Trees; conservation during land development process in certain localities.

Conservation of trees during land developmentprocess in certain localities. Expands authority of certain localitiesto adopt an ordinance providing for the planting and replacementof trees during the development process by allowing a tree canopyfund that currently applies to the planting of trees on public propertyto include maintenance of trees on public property and planting andmaintenance of trees on private property. The bill removes a provisionthat requires that any funds collected for the purposes of the tree canopy fund be returned to the original contributor if not spentwithin five years but maintains the requirement that such finds be spent within five years. The bill also includes an expansion ofthe canopy credit and a provision that will require a local treeconservation ordinance to meet the standards set out in the statute.