Bill No.:                     HB0228                                 Drafter:  MDO

LSO No.:                   13LSO-0549                         Effective Date:  Immediate

Enrolled Act No.:    HEA0101

Chapter No.:            CH0202

Prime Sponsor:       Representative Miller

Catch Title:              Transfer of federal lands-study.

Subject:                     Creating a task force to investigate possible legal recourses to compel the federal government to relinquish ownership and management of federal lands.

Summary/Major Elements:

· This act creates the task force on the Transfer of Federal Lands.  The task force is comprised of:

§ two members of the Wyoming senate appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall act as a co-chairman;

§ two members of the Wyoming house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house, one of whom shall act as a co-chairman;

§ five members appointed by the governor with specified backgrounds (The inclusion of these five members was vetoed.)

· The task force shall study the possible loss of revenues to the State of Wyoming resulting from Federal land ownership and managed lands.

· The Attorney General shall report to the task force on possible legal recourses available to the State of Wyoming to compel the federal government to transfer ownership and control of federal lands to the State or private individuals and the likelihood of the State succeeding under each identified legal recourse.  (The requirement that the AG provide this report was vetoed.)

Comments:

· The task force shall report to Joint Agriculture, State and Public Lands and Water Resources Interim Committee, including proposed legislation, on the possibility of the transfer or purchase of federal lands no later than November 1, 2013.

· The task force shall be staffed by the Legislative Service Office, with the Department of Administration and Information and the University of Wyoming School of Energy.

· The task force shall exist until December 31, 2013.

Note:   The Governor line-item vetoed two appropriations in the bill in addition to the vetoes noted above.