Select committee on the transfer of public land.

WORKING DRAFT
2014
STATE OF
WYOMING
14LSO-0203.E1

HOUSE BILL
NO.
HB0035

Select committee on the transfer of public land.

Sponsored by:
Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the legislature; establishing the select committee on the transfer of public land as specified; providing a definition; providing a sunset date; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

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

Section 1.

W.S. 28
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11
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601 is created to read:

ARTICLE 6
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LAND

28
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11
‑
601.

Appointment of members; powers and duties; sunset.

(a)

Not later than March 15 following each general election, a select committee on the transfer of public land shall be appointed subject to the following:

(i)

The president of the senate shall appoint
two (2)
members of the senate apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected membership of the majority and minority parties of the senate, provided that not more than
three (3)
members of the select committee shall be from the same political party;

(ii)

The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint
two (2)
members of the house apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected membership of the majority and minority parties of the house, provided that not more than
three (3)
members of the select committee shall be from the same political party.

(b)

The select committee shall:

(i)

Select from among its members two (2) members to serve as co-chairmen;

(ii)

Determine the potential structure of ownership of public lands within the state including consideration of the state owning the surface rights, owning the subsurface rights, managing either the surface or subsurface, or both, or other ownership and management options as determined by the committee;

(iii)

Determine criteria for management of public lands including consideration of rights currently existing under federal law;

(iv)

Consider methods for the federal government to divest public lands held within the state including consideration of legal action and congressional action;

(v)

Receive comments from local, county and state agencies, as well as citizens of this state, regarding issues related to the acquisition or management of public lands;

(vi)

Report to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee and the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee by December 1 of each year, and recommend to the joint agriculture, state and public lands and water resources interim committee any and all legislation related to the acquisition or management of federal public lands.

(c)

The select committee may secure consulting services, if necessary, to provide technical assistance in compiling information related to public lands within the state or other issues related to the transfer of public lands.

(d)

As used in this section, "public lands" means any surface or subsurface lands within the boundaries of the state, title to which is held by the federal government. "Public lands" shall not include any land within the boundaries of a designated national park, designated national monument or wilderness area designated under the national wilderness preservation system.

(e)

This section is repealed effective January 1, 2018.

Section 2.

(a)

Notwithstanding W.S. 28
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11
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601(a) as created by this act, not later than ten (10) days after the effective date of this act, a select committee on the transfer of public lands shall be appointed as follows:

(i)

The president of the senate shall appoint
two (2)
members of the senate apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected membership of the majority and minority parties of the senate, provided that not more than
three (3)
members of the select committee shall be from the same political party;

(ii)

The speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint
two
(
2
) members of the house apportioned as nearly as possible to reflect the percentage of the elected membership of the majority and minority parties of the house, provided that not more than
three
(
3
) members of the select committee shall be from the same political party.

Section 3.

There is appropriated
twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00)
from the general fund to the legislative service office. This appropriation shall only
be expended to provide salary, travel and per diem to members of the select
committee on the transfer of public land
for meetings held from the effective date of this act
through June 30, 2016 and for retaining consulting services as necessary pursuant to W.S. 28
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11
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601(c)
. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 201
6
.

Section 4.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0035