Ch. 49             1997 Session Laws of Kansas             149

An Act changing the name of the office of state and extension forestry to the Kansas forest
service; relating to the powers and duties thereof; amending K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a,
76-425c, 76-425d, 76-425f and 82a-326 and repealing the existing sections.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

Section 1. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a is hereby amended to read as
follows: 76-425a. As used in this act:

(a) ``Board'' means the state board of regents;

(b) ``Kansas state university'' means the college of agriculture of Kan-
sas state university; and

(c) ``office'' means the office of state and extension forestry created
by K.S.A. 76-425c, and amendments thereto.

(c) ``service'' means the Kansas forest service created by K.S.A. 76-
425c, and amendments thereto.

Sec. 2. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425c is hereby amended to read as
follows: 76-425c. (a) There is hereby created in the existing cooperative
extension service of Kansas state university an office of state and extension
forestry the Kansas forest service. The chief executive officer of the office
service shall be known as the state forester and shall be appointed by the
president of Kansas state university in the unclassified service subject to
the approval of the board. The state forester shall be the state leader of
extension forestry of the cooperative extension service of Kansas state
university. The state forester shall receive such compensation for services
as shall be fixed by the board. A person in order to be eligible to be
appointed to, or hold the office of state forester must have completed the
requirements for and be the holder of a degree from a school of forestry
approved by the board and shall have a record of experience in forestry
satisfactory to the board. Subject to the approval of the president of Kan-

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sas state university and the board and within available appropriations, the
state forester may employ such assistants and office personnel and pur-
chase such office furniture and other equipment and supplies as may be
necessary for administration of this act and the performance of the powers
and duties of the office. The office of state and extension forestry service.
The Kansas forest service shall be located at Kansas state university.

(b) The name of the office of state and extension forestry is hereby
changed to the Kansas forest service. All properties, moneys, appropria-
tions, rights and authorities now vested in the office of state and extension
forestry shall be vested in the Kansas forest service. Whenever the office
of state and extension forestry, or words of like effect, is referred to or
designated by any statute, contract or other document, such reference or
designation shall be deemed to apply to the Kansas forest service.

Sec. 3. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425d is hereby amended to read as
follows: 76-425d. Under the general supervision of the board and direct
administration of Kansas state university, the office service shall:

(a) Supervise, generally, all forestry demonstrations forest manage-
ment and all forestation and reforestation work conducted by the state;

(b) promote practical forestry;

(c) encourage the development and use of forest resources;

(d) compile and publish information and instructions relating to for-
estry and reforestation;

(e) provide assistance in forestry and reforestation to owners and op-
erators of forest lands;

(f) provide assistance for the protection of the forest resources of the
state, both public and private, from insects and diseases;

(g) provide assistance for the prevention and suppression of forest,
brush or grassland fires in nonfederal areas of the state except on lands
within the exterior boundaries of incorporated cities;

(h) foster and promote the control of soil erosion on forest lands;

(i) carry on an assistance program with forest landowners and oper-
ators in the practice of forestry, including the growing, harvesting and
marketing of forest products and in the management of forests for other
multiple benefits such as water quality, streambank stabilization, erosion
control, wildlife and recreation;

(j) carry on an assistance program with forest products processors in
the processing and marketing of such products;

(k) cooperate with other agencies and organizations in conducting
forestry related programs, including educational, riparian and wetland
protection and nonpoint source pollution control;

(l) produce, procure and distribute forest-tree seeds and plants for
the purpose of establishing or reestablishing forests, windbreaks, shelter
belts, living snowfences, farm woodlots, Christmas tree plantings, erosion

Ch. 49             1997 Session Laws of Kansas             151

control water quality, wildlife habitat and other conservation type tree
plantings;

(m) provide an assistance program to nonforest landowners and op-
erators in establishing trees and shrubs for conservation plantings;

(n) provide assistance to city governing bodies in planting, maintain-
ing, treating and removing trees on public property; and

(o) provide information and education to city governing bodies, tree
care professionals and the general public in urban and community tree
planting and care.; and

(p) cooperate with and assist the cooperative extension service and
other appropriate agencies in conducting educational programs and dem-
onstrations in forest management, forestation, reforestation and other for-
estry related programs.

Sec. 4. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425f is hereby amended to read as fol-
lows: 76-425f. Under the general supervision of the board and direct
administration of Kansas state university, the office service is authorized
and empowered:

(a) To prescribe, issue and enforce rules and regulations pursuant to
law for administration of this act and of acts amendatory thereof or sup-
plemental thereto; and

(b) to promote and carry out the intent and purposes of this act and
of the provisions of all federal acts providing for state cooperation in the
production and distribution of seeds and plants for conservation plantings,
promotion of the practice of forestry, multiple uses of forest lands, for-
estation or reforestation, forest management, harvesting, processing or
marketing forest products, control of forest pests, insects and diseases,
prevention or suppression of forest, brush or grassland fires, watershed
management, windbreak establishment and management and urban and
community forestry tree planting, management and care; and to enter
into cooperative agreements with federal and state agencies and such
agency's subdivisions for any or all of such purposes.

Sec. 5. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 82a-326 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 82a-326. When used in this act:

(a) ``Water development project'' means any project or plan which
may be allowed or permitted pursuant to K.S.A. 24-126, 24-1213, 82a-
301 et seq., and amendments thereto, or the multipurpose small lakes
program act, and amendments thereto;

(b) ``environmental review agencies'' means the:

(1) Kansas department of wildlife and parks;

(2) office of extension forestry Kansas forest service;

(3) state biological survey;

(4) Kansas department of health and environment;

(5) state historical society;

(6) state conservation commission; and

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(7) state corporation commission.

Sec. 6. K.S.A. 1996 Supp. 76-425a, 76-425c, 76-425d, 76-425f and
82a-326 are hereby repealed.

Sec. 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved April 4, 1997.