USA v. State of California et al
Filing
1
COMPLAINT against All Defendants by United States of America. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Civil Cover Sheet)(Grant, Eric)
Exhibit 1
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
AUTHENTICATED
ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL
Senate Bill No. 50
CHAPTER 535
An act to add Section 27338 to, to add Chapter 3.4 (commencing with
Section 6223) to Division 7 of Title 1 of, and to repeal the heading of Chapter
3.4 (commencing with Section 6223) of Division 7 of Title 1 of, the
Government Code, and to add Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 8560)
to Part 4 of Division 6 of the Public Resources Code, relating to public
lands.
[Approved by Governor October 6, 2017. Filed with
Secretary of State October 6, 2017.]
legislative counsel’s digest
SB 50, Allen. Federal public lands: conveyances.
Existing law vests the authority over public lands owned by the state with
the State Lands Commission. Existing federal law authorizes federal agencies
to convey federal public lands under certain circumstances.
This bill would establish, except as provided, a policy of the state to
discourage conveyances of federal public lands in California from the federal
government. The bill would, except as provided, specify that these
conveyances are void ab initio unless the commission was provided with
the right of first refusal or the right to arrange for the transfer of the federal
public land to another entity. The bill would require the commission to issue
a certificate of compliance if the commission was provided with the right
of first refusal or the right to arrange for the transfer of the federal public
land to another entity. The bill would require the commission to waive the
right of first refusal or the right to arrange for the transfer of the federal
public land to another entity for conveyances the commission deems to be
routine, as specified. The bill would require the commission, the Wildlife
Conservation Board, and the Department of Fish and Wildlife to enter into
a memorandum of understanding establishing a state policy that they will
undertake all feasible efforts to protect against future unauthorized
conveyances of federal public lands or any change in federal public land
designation. The bill would authorize the commission to seek declaratory
and injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to contest these
conveyances. The bill would, except as provided, prohibit a person from
knowingly presenting for recording or filing with the county recorder a
deed, instrument, or other document related to the conveyance of federal
public lands unless it is accompanied by a certificate of compliance and
would subject a person who violates this prohibition to a civil penalty not
to exceed $5,000. By increasing the duties of the county recorder’s office,
this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would
provide that the state shall not be responsible for any costs associated with
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conveyed federal public land that the commission did not accept, purchase,
or arrange for the transfer of, as provided. The bill would require the
commission to ensure, for any conveyed federal public land the commission
accepts, purchases, or arranges for the transfer of, that future management
of the conveyed federal public land is determined in a public process that
gives consideration of past recognized and legal uses of those lands.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies
and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory
provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for
a specified reason.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. The heading of Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section
6223) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code is repealed.
SEC. 2. Chapter 3.4 (commencing with Section 6223) is added to
Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, to read:
Chapter 3.4. Recording of Documents
6223. (a) A person shall not knowingly present for recording or filing
with a county recorder a deed, instrument, or other document related to a
conveyance subject to Section 8560 of the Public Resources Code unless it
is accompanied by a certificate of compliance from the State Lands
Commission. A person who presents for recording or filing with a county
recorder a deed, instrument, or other document in violation of this section
is liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(b) Civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be deposited
into the state General Fund.
SEC. 3. Section 27338 is added to the Government Code, to read:
27338. A deed, instrument, or other document related to a conveyance
that is subject to Section 8560 of the Public Resources Code shall be titled
“Federal Public Land Deed of Conveyance” and shall not be recorded
without a certificate from the State Lands Commission. The federal agency
wishing to convey federal public lands shall ensure that the deed, instrument,
or other conveyance document is titled in the manner required by this section.
