Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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Current law stipulates that timber harvesters provide notice of their operations prior to cutting timber. This legislation requires notice prior to entering the property if possible, but no later than 24 hours after entering the property and cessation notice within 24 hours after the job is completed. Only one $5,000 bond shall be required of a harvester in each county, regardless of the number of tracts being harvested, so long as the bond remains in effect; however, if the bond is called, a harvester with multiple tracts must secure another bond within five business days. Counties remain authorized under O.C.G.A. 32-6-1 to recover all costs from a party damaging a public roadway. Lastly, counties cannot require any kind of fee for receiving a harvest notification. Counties with timber harvesting notification ordinances will have to adjust them accordingly. |
