To eliminate the fees associated with Forest Service special use permits
that authorize a church to use structures and improvements on National
Forest System lands for religious or... (Introduced in the House)
HR 1727 IH
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1727
To eliminate the fees associated with Forest Service special use permits
that authorize a church to use structures and improvements on National
Forest System lands for religious or educational purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 6, 1999
Mr. DUNCAN (for himself and Mrs. CHENOWETH) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture
A BILL
To eliminate the fees associated with Forest Service special use permits
that authorize a church to use structures and improvements on National
Forest System lands for religious or educational purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ELIMINATION OF FEES FOR FOREST SERVICE SPECIAL USE PERMITS ISSUED
TO CHURCHES.
(a) FEES PROHIBITED- After the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary of Agriculture may not impose or collect any fee in connection
with the issuance to a church of a special use permit described in subsection
(b). Nothing in this subsection shall affect those fees collected by the
Secretary on or before that date.
(b) COVERED SPECIAL USE PERMITS- A special use permit referred to in
subsection (a) is a special use permit in effect after the date of the
enactment of this Act that--
(1) authorizes a church to occupy and use any structure or improvement
located on National Forest System lands for religious or educational purposes;
and
(2) was issued by the Forest Service before that date, or is issued
by the Forest Service on or after that date, under the authority of any
special use permit law.
(c) DEFINITIONS- In this section:
(1) CHURCH- The term `church' means a church, a convention or association
of churches, or an elementary or secondary school that is controlled, operated,
or principally supported by a church or a convention or association of
churches.
(2) SPECIAL USE PERMIT LAW- The term `special use permit law' includes--
(A) the last paragraph under the heading `FOREST SERVICE' in the Act
of March 4, 1915 (16 U.S.C. 497);
(B) section 4(c) of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965
(16 U.S.C. 460l-6a(c));
(C) section 7 of the Act of April 24, 1950 (16 U.S.C. 580d; commonly
known as the Granger-Thye Act); and
(D) any other law authorizing the issuance of special use permits by
the Forest Service.