1     
LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL OF LAND TRANSFERS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Keven J. Stratton

5     
Senate Sponsor: David P. Hinkins

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7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill describes the procedure for selling or exchanging governmentally controlled
10     land.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This bill:
13          ▸     defines terms;
14          ▸     requires a governmental entity to submit a proposal to sell or exchange 500 acres or
15     more of governmentally controlled land for legislative approval;
16          ▸     requires a governmental entity to notify the Legislative Management Committee of
17     any proposal to sell or exchange less than 500 acres of governmentally controlled
18     land to the federal government; and
19          ▸     requires a governmental entity that enters into a discussion with a federal agent that
20     may result in certain actions to provide written notice to the Legislature.
21     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
22          None
23     Other Special Clauses:
24          None
25     Utah Code Sections Affected:
26     AMENDS:
27          63L-2-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapters 157 and 328
28     

29     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
30          Section 1. Section 63L-2-201 is amended to read:
31          63L-2-201. Federal government acquisition of real property in the state.
32          (1) As used in this chapter:
33          [(a) "Agency" is defined in Section 63G-10-102.]
34          [(b) "Agency" includes:]
35          [(i) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration created in Section
36     53C-1-201; and]
37          [(ii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees created in Section
38     53C-1-202.]
39          (a) "Governmental entity" means:
40          (i) an agency, as that term is defined in Subsection 63G-10-102(2);
41          (ii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration created in Section
42     53C-1-201;
43          (iii) the School and Institutional Trust Lands Board of Trustees created in Section
44     53C-1-202; or
45          (iv) a county.
46          (b) "Governmentally controlled land" means land owned or managed by a
47     governmental entity.
48          (2) (a) Before legally binding the state by executing an agreement to sell or transfer to
49     the United States government [10,000] 500 or more acres of [any state lands] governmentally
50     controlled land or school and institutional trust lands, [an agency] a governmental entity shall
51     submit the agreement or proposal:
52          (i) to the Legislature for its approval or rejection; or
53          (ii) in the interim, to the Legislative Management Committee for review of the
54     agreement or proposal.
55          (b) The Legislative Management Committee may:
56          (i) recommend that the [agency] governmental entity execute the agreement or
57     proposal;
58          (ii) recommend that the [agency] governmental entity reject the agreement or proposal;
59     or
60          (iii) recommend to the governor that the governor call a special session of the
61     Legislature to review and approve or reject the agreement or proposal.
62          (3) Before legally binding the state by executing an agreement to sell or transfer to the
63     United States government less than [10,000] 500 acres of any [state lands] governmentally
64     controlled land or school and institutional trust lands, [an agency] a governmental entity shall
65     notify the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Interim Committee.
66          (4) Notwithstanding Subsections (2) and (3), the Legislature approves all conveyances
67     of school trust lands to the United States government made for the purpose of completing the
68     Red Cliffs National Conservation Area in Washington County.
69          (5) A governmental entity may, in its discretion, give written notice to the Legislative
70     Management Committee of formal negotiations it enters into with a federal agent or entity
71     intended or likely to result in:
72          (a) the sale, exchange, or transfer of specific governmentally controlled land or school
73     and institutional trust lands to the federal government; or
74          (b) designation of specific governmentally controlled land or school and institutional
75     trust lands as a federal park, monument, or wilderness area.