BILL NUMBER: AB 1054	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 24, 2012
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 19, 2012
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JANUARY 4, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Skinner

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 6804.1 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to public lands.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1054, as amended, Skinner. Public lands: oil and gas leases.
   Existing law authorizes the State Lands Commission to lease lands
owned by the state that are under the jurisdiction of the commission
for those purposes as the commission deems advisable, including, but
not limited to, grazing leases and leases for commercial, industrial,
and recreational purposes. Existing law allows lessees of oil and
gas and mineral leases to make and file with the commission a written
quitclaim or relinquishment of all rights under a lease comprising a
particular parcel. The quitclaim or relinquishment becomes effective
as of the date of its filing subject to specified conditions.
   This bill instead would allow a lessee to file with the commission
a written request for the commission to approve a quitclaim or
relinquishment of all or any portion of the lease premises under an
oil and gas and mineral lease subject to any required abandonment of
facilities and required reclamation of the lease premises. The bill
would require  , upon a lessee's completion of abandonment and
reclamation of the lease premises,  the request to approve a
quitclaim or relinquishment of all rights under a lease to be heard
at a commission meeting.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 6804.1 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   6804.1.  (a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the
contrary, a lessee may at any time file with the commission a written
request for the commission to accept a quitclaim or relinquishment
of all or a portion of the lease premises under any lease. A
quitclaim or relinquishment shall be effective upon completion of any
required abandonment of facilities and required reclamation of the
lease premises as specified in the lease and approved by the
commission. Until that time, a lessee shall comply with all terms of
the lease including the payment of rentals and royalties that have
accrued.
   (b)  A   Upon a lessee's completion of any
required abandonment of facilities and required reclamation of the
lease premises as specified in subdivision (a), a  lessee's
request for the commission to accept a quitclaim or relinquishment of
all or a portion of the lease premises shall be heard at the next
regularly scheduled commission meeting for which the request may be
properly reviewed and noticed. Upon acceptance by the commission, the
lessee shall be released from all obligations accruing under the
lease with respect to the lands quitclaimed or relinquished.
Acceptance of a quitclaim by the commission does not release the
lessee or the lessee's surety from liability for breach of any
obligation of the lease for which the lessee is in default at the
time of approval.
   (c) Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to terminate,
modify, or replace any lease that was in effect prior to January 1,
2013.