3718                                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

WHEREAS, Forestry is a long-term investment that may be
unnecessarily expensive if landowners do not take advantage of
laws designed to encourage forest management;

WHEREAS, Tax incentives would encourage the ownership of
woodland and would help to promote the timber industry during the
long lead time for the maturity of trees; and

WHEREAS, A legislative initiative of a modified tax policy
for woodland would be a pivotal factor in the protection of
Maryland's woodland and in the promotion of the timber industry
in the State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the
Legislative Policy Committee is requested to establish a
committee to study possible tax incentives for woodland to
encourage the growing of trees and sound forest management; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That the Committee be composed of:

(1)  3 members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the
Speaker of the House, and 3 members of the Senate of Maryland,
appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(2)  5 representatives from the timber and forest products
industries; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Legislative Policy Committee designate
the Chairman of the Committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Committee shall report its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly by October 1, 1985; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That staff for the Committee be provided by the
Department of Fiscal Services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be forwarded by the
Department of Legislative Reference to the Honorable Harry
Hughes, Governor of Maryland, the Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin,
Speaker of the House of Delegates, the Honorable Melvin A.
Steinberg, President of the Senate of Maryland, and the Secretary
of Natural Resources, Dr. Torrey C. Brown, Tawes State Office
Building, Annapolis, Maryland 21401.

Signed May 21, 1985.