Sec. 1. 12 MRSA c. 209, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. 2. 33 MRSA c. 43 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 43

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY IN STATE

§2001.__Consent given only for enumerated purposes

The consent of the Legislature is given in accordance with United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8 to the acquisition by the United States of title to any real property in this State acquired for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards and other needful buildings.__The United States may not acquire title to own real property in this State for any purposes other than those enumerated in this section without the consent of the Legislature.

Sec. 3. Process for transfer of land ownership to State. By January 1, 2007, the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, with input from the Department of Conservation, shall recommend to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over property matters a procedure for the transfer to the State of title to all land in this State that is owned by the United States and that is not used for the purposes enumerated in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 33, section 2001.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits the United States from owning or acquiring land in this State unless the ownership of the land is expressly authorized by the United States Constitution. It also directs the Department of Administrative and Financial Services and the Department of Conservation to recommend to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over property matters a procedure for transferring to the State all land that is owned by the United States and that is not authorized by the United States Constitution. The bill also repeals sections of law that authorize the United States to acquire land in the State for national forests.