Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act

Bill: 108-hr-3247
Sponsor: Rep. Tancredo, Thomas G. [R-CO-6]
Introduced: 2003-10-02 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Crime and Law Enforcement
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Environmental law enforcement
Fines (Penalties)
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Law
Legal fees
Liability for environmental damages
Maintenance and repair
National forests
National parks
Negligence
Wildlife refuges

Summary:
action_date: 2003-10-02
text: Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act of 2003 - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and other Federal law to classify as a Class B misdemeanor a violation of any regulation concerning the management, use, and protection of National Park System lands, National Forest lands, and other public lands. Classifies as a Class A misdemeanor (subject to a higher fine and/or imprisonment) the knowing and willful violation of any such regulation. Authorizes the adjudication of persons who commit such a violation to pay all costs of the proceedings. 
Requires fines collected as the result of this Act to be made available to: (1) cover the costs of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of the public lands rendered necessary by such violation; and (2) increase public awareness of regulations and other requirements concerning public land use.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: 
Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act or TRAIL Act - (Section 2) Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and other Federal law to provide that: (1) any person who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Park System (NPS) lands, National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lands, and National Forest (NF) lands shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law; and (2) any person who otherwise violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of such lands shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law. Permits requiring persons adjudged guilty of a: (1) Class B misdemeanor on BLM or NPS lands to pay all costs of the proceedings; and (2) either a Class A or Class B misdemeanor on NWR or NF lands to pay all costs of the proceedings.
 
(Sec. 3) Requires fines collected as the result of this Act to be made available to: (1) cover the costs of improvement, protection, or rehabilitation of the public lands rendered necessary by such violation; (2) increase public awareness of regulations and other requirements concerning public land use; and (3) cover administrative, legal, and related expenses rendered necessary by the action which led to the fine. Transfers those funds which are excess to the amounts necessary to carry out such purposes to the Treasury. 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law to set a minimum fine of $500 for fire usage violations on BLM lands, National Park System lands, and 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.
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: 
Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act or TRAIL Act - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and other Federal law to provide that: (1) any person who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Park System (NPS) lands, National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lands, and National Forest (NF) lands shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law; and (2) any person who otherwise violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of such lands shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law. Permits requiring persons adjudged guilty of a: (1) Class B misdemeanor on BLM or NPS lands to pay all costs of the proceedings; and (2) either a Class A or Class B misdemeanor on NWR or NF lands to pay all costs of the proceedings.
 
 
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law to set a minimum fine of $500 for fire usage violations on BLM lands, National Park System lands, and 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.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: 
Trail Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act or TRAIL Act - Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, and other Federal law to provide that: (1) any person who knowingly violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, National Park System (NPS) lands, National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lands, and National Forest (NF) lands shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law; and (2) any person who otherwise violates or fails to comply with any of the provisions of such an Act or any regulation issued under such an Act concerning the management, use, and protection of such lands shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor, subject to fine and/or imprisonment as provided under Federal criminal law. Permits requiring persons adjudged guilty of a: (1) Class B misdemeanor on BLM or NPS lands to pay all costs of the proceedings; and (2) either a Class A or Class B misdemeanor on NWR or NF lands to pay all costs of the proceedings.
 
 
Amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the National Park Service Organic Act, and other Federal law to set a minimum fine of $500 for fire usage violations on BLM lands, National Park System lands, and 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: 2004-09-29
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7672-7673)
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7672-7673)
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3247.
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7672-7674)
action_date: 2004-09-28
text: Mr. Radanovich moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 338.
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-511, Part II.
action_date: 2004-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-511, Part II.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-06-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Referred sequentially to the House Committee on the Judiciary for a period ending not later than June 30, 2004 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(k), rule X.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Committee on Agriculture discharged.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: House Committee on Agriculture Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than May 20, 2004.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-511, Part I.
action_date: 2004-05-20
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 108-511, Part I.
action_date: 2004-05-05
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2004-05-05
text: Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Discharged.
action_date: 2004-05-05
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2003-10-21
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-10-06
text: Executive Comment Requested from USDA, Interior.
action_date: 2003-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
action_date: 2003-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
action_date: 2003-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-10-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-10-02
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: 2003-10-02
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: 2003-10-02
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: 2003-10-02
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-10-02
text: Introduced in House