Sec. 1. 12 MRSA §1814, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended to read:

§1814. Convey land

Consistent with section 598-A, the bureau may sell and convey lands under this subchapter and improvements on those lands. With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner and with the approval of a majority of the members of each House of the Legislature and subject to the provisions of section 598-A, the bureau may convey interests in lands or lease the same. Any lease entered into must be canceled or revoked after due notice of intention to cancel or revoke the lease by action of the bureau when the use for which that lease was given has been abandoned or materially modified or whenever the conditions imposed in any lease have been broken.

Sec. 2. 12 MRSA §1838, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended to read:

7. Lease of nonreserved public lands to Federal Government. With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner and with the approval of a majority of the members of each House of the Legislature, the director may lease to the Federal Government the right to use nonreserved public lands.

Sec. 3. 12 MRSA §1852, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 678, §13, is amended to read:

7. Lease of public reserved lands to Federal Government. With the consent of the Governor and the commissioner and with the approval of a majority of the members of each House of the Legislature, the bureau may lease to the Federal Government the right to use public reserved lands.

SUMMARY

Under current law, the Legislature must approve all sales of public land to the Federal Government. This bill extends that requirement to leasing of public land to the Federal Government, which now requires only the consent of the Governor and the Commissioner of Conservation.