00SENATE BILL NO. 293                                                                                                     
01 "An Act relating to the authority of the commissioner of natural resources to                                           
02 reconvey, or relinquish an interest in, land to the United States if that land or                                       
03 interest being reconveyed or relinquished is identified in an amended application                                       
04 for a land allotment under federal law."                                                                                
05 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
06    * Section 1.  AS 38.05.020(b) is amended to read:                                                                    
07  (b)  The commissioner may                                                                                             
08   (1)  establish reasonable procedures and adopt reasonable regulations                                                
09 necessary to carry out this chapter and, whenever necessary, issue directives or orders                                 
10 to the director to carry out specific functions and duties; regulations adopted by the                                  
11 commissioner shall be adopted under AS 44.62 ( [THE] Administrative Procedure Act)                                  
12 [(AS 44.62)]; orders by the commissioner classifying land, issued after January 3,                                      
13 1959, are not required to be adopted under AS 44.62 ( [THE] Administrative                                            
14 Procedure Act) [(AS 44.62)];                                                                                          

01   (2)  enter into agreements considered necessary to carry out the purposes                                            
02 of this chapter, including agreements with federal and state agencies;                                                  
03   (3)  review any order or action of the director;                                                                     
04   (4)  exercise the powers and do the acts necessary to carry out the                                                  
05 provisions and objectives of this chapter;                                                                              
06   (5)  notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this chapter,                                            
07 grant an extension of the time within which payments due on any lease or sale of state                                  
08 land, minerals, or materials may be made, including payment of rental and royalties,                                    
09 on a finding that compliance with the requirements is or was prevented by reason of                                     
10 war, riots, or acts of God;                                                                                             
11   (6)  classify tracts for agricultural uses and require the prequalification,                                         
12 including the submission of conservation plans, development plans, or other plans,                                      
13 schedules, or programs, of persons who apply to participate in an agricultural                                          
14 development project under AS 44.33.475;                                                                                 
15   (7)  waive, postpone, or otherwise modify the development requirements                                               
16 of a contract for the sale of agricultural land if                                                                      
17   (A)  the land is inaccessible by road; and                                                                          
18   (B) transportation, marketing, and development costs render the                                                     
19 required development uneconomic;                                                                                       
20   (8)  reconvey or relinquish land or an interest in land to the federal                                               
21 government if                                                                                                           
22   (A)  the land is described in an amended application for an                                                         
23 allotment under 43 U.S.C. 1617; and                                                                                     
24   (B)  the reconveyance or relinquishment is                                                                          
25   (i)  for the purposes provided in 43 U.S.C. 1617; and                                                              
26   (ii)  in the best interests of the state.