| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to surplus state lands; amending s. |
| 3 | 253.034, F.S.; providing for reconveyance of certain state |
| 4 | lands to certain fair associations at no cost under |
| 5 | certain circumstances; providing for expiration; providing |
| 6 | an effective date. |
| 7 |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Section 1. Paragraph (f) of subsection (6) of section |
| 11 | 253.034, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 12 | 253.034 State-owned lands; uses.-- |
| 13 | (6) The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement |
| 14 | Trust Fund shall determine which lands, the title to which is |
| 15 | vested in the board, may be surplused. For conservation lands, |
| 16 | the board shall make a determination that the lands are no |
| 17 | longer needed for conservation purposes and may dispose of them |
| 18 | by an affirmative vote of at least three members. In the case of |
| 19 | a land exchange involving the disposition of conservation lands, |
| 20 | the board must determine by an affirmative vote of at least |
| 21 | three members that the exchange will result in a net positive |
| 22 | conservation benefit. For all other lands, the board shall make |
| 23 | a determination that the lands are no longer needed and may |
| 24 | dispose of them by an affirmative vote of at least three |
| 25 | members. |
| 26 | (f)1. In reviewing lands owned by the board, the council |
| 27 | shall consider whether such lands would be more appropriately |
| 28 | owned or managed by the county or other unit of local government |
| 29 | in which the land is located. The council shall recommend to the |
| 30 | board whether a sale, lease, or other conveyance to a local |
| 31 | government would be in the best interests of the state and local |
| 32 | government. The provisions of this paragraph in no way limit the |
| 33 | provisions of ss. 253.111 and 253.115. Such lands shall be |
| 34 | offered to the state, county, or local government for a period |
| 35 | of 30 days. Permittable uses for such surplus lands may include |
| 36 | public schools; public libraries; fire or law enforcement |
| 37 | substations; and governmental, judicial, or recreational |
| 38 | centers. County or local government requests for surplus lands |
| 39 | shall be expedited throughout the surplusing process. If the |
| 40 | county or local government does not elect to purchase such lands |
| 41 | in accordance with s. 253.111, then any surplusing determination |
| 42 | involving other governmental agencies shall be made upon the |
| 43 | board deciding the best public use of the lands. Surplus |
| 44 | properties in which governmental agencies have expressed no |
| 45 | interest shall then be available for sale on the private market. |
| 46 | 2. Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., any surplus lands that |
| 47 | were acquired by the state prior to 1958 by a gift or other |
| 48 | conveyance for no consideration from a municipality, and which |
| 49 | the department has filed by July 1, 2006, a notice of its intent |
| 50 | to surplus, shall be first offered for reconveyance to such |
| 51 | municipality at no cost, but for the fair market value of any |
| 52 | building or other improvements to the land, unless otherwise |
| 53 | provided in a deed restriction of record. This subparagraph |
| 54 | expires July 1, 2006. |
| 55 | 3. Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., any parcel of surplus |
| 56 | lands less than 3 acres in size that was acquired by the state |
| 57 | prior to 1955 by gift or other conveyance for no consideration |
| 58 | from a fair association incorporated under chapter 616 for the |
| 59 | purpose of conducting and operating public fairs or expositions, |
| 60 | and for which the department has filed by July 1, 2007, a notice |
| 61 | of intent to surplus, shall be offered for reconveyance to such |
| 62 | fair association at no cost. This subparagraph expires July 1, |
| 63 | 2007. |
| 64 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |