SENATOR TAYLOR introduced SB 293 (NATIVE ALLOTMENTS ON STATE LAND) and invited the sponsor, SENATOR GEORGE JACKO, to review the bill. SENATOR JACKO explained the bill would resolve long-standing Native allotment applications in Wood-tikchik State Park, the state is proposing two options that will circumvent federal adjudication and quicken the process. The state Department of Natural Resources is offering to relocate allotments in the state park to unencumbered parcels of equal size anywhere in the state. There was a discussion between SENATOR TAYLOR and SENATOR JACKO about which state lands would be exchanged, the value basis of the exchanged land, and whether it would be an acre for acre exchange. SENATOR JACKO explained it would be on an acre for acre exchange. SENATOR JACKO said it would provide an opportunity for an allotment applicant with a valid application as of December 18, 1971 and whose application remains pending as of October 14, 1992, to amend the applicants land description. He said the exchange is purely voluntary on the part of the allottee. This legislation resolves allottee/State conflicts over land primarily in State park areas. SENATOR DONLEY asked about a clear title to the exchanged land, and SENATOR JACKO said there would be clear titles. SENATOR JACKO directed his aide, BRYCE EDGMON, to continue the testimony. "The allotments originally came under the Native Allotment Act of 1906, which was sunsetted in 1991 with the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. As a result, many applications for allotments were filed in 1971. But in 1961 the State had selected land that is now Wood-Tikchik State Park as part of its statehood entitlement. The park itself was created in 1978 with the mandate to protect the area's fish and wildlife breeding and support systems, and to preserve the continued use of the area for subsistence and recreation. Applicants for allotments in the state park must prove use and occupancy of their parcel to the potential exclusion of others prior to 1961." SENATORS JACKO, LITTLE, and DONLEY discussed with MR. EDGMON as to who makes the selections, the 1971 claims, customary use and trapping, the role of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, protected areas, and no-net loss. SENATOR LITTLE asked about the amount of land involved, and SENATOR JACKO answered it was 1.6 million acres. SENATORS TAYLOR and HALFORD discussed possible claims, where the land was located within the state parks, the number of acres, trust land, replacement land, BLM land, tax advantages, and the manner in which the lands were to be swapped. TOM HAWKINS, of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation was brought into the discussion, and his remarks are quoted from the BRISTOL BAY TIMES: "This past summer, on the urging of TOM HAWKINS, chief executive officer of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, a meeting was held with representatives of the state DNR, the federal BLM, BBNC and BBNA. Out of that came an agreement that BLM would work on 10 case files a month during the winter, meaning that it would send out 90-day letters for ten applicants each month. The letters give notice of interested parties that they have 90 days to make comments for or against the application. Last year, REPRESENTATIVE DON YOUNG sponsored an amendment to ANCSA that allows valid alotees to relocate their parcel of state land to other state land. The relocation must be voluntary. The state DNR and REPRESENTATIVE LYMAN HOFFMAN are seeking a similar amendment to state law." The was considerably more discussion on natural resources, the Statehood Act, the BLM, state park land, trespassing, title problems, and many options. SENATOR HALFORD moved to pass SENATE BILL NO. 293 (NATIVE ALLOTMENTS ON STATE LAND) from committee with individual recommendations. Without objections, so ordered.