63L-9 - Department of Land Management

Title 63L > 63L-9

Sections (5)

63L-9-101 - Title.

This chapter is known as the ” Department of Land Management.”

63L-9-102 - Creation of the Department of Land Management.

63L-9-102(1) There is created a Department of Land Management. 63L-9-102(2) The department shall be staffed:

upon the state receiving title to at least 250,000 acres of public land from the federal government pursuant to Section 63L-6-103; and as funding appropriated by the Legislature allows. 63L-9-102(3) The department may sue and be sued as required to carry out the purposes of this chapter and Title 63L, Chapter 8, Utah Public Land Management Act.

63L-9-103 - Director.

63L-9-103(1) Upon the requirements described in Subsection 63L-9-102(2) being fulfilled, the governor shall, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint a director of the Department of Land Management. 63L-9-103(2) The director shall:

be the executive and administrative head of the Department of Land Management; have demonstrated ability and experience in the administration and management of state or federal lands; not hold any other public office or be involved in a political party or organization; and hire personnel to staff the department. 63L-9-103(3) The director shall have:

executive authority and control of the Department of Land Management; and authority over all personnel matters.

63L-9-104 - Public Land Management Advisory Board.

63L-9-104(1) There is created the Public Land Management Advisory Board. 63L-9-104(2) The board consists of the following 11 members:

the lieutenant governor, or the lieutenant governor’s designee; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of oil, gas, and mining; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of agriculture; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of outdoor recreation; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of environmental groups; three representatives, appointed by the governor, who represent the interests of county commissioners; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of rural transportation; one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of wildlife management; and one representative, appointed by the governor, who represents the interests of forest management. 63L-9-104(3) Members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Notwithstanding the requirements of Subsection (3)(a), the governor shall, at the time of appointment or reappointment, adjust the length of terms of the members described in Subsections (2)(b) through (i) to ensure that the terms of board members are staggered so that half of the appointed board is appointed every two years. 63L-9-104(4) A member may serve more than one term. 63L-9-104(5) A member shall hold office until the expiration of the member’s term and until the member’s successor is appointed, but not more than 90 days after the expiration of the member’s term. 63L-9-104(6) When a vacancy occurs in the membership for any reason, a replacement shall be appointed for the unexpired term. 63L-9-104(7) The board shall elect annually a chair and a vice chair from the board’s members. 63L-9-104(8) The board shall meet at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chair upon the chair’s own initiative, upon the request of the director, or upon the request of three members of the board. Three days’ notice shall be given to each member of the board before a meeting. 63L-9-104(9) Six members constitute a quorum at a meeting, and the action of a majority of members present is the action of the board. 63L-9-104(10) A member may not receive compensation or benefits for the member’s service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:

Section 63A-3-106; Section 63A-3-107; and rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107.

63L-9-105 - Department of Land Management duties.

The department shall manage and administer all public land, as defined in Section 63L-8-102 , consistent with the procedures, policies, and directives in Title 63L, Chapter 8, Utah Public Land Management Act .