MACo Associate Director Les Knapp testified in support of SB 361 before the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on February 23.  The bill, introduced by Senator John Astle, would remove a restriction that monies deposited into local forest conservation funds would have to spend the money on reforestation or afforestation efforts within 2 years or 3 growing seasons, or else return the money to the person who provided it.  Mr. Knapp stated that some counties have been unable to use the funds within the specified time period due to project delays and in many cases the entities that paid the funds are either defunct or will not accept the money back.   The Department of Natural Resources submitted written testimony in support of the bill.