House Bill 295 passed out of the House Community and Regional Affairs committee today with four amendments. The bill includes approximately 200,000 acres of state owned land located throughout Alaska for proposed transfer to the University of Alaska. As a land grant school, the university has yet to receive its’ constitutional land allotment. Proposed revenues generated through the sale of home site parcels, leases, and in certain cases, mineral development will be used to generate revenue for university programs. The bill includes approximately 30,000 acres of land in southeast Alaska. In the Juneau area, a small parcel near Auke Lake and a large tract near Lena on the hillside above the new Glacier highway bypass are included.

The four amendments deleted 3 parcels in the Haines borough for potential borough allotment selections, 40 acres surrounding the Tenakee boat harbor, and the Mite Cove parcel at Pelican. The committee also approved historical covenant language on a 5 acre parcel at Sumdum in Endicott Arm.

Over the past 10 years, several legislative attempts resulted in a lawsuit filed by SEACC to stop the sale of any of the lands. SEACC successfully challenged the university on the constitutional dedication of funds clause, which disallows dedicated revenues for a specific purpose. Current legislation requires legislative annual appropriation of university receipts, thus addressing the constitutional problem identified in the lawsuit.