Exemption of timber lands from local fire district service charges and fees; jurisdiction of Alabama Forestry Commission.

(a) A local fire district may not assess any type of fees or dues upon forest land that is treated as timber land for ad valorem tax purposes.

(b) The authority and responsibility for the control and coordination of fire prevention, fire protection, and fire fighting services on land treated as timber land for ad valorem tax purposes shall be under the jurisdiction of the Alabama Forestry Commission.

(c) Nothing in this section shall preclude a forest land owner from voluntarily entering into an agreement with a local fire district to provide fire protection services for a negotiated fee.

(d) Nothing in this section shall invalidate a negotiated dues structure implemented by resolution by a fire district prior to June 10, 2019.

(Act 2019-466, §1.)