SB 270

This bill allows the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands to sell all

properties under its jurisdiction to the state and, if BCPL does so, requires the

Department of Natural Resources to purchase those lands under the Warren

Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program. The bill also allows counties

to elect to manage these lands. The bill reduces the amounts DNR must set aside

under the land acquisition subprogram of the stewardship program for DNR to

acquire land and to provide grants to counties and for grants to nonprofit

conservation organizations. The bill also requires the Board of Regents of the

University of Wisconsin System to award merit scholarships to certain students.

Sale of public lands.

Under current law, BCPL manages the common school

fund, the normal school fund, the university fund, and the agricultural college fund

(trust funds). The trust funds were established from the proceeds of the sale of most

of the land granted to this state by the federal government at the time of statehood.

BCPL manages the remaining lands granted by the federal government to this state

and also administers a state trust fund loan program under which it makes loans,

from moneys belonging to the trust funds, to school districts, local governments, and

certain other public entities for certain public purposes.

Under this bill, if BCPL determines that the sale of all lands under its

jurisdiction will not breach its duty as trustee, BCPL may sell all properties under

its jurisdiction to the state. If BCPL sells this property, the bill requires DNR to

purchase it and to pay for the purchase in annual installments.

Under current law, the state may incur public debt for certain conservation

activities under the stewardship program, which is administered by DNR. The state

may bond for various conservation activities under the program, one of which is land

acquisition. This bill requires DNR, beginning in fiscal year 2017-18 and ending in

fiscal year 2026-27, to set aside $10,000,000 each fiscal year under the stewardship

program, which may be obligated for the purpose of making the annual installment

payments for the purchase of BCPL land. Under the bill, DNR is required to use

those amounts to make installment payments of no more than $10,000,000 each

fiscal year until the total amount paid equals the appraised value of the land, except

no payments may be made after fiscal year 2026-27.

Beginning in fiscal year 2017-18 and ending in fiscal year 2019-20, this bill

reduces from $9,000,000 to $2,000,000 the amount that may be obligated for DNR

land acquisition and for grants to counties for land acquisition, and reduces from

$7,000,000 to $4,000,000 the amount that may be obligated as grants to nonprofit

conservation organizations for land acquisition.

County management of DNR land.

The bill authorizes a county board to

manage, maintain, and improve any of the land DNR acquires from BCPL that is