation; and (2) use them to administer the recreational residence program and other recreation programs carried out on System land. (Sec. 6) Repeals the Cabin User Fee Fairness Act of 2000, effective on the date the annual permit fees are first assessed under this Act.