(1) FISCAL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2003.—In lieu
of making the 25-percent payments to States for
each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003, the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall pay to each State that
is otherwise eligible to receive those payments the
special payment amount determined for that State.
(2) FISCAL YEARS AFTER FISCAL YEAR 2003.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—For each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2003, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall pay to each State that is other-
wise eligible for the 25-percent payments to
States, as elected by the State, either—
(i) the special payment amount deter-
mined for that State, in lieu of the 25-per-
cent payments to States otherwise applica-
ble for that State; or
(ii) the 25-percent payments to States
applicable for that State.
(B) ELECTION.—The election under sub-
paragraph (A) shall be made by the Governor
of a State, for all fiscal years after fiscal year
2003, by not later than 5 years after the date
of the enactment of this Act. If the Governor of
a State fails to make the election by that date,
the State is deemed to have elected the pay-
ment described in subparagraph (A)(i).
(3) EXPENDITURE BY STATES.—Amounts paid
to a State under this subsection shall be expended
by the State in the same manner in which 25-per-
cent payments to States are required to be ex-
pended.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
(1) 25-PERCENT PAYMENTS TO STATES.—The
term ‘‘25-percent payments to States’’ means the 25
percent payments authorized by the Act of May 23,
1908 (35 Stat. 260, chapter 192; 16 U.S.C. 500)
for the benefit of counties in which national forests
are situated, as in effect immediately before the date
of the enactment of this section.
(2) SPECIAL
PAYMENT
AMOUNT.—The term
‘‘special payment amount’’ means, for a State, the
amount determined by multiplying—
(A) 76 percent; by
(B) the annual average of the 25-percent
payments to States made to the State during
the 5-year period consisting of fiscal years 1986
through 1990, adjusted for each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2004 to reflect changes in the
consumer price index for urban areas (as pub-
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) that
occur after publication of that index for fiscal
year 2003.
SEC. 3. SHARING OF BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TIM-
BER SALE RECEIPTS.
(a) PAYMENTS.—
(1) FISCAL YEARS 1999 THROUGH 2003.—In lieu
of making the 50-percent payments to counties for
each of fiscal years 1998 through 2003, the Sec-
retary of the Treasury shall pay to each county that
is otherwise eligible to receive those payments the
special payment amount determined for that county.
(2) FISCAL YEARS AFTER FISCAL YEAR 2003.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—For each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2003, the Secretary of the
Treasury shall pay to each county that is other-
wise eligible to receive the 50-percent payments
to counties, as elected by the county, either—
(i) the special payment amount, in
lieu of the 50-percent payments to counties
otherwise applicable and allocable to that
county; or
(ii) the share of the 50-percent pay-
ments to counties otherwise applicable and
allocable to the county.
(B) ELECTION.—The election under sub-
paragraph (A) shall be made by the chief execu-
tive officer of a county, for all fiscal years after
fiscal year 2003, by not later than 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act. If the
chief executive officer of a county fails to make
the election by that date, the county is deemed
to have elected the payment described in sub-
paragraph (A)(i).
(b) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
(1) 50-PERCENT
PAYMENTS
TO
COUNTIES.—
The term ‘‘50-percent payments to counties’’ means
the sum of the 50-percent share otherwise paid to a
county pursuant to title II of the Act of August 28,
1937 (50 Stat. 875, chapter 876; 43 U.S.C. 1181f),
and the payments made to counties pursuant to the
Act of May 24, 1939 (53 Stat. 753, chapter 144; 43
U.S.C. 1181f–1 et seq.), as in effect immediately be-
fore the date of the enactment of this section.
(2) SPECIAL
PAYMENT
AMOUNT.—The term
‘‘special payment amount’’ means the amount deter-
mined by multiplying—
(A) 76 percent; by
(B) the annual average of the 50-percent
payments to counties made to a county during
the 5-year period consisting of fiscal years 1986
through 1990, adjusted for each fiscal year
after fiscal year 2004 to reflect changes in the
consumer price index for urban areas (as pub-
lished by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) that
occur after publication of that index for fiscal
year 2003.
SEC. 4. CONFORMING AMENDMENT.
Title XIII of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
of 1993 (Public Law 103–66) is amended by striking
chapter 4 (107 Stat. 681–682).
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