Public Lands Fire Regulations Enforcement Act of 2003

Bill: 108-hr-1038
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2003-02-27 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Emergency Management
Fines (Penalties)
Fire prevention
Fires
Forest fires
Forest management
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Law
Legal fees
Maintenance and repair
National forests
National parks
Negligence

Summary:
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Public Lands Fire Regulations Enforcement Act of 2003 - Revises penalties for violations of the rules regulating the use of fire by visitors of public lands if such violation results in damage to public or private property. Changes the maximum $1,000 fine to a minimum $1,000 fine with respect to public lands under the Bureau of Land Management. Changes penalties with respect to National Park and National Forest Systems from a maximum $500 fine and six months imprisonment to a minimum $1,000 fine and a maximum 12 months imprisonment.
Declares that the above fine amounts apply in lieu of the fines otherwise applicable under specified law pertaining to criminal procedure.
Makes money collected from fines imposed for violation of fire rules under this Act available for the purposes of: (1) covering costs to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation rendered necessary by the action that resulted in the fine; (2) reimbursing the affected agency for the cost of the response to such action, including investigations, damage assessments, and legal actions; and (3) increasing public awareness of rules, regulations, and other requirements regarding the use of fire on public lands.
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: 
Public Lands Fire Regulations Enforcement Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to increase above $1,000 the maximum fine for violations of public lands regulations to the fine as provided under current Federal criminal law with respect to lands under the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
 
Amends the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law concerning the National Forest System, to increase the maximum $500 fines to $10,000 for use and management violations with respect to national park and national forest lands.
 
Amends such Acts to set a minimum fine of $500 for fire usage violations on BLM public lands, National Park System lands, or National Forest System lands if the violation was the result of reckless conduct, occurred in an area subject to a complete ban on open fires, and resulted in damage to public or private property.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 156.
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-218, Part III.
action_date: 2003-09-15
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-218, Part III.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Resources, H. Rept. 108-218, Part II.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Resources, H. Rept. 108-218, Part II.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2003-09-10
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-09-05
text: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Discharged.
action_date: 2003-09-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Referred sequentially to the House Committee on the Judiciary for a period ending not later than Sept. 15, 2003 for consideration of such provisions of the bill as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(K), rule X.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: House Committee on Agriculture Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 15, 2003.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-218, Part I.
action_date: 2003-07-17
text: Reported by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-218, Part I.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-07-09
text: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health Discharged.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-03-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-03-17
text: Executive Comment Requested from Interior, USDA.
action_date: 2003-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
action_date: 2003-03-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: 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.
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: 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.
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: 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.
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-02-27
text: Introduced in House