SEC. 4. Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 8560) is added to Part 4
of Division 6 of the Public Resources Code, to read:
Chapter 5. Conveyance of Federal Lands
8560. (a) For purposes of this chapter, the following terms apply:
(1) “Conservation plan” means a habitat conservation plan developed
pursuant to Section 10 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16
U.S.C. Sec. 1539) and its implementing regulations, as the federal act and
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Ch. 535
regulations exist as of January 1, 2016, and an approved natural communities
conservation plan developed pursuant to the Natural Community
Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800)
of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code).
(2) “Conveyance” includes any method, including sale, donation, or
exchange, by which all or a portion of the right, title, and interest of the
United States in and to federal lands located in California is transferred to
another entity.
(3) “Federal public land” means any land owned by the United States,
including the surface estate, the subsurface estate, or any improvements on
those estates.
(4) “Infrastructure” means any development or construction that is not
on or appurtenant to the federal public land at the time of transfer.
(b) (1) Except as provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 6441)
of Part 1, it is the policy of the State of California to discourage conveyances
that transfer ownership of federal public lands in California from the federal
government.
(2) (A) Except as provided in this chapter, conveyances of federal public
lands in California are void ab initio unless the commission was provided
with the right of first refusal to the conveyance or the right to arrange for
the transfer of the federal public land to another entity.
(B) The commission may seek declaratory and injunctive relief from a
court of competent jurisdiction to contest conveyances made to any entity
unless the requirements of this paragraph are met.
(C) The commission shall formally consider its right of first refusal or
arrange for the transfer of federal public lands to a third party at a public
hearing.
(D) (i) Prior to the conveyance of federal public lands in California, if
the commission was provided with the right of first refusal or the right to
arrange for the transfer of the federal public lands to another entity, the
commission shall issue a certificate affirming compliance with this section.
(ii) The commission shall waive its right of first refusal or the right to
arrange for the transfer of the federal public lands to another entity, and
issue a certification of compliance affirming compliance with this section
for a conveyance that is deemed by the commission to be routine. A
conveyance deemed by the commission to be routine includes, but is not
limited to, the exchange of lands of equal value between the federal
government and a private entity. The commission may adopt regulations to
establish a process and criteria for determining the types of conveyances it
considers to be routine.
(E) The commission, the Wildlife Conservation Board, and the
Department of Fish and Wildlife shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding that establishes a state policy that all three agencies shall
undertake all feasible efforts to protect against any future unauthorized
conveyance or any change in federal public land designation, including, but
not limited to, any change in use, classification, or legal status of any lands
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designated as federal monuments pursuant to the federal Antiquities Act of
1906 (Public Law 59-209).
(c) The state shall not be responsible for any costs associated with
conveyed federal public land that the commission did not accept, purchase,
or arrange for the transfer of, pursuant to this section. Costs include, but are
not limited to, management costs and infrastructure development costs.
(d) The commission may establish, through regulations or another
appropriate method, a process for engaging with federal land managers and
potential purchasers of federal public lands early in the conveyance process.
(e) The commission shall ensure, for any conveyed federal public land
the commission accepts, purchases, or arranges for the transfer of, that future
management of the conveyed federal public land is determined in a public
process that gives consideration of past recognized and legal uses of those
lands. At a minimum, the public process required by this subdivision shall
include a noticed and open meeting as required by the Bagley-Keene Open
Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Division 3 of
Title 2 of the Government Code).
(f) The commission shall waive its right of first refusal or the right to
arrange for the transfer of the federal public lands to another entity, and
issue a certification of compliance affirming compliance with this section
for any of the following:
(1) The conveyance of federal public lands pursuant to a conservation
plan.
(2) The renewal of a lease in existence as of January 1, 2017.
(3) The conveyance of federal public lands to a federally recognized
Native American tribe or lands taken into or out of trust for a Native
American tribe or individual Native American.
(g) The provisions of this section are severable. If any provision of this
section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other
provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid
provision or application.
8561. This chapter does not apply to the sale of real property acquired
by a federal agency through a foreclosure proceeding.
SEC. 5. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6
of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or
school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments
sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act,
within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.
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