00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 109                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to the duties and powers of the attorney general with respect to certain                               
02 settlements directly related to oil and gas leases; providing exceptions for certain tax                                
03 and regulatory matters; and providing for an effective date."                                                           
04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
05    * Section 1. AS 43.05.070 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
06            (c)  AS 44.23.020(i) does not apply to the approval of the attorney general                                  
07       under (a) and (b) of this section.                                                                                
08    * Sec. 2. AS 44.23.020(d) is amended to read:                                                                      
09            (d)  Except as provided in (i) of this section, the [THE] attorney general                               
10       may, subject to the power of the legislature to enact laws and make appropriations,                               
11       settle actions, cases, and offenses under (b) of this section.                                                    
12    * Sec. 3. AS 44.23.020 is amended by adding new subsections to read:                                               
13            (i)  Before finalizing a settlement on a civil action directly related to an oil and                         
14       gas lease under AS 38.05.005 - 38.05.990 (Alaska Land Act), the attorney general                                  
01       shall determine that the settlement                                                                               
02                 (1)  is limited to issues necessary to settle the action;                                               
03                 (2)  does not include matters unrelated to the action; and                                              
04                 (3)  does not alter constitutional, statutory, or regulatory procedures                                 
05       required by law.                                                                                                  
06            (j)  Subsection (i) of this section does not apply to matters under (e) of this                              
07       section, or to matters related to an oil and gas pipeline or a products pipeline under the                        
08       jurisdiction of the Regulatory Commission of Alaska or another regulatory agency.                                 
09            (k)  For the purpose of this section, "oil and gas lease" has the meaning given                              
10       in AS 43.55.900.                                                                                                  
11    * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
12 read:                                                                                                                   
13       APPLICABILITY. AS 44.23.020(d), as amended by sec. 2 of this Act, and                                             
14 AS 44.23.020(i), added by sec. 3 of this Act, apply to settlements entered into by the attorney                         
15 general on or after the effective date of this Act.                                                                     
16    * Sec. 5. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c).