A. 1. Except as provided by this section, it shall be the duty of any sawmill owner or operator or other person purchasing timber for resale, from a timber owner or owner or operator of a logging or timber harvesting operation to obtain from the timber owner or owner or operator of a logging or timber harvesting operation a bill of sale for the same or other evidence of ownership which shall be preserved by the purchaser for a period of three (3) years and shall be available for inspection by law enforcement personnel.

2. The bill of sale shall include:

a.the name and address of the seller and purchaser,

b.a legal description of the land from which the timber was harvested,

c.a description of timber delivered,

d.the date delivered,

e.the printed name of the person delivering the timber, and

f.the date and signature of the person delivering the timber with language declaring ownership of the timber or naming the person to whom the person delivering the timber is an agent.

B. In lieu of the bill of sale required by subsection A of this section, the purchaser may provide for proof of timber ownership through a written purchase contract which provides language declaring ownership of timber delivered for purchase to the purchaser by the timber owner. The declaration shall be signed by the timber owner or by a designee pursuant to a written authorization signed by the timber owner. The written authorization shall be retained by the designee.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 238, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 1995. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 26, § 2, emerg. eff. April 3, 1996; Laws 2001, c. 113, § 47, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-310.5 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.