(1) Owners of rangeland may request the State Board of Forestry to hold a hearing on the subject of providing protection from fire for rangeland. Upon receipt of such request, the board or its authorized representative shall hold one or more public hearings in order to receive from interested persons information relating to the providing of such protection, and shall cause public notice of the time and place of each hearing to be given. The board or its authorized representatives shall keep the records of the proceedings of such hearings as public records.

(2) After the hearing referred to in subsection (1) of this section, the board shall determine whether the rangeland should be included within a protection system. If the board determines that rangeland should be included in a rangeland protection system, the board, in cooperation with interested persons, shall establish the extent and type of protection to be provided and direct the forester or a rangeland protection association to provide the protection. Such protection shall be commensurate with the values and uses of the rangeland to be protected.

(3) After proceedings under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the forester or a rangeland protection association shall provide the type and extent of protection determined under subsection (2) of this section for rangeland determined to be included within a protection system under subsection (2) of this section. For the purpose of providing such protection, the forester and a rangeland protection association may enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with each other or, jointly or separately, with owners of rangeland, individuals, associations, corporations, road districts, rural fire protection districts or agencies of the federal government. [Formerly 477.144; 1999 c.355 § 10; 2007 c.808 § 5; 2016 c.69 § 4]