H.B. 151

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Feb 27, 2014 at 3:24 PM by jeyring. --> This document includes House Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 6, 2014 at 3:57 PM by jeyring. -->              1     

COMMISSION FOR THE STEWARDSHIP OF PUBLIC

             2     
LANDS

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

             6     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill creates the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    creates the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands;
             14          .    designates the duties of the commission; and
             15          .    requires the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office to periodically report to the
             16      commission.
             17      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             18          This bill appropriates:
             19          .    to the Senate, as an ongoing appropriation:
             20              .    from the General Fund $ H. [ 6,000 ] 9,000 .H to pay for the commission; and
             21          .    to the House of Representatives, as an ongoing appropriation:
             22              .    from the General Fund $16,000 to pay for the commission.
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          This bill provides a repeal date for the commission.
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27           63J-4-606 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 337


             28      Uncodified Material Affected:
             29      ENACTS UNCODIFIED MATERIAL
             30     
             31      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             32          Section 1. Section 63J-4-606 is amended to read:
             33           63J-4-606. Public lands transfer study and economic analysis -- Report.
             34          (1) As used in this section:
             35          (a) "Public lands" is as defined in Section 63L-6-102 .
             36          (b) "Transfer of public lands" means the transfer of public lands from federal
             37      ownership to state ownership.
             38          (2) (a) The coordinator and the office shall:
             39          (i) conduct a study and economic analysis of the ramifications and economic impacts
             40      of the transfer of public lands; [and]
             41          (ii) during the study and economic analysis, consult with county representatives on an
             42      ongoing basis regarding how to consider and incorporate county land use plans and planning
             43      processes into the analysis[.]; and
             44          (iii) on an ongoing basis, report on the progress and findings of the study to the
             45      Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands.
             46          (b) The study and economic analysis shall:
             47          (i) inventory public lands;
             48          (ii) examine public lands':
             49          (A) ownership;
             50          (B) management;
             51          (C) jurisdiction;
             52          (D) resource characteristics;
             53          (E) federal management requirements related to national forests, national recreation
             54      areas, or other public lands administered by the United States; and
             55          (F) current and potential future uses and ways that socioeconomic conditions are
             56      influenced by those uses;
             57          (iii) determine:
             58          (A) public lands' ongoing and deferred maintenance costs, revenue production, and


             59      funding sources;
             60          (B) whether historical federal funding levels have been sufficient to manage, maintain,
             61      preserve, and restore public lands and whether that funding level is likely to continue;
             62          (C) the amount of public lands revenue paid to state, county, and local governments
             63      and other recipients designated by law from payments in lieu of taxes, timber receipts, secure
             64      rural school receipts, severance taxes, and mineral lease royalties;
             65          (D) historical trends of the revenue sources listed in Subsection (2)(b)(iii)(C);
             66          (E) ways that the payments listed in Subsection (2)(b)(iii)(C) can be maintained or
             67      replaced following the transfer of public lands; and
             68          (F) ways that, following the transfer of public lands, revenue from public lands can be
             69      increased while mitigating environmental impact;
             70          (iv) identify:
             71          (A) existing oil and gas, mining, grazing, hunting, fishing, recreation, and other rights
             72      and interests on public lands;
             73          (B) the economic impact of those rights and interests on state, county, and local
             74      economies;
             75          (C) actions necessary to secure, preserve, and protect those rights and interests; and
             76          (D) how those rights and interests may be affected in the event the federal government
             77      does not complete the transfer of public lands;
             78          (v) evaluate the impact of federal land ownership on:
             79          (A) the Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration's ability to
             80      administer trust lands for the benefit of Utah schoolchildren;
             81          (B) the state's ability to fund education; and
             82          (C) state and local government tax bases;
             83          (vi) identify a process for the state to:
             84          (A) transfer and receive title to public lands from the United States;
             85          (B) utilize state agencies with jurisdiction over land, natural resources, environmental
             86      quality, and water to facilitate the transfer of public lands;
             87          (C) create a permanent state framework to oversee the transfer of public lands;
             88          (D) transition to state ownership and management of public lands using existing state
             89      and local government resources; and


