State trust lands task force.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF WYOMING
07LSO-0060.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0101

State trust lands task force.

Sponsored by:
Joint Agriculture, Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to state lands; creating a task force to monitor the trust responsibilities of and funding for the office of state lands and investments as specified; providing for a sunset; providing appropriations; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

There is created a legislative-executive task force to monitor trust responsibilities of and funding for the office of state lands and investments consisting of fifteen (15) members.

(b)

The task force shall be comprised of:

(i)

Two (2) senators from the senate, with not more than one (1) member from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by April 15, 2007 by the president of the senate, who shall also appoint a cochairman of the task force;

(ii)

Two (2) representatives from the house, with not more than one (1) member from the same political party. The members shall be appointed by April 15, 2007 by the speaker of the house, who shall also appoint a cochairman of the task force;

(iii)

The governor;

(iv)

The secretary of state;

(v)

The state auditor;

(vi)

The state treasurer;

(vii)

The state superintendent of public instruction;

(viii)

One (1) member who shall be a duly elected school district trustee and a member of the Wyoming school boards association, appointed by
the state board of land commissioners
;

(ix)

One (1) member representing grazing and agriculture lessees on state trust lands, appointed by the
state board of land commissioners
;

(x)

One (1) member representing mineral lessees on state trust lands, appointed by the
state board of land commissioners
;

(xi)

One (1) member representing public recreational users of state trust lands, appointed by the
state board of land commissioners
;

(xii)

One (1) member appointed by the state board of land commissioners to represent parent-teacher organizations; and

(xiii)

One (1) member representing either the forest products industry or the forestry profession, appointed by the state board of land commissioners.

(c)

The task force members shall serve until June 30, 2008.

(d)

The task force members appointed by
the state board of land commissioners
shall be appointed by April 15, 2007 and shall serve at the pleasure of the
state board of land commissioners
.

(e)

The task force members shall be paid salary, travel and per diem for the performance of their official duties as members of the task force. State officials shall be paid salary and travel expenses out of their agency's budget in the performance of their duties on the task force. Members of the task force who are not state officials shall be paid per diem and travel expenses in the same manner as state legislators. Members of the task force who are state legislators shall be paid salary, per diem and travel expenses as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 for their official duties as members of the task force.

(f)

The task force shall:

(i)

Meet at least twice to monitor the
trust asset management responsibilities of and funding for the office of state lands and investments
;

(ii)

Consider the accomplishments of the office of state lands and investments regarding trust asset management responsibilities and funding;

(iii)

Make recommendations necessary for the office of state lands and investments to proceed forward with its trust asset management responsibilities;

(iv)

Determine if any funding, organizational or other changes are necessary for the state board of land commissioners and the office of state lands and investments to prudently manage the trust assets
and, if changes are recommended, detail specific areas requiring additional funding and the priorities and costs associated with the recommendations
;

(v)

Prepare and submit a report to the joint agriculture, state lands and water resources interim committee no later than September 1 of each year. The report shall detail the task force's findings and recommend whether any changes to the office of state lands and investments' trust responsibilities or funding is necessary; and

(vi)

Recommend to the joint agriculture, state lands and water resources interim committee and the joint appropriations interim committee any statutory changes that may be required to implement the task force's recommendations.

(g)

Staff support for the task force shall be provided by the office of state lands and investments and by any state agency upon request.

Section 2.

This act shall terminate June 30, 2008.

Section 3.

(a)

Fifteen
thousand dollars ($15,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of state lands and investments to fund the meetings and activities of the task force and to contract with appropriate professionals as necessary to complete the duties assigned to the task force in section 1 of this act.

(b)

Ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) is appropriated from the general fund to the legislative service office to fund the expenses of the state legislative members of the task force to complete the duties assigned to the task force in section 1 of this act.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon co
m
pletion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constit
u
tion.

(END)

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HB0101