Cabin Fee Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-5476
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Doc [R-WA-4]
Introduced: 2014-09-16 in the House
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Forests, forestry, trees
Land use and conservation
Licensing and registrations
Outdoor recreation
User charges and fees

Summary:
action_date: 2014-09-16
text: 
Cabin Fee Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) to set an annual fee for the issuance of a special use permit for the use and occupancy of National Forest System land for recreational residence purposes. 
 
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 based on the value of the lot of which the recreational residence is located, 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. 
 
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. 
 
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.
 
Repeals the Cabin User Fees Fairness Act of 2000, effective on the date the annual permit fees are first assessed under this Act.

action_date: 2014-12-22
text: 
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.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 538.
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-707.
action_date: 2014-12-22
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-707.
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2014-09-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2014-09-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
action_date: 2014-09-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2014-09-16
text: Introduced in House