             90          (E) indemnify political subdivisions of the state for actions taken in connection with
             91      the transfer of public lands;
             92          (vii) examine ways that multiple use of public lands through tourism and outdoor
             93      recreation contributes to:
             94          (A) the economic growth of state and local economies; and
             95          (B) the quality of life of Utah citizens;
             96          (viii) using theoretical modeling of various levels of land transfer, usage, and
             97      development, evaluate the potential economic impact of the transfer of public lands on state,
             98      county, and local governments; and
             99          (ix) recommend the optimal use of public lands following the transfer of public lands.
             100          (3) The coordinator and office shall:
             101          (a) on an ongoing basis, discuss issues related to the transfer of public lands with:
             102          (i) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration;
             103          (ii) local governments;
             104          (iii) water managers;
             105          (iv) environmental advocates;
             106          (v) outdoor recreation advocates;
             107          (vi) nonconventional and renewable energy producers;
             108          (vii) tourism representatives;
             109          (viii) wilderness advocates;
             110          (ix) ranchers and agriculture advocates;
             111          (x) oil, gas, and mining producers;
             112          (xi) fishing, hunting, and other wildlife interests;
             113          (xii) timber producers; [and]
             114          (xiii) other interested parties; and
             115          (xiv) the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands; and
             116          (b) develop ways to obtain input from Utah citizens regarding the transfer of public
             117      lands and the future care and use of public lands.
             118          (4) The coordinator may contract with another state agency or private entity to assist
             119      the coordinator and office with the study and economic analysis required by Subsection (2)(a).
             120          (5) The coordinator shall submit a final report on the study and economic analysis


             121      described in Subsection (2)(a), including proposed legislation and recommendations, to the
             122      governor [and], the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee, and
             123      the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands before November 30, 2014.
             124          Section 2. Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands -- Creation --
             125      Membership -- Interim rules followed -- Compensation -- Staff.
             126          (1) There is created the Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands consisting of
             127      the following H. [ 7 ] 8 .H members:
             128          (a) H. [ two ] three .H members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate,
             128a      no more than
             129      H. [ one ] two .H of whom may be from the same political party; and
             130          (b) five members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
             131      House of Representatives, no more than four of whom may be from the same political party.
             132          (2) (a) The president of the Senate shall designate a member of the Senate appointed
             133      under Subsection (1)(a) as a cochair of the commission.
             134          (b) The speaker of the House of Representatives shall designate a member of the House
             135      of Representatives appointed under Subsection (1)(b) as a cochair of the commission.
             136          (3) In conducting its business, the commission shall comply with the rules of
             137      legislative interim committees.
             138          (4) Salaries and expenses of the members of the commission shall be paid in
             139      accordance with Section 36-2-2 and Legislative Joint Rules, Title 5, Chapter 3, Legislator
             140      Compensation.
             141          (5) The Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel shall provide staff support
             142      to the commission.
             143          Section 3. Duties -- Interim report.
             144          (1) The commission shall:
             145          (a) convene at least eight times each year;
             146          (b) review and make recommendations on the transfer of federally controlled public
             147      lands to the state in accordance with Section 63L-6-102 ;
             148          (c) review and make recommendations regarding the state's sovereign right to protect
             149      the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens as it relates to public lands;
             150          (d) study and evaluate the progress and recommendations of the public lands transfer
             151      study and economic analysis conducted by the Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office in


             152      accordance with Section 63J-4-606 ;
             153          (e) coordinate with and report on the efforts of the executive branch, counties and
             154      political subdivisions of the state, the state congressional delegation, western governors, other
             155      states, and other stake holders concerning the transfer of federally controlled public lands to the
             156      state including convening working groups such as a working group composed of members of
             157      the Utah Association of Counties;
             158          (f) study and make recommendations regarding the appropriate designation of public
             159      lands transferred to the state, including stewardship of the land and appropriate uses of the
             160      land;
             161          (g) study and make recommendations regarding the use of funds received by the state
             162      from the public lands transferred to the state; and
             163          (h) receive reports from and make recommendations to the attorney general and other
             164      stakeholders involved in litigation on behalf of the state's interest in the transfer of public lands
             165      to the state, regarding:
             166          (i) preparation for potential litigation;
             167          (ii) selection of outside legal counsel;
             168          (iii) ongoing legal strategy for the transfer of public lands; and
             169          (iv) use of money appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of securing the
             170      transfer of public lands to the state.
             171          (2) The commission shall prepare an annual report, including any proposed legislation,
             172      and present the report to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim
             173      Committee before November 30, 2014, and every November 30 thereafter.
             174          Section 4. Appropriation.
             175          Under the terms and conditions of Title 63J, Chapter 1, Budgetary Procedures Act, for
             176      the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015, the following sums of money
             177      are appropriated from resources not otherwise appropriated, or reduced from amounts
             178      previously appropriated, out of the funds or accounts indicated. These sums of money are in
             179      addition to any amounts previously appropriated for fiscal year 2015.
             180          To Legislature - Senate
             181              From General Fund, ongoing
$ H. [ 6,000 ] 9,000 .H

             182              Schedule of Programs:


             183                  Administration                $6,000
             184          To Legislature - House of Representatives
             185              From General Fund, ongoing
$16,000

             186              Schedule of Programs:
             187                  Administration                $16,000
             188          Section 5. Repeal date.
             189          Uncodified Sections 2, 3, and 4, that create the Commission for the Stewardship of
             190      Public Lands, are repealed on November 30, 2019.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-3-14 8:24 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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