S. 2615

Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023

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118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2615

AN ACT

To amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to provide that Village Corporations shall not be required to convey land in trust to the State of Alaska for the establishment of Municipal Corporations, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023.

2.

Reversion of certain land conveyed in trust to the State of Alaska

Section 14(c) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1613(c)) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively, and indenting appropriately;

(2)

in the matter preceding subparagraph (A) (as so redesignated), by striking (c) Each patent and inserting the following:

(c)

Conveyance of certain land by Village Corporation

(1)

In general

Each patent

;

(3)

in paragraph (1) (as so designated), in the undesignated matter following subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), in the first sentence—

(A)

by striking section 14(c) of this Act and inserting this subsection; and

(B)

by striking There is authorized and inserting the following:

(2)

Technical assistance

(A)

In general

There are authorized

;

(4)

in paragraph (2)(A) (as so redesignated), in the second sentence, by striking The Secretary and inserting the following:

(B)

Form of funding

The Secretary

; and

(5)

in paragraph (1) (as so designated)—

(A)

in each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) (as so redesignated)—

(i)

by striking the the first place it appears and inserting The; and

(ii)

by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;

(B)

in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking the the first place it appears and inserting The;

(C)

by striking existed as of in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated) and all that follows through for in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated) and inserting the following: “existed as of December 18, 1971.

(E)

For

; and

(D)

in subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated)—

(i)

by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting a period;

(ii)

by striking in trust: Provided, however, That the word and all that follows through sentence, and inserting the following: “in trust.

(II)

Definition of sale

For purposes of subclause (I), the term sale

;

(iii)

by striking one thousand two hundred and eighty acres: Provided further, That any net and inserting the following: “1,280 acres.

(iii)

Net revenues

(I)

In general

Any net

;

(iv)

by striking community needs: Provided, That the and inserting the following: “community needs.

(ii)

Minimum acreage

The

;

(v)

by striking (C) the Village Corporation and inserting the following:

(C)

Conveyance to Municipal Corporation or the State in trust

(i)

In general

The Village Corporation

; and

(vi)

by adding at the end the following:

(iv)

Cases in which conveyance shall not be required

(I)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, if a Village Corporation, prior to the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023, conveyed to the State in trust all or a portion of the acreage of land required to be conveyed under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future, and a Municipal Corporation has not been established as of that date of enactment, on formal resolution by the Village Corporation and the residents of the Native village requesting dissolution of the trust, the trust shall be dissolved and title to the land shall revert to the Village Corporation, subject to subclause (III).

(II)

Additional land

Notwithstanding any other provision of this subparagraph, as of the date of enactment of the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023, a Village Corporation shall not be required to convey any additional land in trust under this subparagraph for the establishment of a Municipal Corporation in the future.

(III)

Requirements

In accordance with subsection (g)—

(aa)

the reversion of land to a Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I) shall be subject to—

(AA)

valid existing rights created by the applicable trust; and

(BB)

any existing easements, rights-of-way necessary for public roadway access, or rights-of-way for access of holders of valid existing rights; and

(bb)

the Village Corporation shall assume the obligations of the applicable trust with respect to any lease or other use agreement applicable to the land on reversion of the land to the Village Corporation pursuant to subclause (I).

.

Passed the Senate December 18 (legislative day, December 16), 2024.

Secretary