[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2546 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2546
To provide for the continuation of higher education through the
conveyance to the University of Alaska of certain public land in the
State of Alaska, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 14, 2021
Mr. Young introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for the continuation of higher education through the
conveyance to the University of Alaska of certain public land in the
State of Alaska, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``University of Alaska Fiscal
Foundation Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Available state-selected land.--The term ``available
State-selected land'' means Federal land in the State that has
been selected by the State, including land upon which the State
has, prior to December 31, 1993, filed a future selection
application under section 906(e) of the Alaska National
Interest Lands Conservation Act (43 U.S.C. 1635(e)), but not
conveyed or patented to the State, pursuant to Public Law 85-
508 (commonly known as the ``Alaska Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C.
note prec. 21).
(2) Conservation system unit.--The term ``conservation
system unit'' has the meaning given the term in section 102 of
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C.
3102).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of
Land Management.
(4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Alaska.
(5) University.--The term ``University'' means the
University of Alaska, acting through the Board of Regents.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Secretary shall establish a program within the Bureau of Land
Management--
(1) to identify and convey available State-selected land to
the University to support higher education in the State; and
(2) to acquire, by purchase or exchange, University-owned
land located within conservation system units in the State.
SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION OF LAND TO BE CONVEYED THE UNIVERSITY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the State and the University may jointly identify not more
than 500,000 acres of available State-selected land for inclusion in
the program established under section 3, of which not more than 360,000
acres may be conveyed and patented to the University.
(b) Technical Assistance.--Upon the request of the State and the
University, the Secretary shall provide technical assistance in the
identification of available State-selected land for inclusion in the
program.
(c) Maps.--As soon as practicable after the date on which the
available State-selected land is identified under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives 1 or more maps depicting the available State-selected
land identified for conveyance to the University.
(d) Conveyance.--Subject to subsection (e), if the State and the
University notify the Secretary in writing that the State and the
University jointly concur with the conveyance of all or a portion of
the available State-selected land identified under subsection (a), and
that the State relinquishes its selection rights to the land covered by
the notification, the Secretary shall convey the applicable identified
available State-selected land to the University, subject to valid
existing rights, in the same manner and subject to the same terms,
conditions, and limitations as is applicable to the State under Public
Law 85-508 (commonly known as the ``Alaska Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C.
note prec. 21) and other applicable law, to be held in trust for the
exclusive use and benefit of the University, to be administered in
accordance with section 6.
(e) Terms and Conditions.--
(1) Maximum acreage.--Subject to paragraph (3), the
Secretary shall convey not more than a total of 360,000 acres
of available State-selected land to the University under this
section, not to exceed the remaining entitlement of the State
under Public Law 85-508 (commonly known as the ``Alaska
Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C. note prec. 21).
(2) Letters of concurrence.--For purposes of subsection (d)
and subject to the maximum acreage limitation under subsection
(a), the State and the University may submit to the Secretary 1
or more joint letters of concurrence identifying parcels of
available State selected land for conveyance as a subset of the
total acres to be conveyed under this section.
(3) Acreage charged against alaska statehood act
entitlement.--The acreage of land conveyed to the University
under this section shall be charged against the remaining
entitlement of the State under Public Law 85-508 (commonly
known as the ``Alaska Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C. note prec.
21).
(4) Survey costs.--In accordance with Public Law 85-508
(commonly known as the ``Alaska Statehood Act'') (48 U.S.C.
note prec. 21), the Secretary shall be responsible for the
costs of required surveys.
SEC. 5. UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA INHOLDINGS WITHIN CONSERVATION SYSTEM
UNITS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary or the Secretary of Agriculture, as
appropriate, may acquire by purchase or exchange, with the consent of
the University, University-owned inholdings within conservation system
units in the State.
(b) Appraisals.--The value of the land to be exchanged or acquired
under this section shall be determined by the Secretary through
appraisals conducted--
(1) in accordance with--
(A) the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal
Land Acquisitions; and
(B) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice; and
(2) by an appraiser mutually agreed to by the Secretary and
the University.
(c) Equal Value Exchanges.--For any land exchange entered into
under this section, the Federal land and University-owned inholdings
exchanged shall be of equal value.
(d) Purchase Acquisitions.--Pursuant to chapter 2003 of title 54,
United States Code, amounts in the Land and Water Conservation Fund
established by section 200302 of that title may be used for the
purchase of University-owned inholdings within conservation system
units in the State under this section.
(e) Requirement.--Any land acquired by the United States under this
section shall be administered in accordance with the laws (including
regulations) applicable to the conservation system unit in which the
land is located.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF CONVEYED OR EXCHANGED LAND.
All available State-selected land that is tentatively approved or
conveyed to the University under this Act, and all land acquired by the
University through an exchange under this Act, together with the income
therefrom and the proceeds from any dispositions thereof, shall be
administered by the University in trust to meet the necessary expenses
of higher education programs, similar to prior Federal land grants to
the University.
SEC. 7. STATE AND UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION.
Nothing in this Act requires the State or the University--
(1) to participate in the program established under section
3; or
(2) to enter into sales or exchanges of University-owned
inholdings within conservation system units under section 5.
SEC. 8. CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION.
Not later than 90 days after the date of any conveyance and patent
to the University under this Act, the Secretary shall notify the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives of the
land conveyed and patented.
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