SB 5817 - DIGEST

Declares an intent to establish a program that will allow the public sale of the state's granted lands, ensure the permanent use of the conveyed lands for working forestry, grazing, and agriculture, and fully compensate the trust beneficiaries for their interest in these lands.

Creates the state granted lands sales program. The program consists of the appraisal of the state's granted lands managed for forestry, grazing, and agricultural purposes, the development of a plan for the sale of these lands, and the public sale of these lands over a period not to exceed fifty years.

Provides that granted lands managed for forestry, grazing, and agricultural purposes sold under this program may not be used for purposes other than working forestry, grazing, and agriculture.

Requires that, beginning no later than December 31, 2006, and by December 31, 2010, the department of natural resources shall update appraisals of the fair market value of state lands managed for forestry, grazing, and agricultural purposes and held for the benefit of the following trusts: (1) Common school, indemnity, and escheat;

(2) Agricultural school;

(3) Scientific school;

(4) University;

(5) Normal school;

(6) Charitable, educational, penal, and reformatory institutions; and

(7) Capitol building.

Requires the department, in cooperation with the office of financial management, to develop a plan for the public sale of granted lands managed for forestry, grazing, and agricultural purposes and held for the benefit of the trusts set forth in this act over a period not to exceed fifty years. In developing this plan, the department must seek to maximize the revenue from granted lands sales for each trust beneficiary. The plan must include methods for: (1) Prioritizing the parcels to be sold annually within each trust;

(2) Determining the quantity of parcels, but not less than two percent, to be sold annually from each trust;

(3) Periodically reappraising granted lands, or portions thereof, to provide current information for planning purposes;

(4) Balancing the expedient sales of granted lands with economic factors affecting the value of the granted lands and other similar lands available on the real estate market; and

(5) Ensuring that granted lands that are sold are permanently used for working forestry, grazing, and agriculture.

Requires the department to present the plan set forth in this act to the appropriate committees of the house of representatives and senate by December 31, 2006.