(a) The department, upon request of the leaseholder, shall extend any existing lease for a recreational homesite on Lower Sherman Island to the holder of any lease of lands under the control of the department, under the following conditions:

(1) The existing lease is between the department and an individual person, partnership, or any affiliated group of two or more persons.

(2) Subject to subdivision (e), the lease may be extended for the natural life of the person who is the leaseholder on January 1, 1991. With respect to any lease to an affiliated group or an association of persons, the lease shall expire upon the death of the last individual who is a leaseholder on January 1, 1991.

(3) The lease, or any interest therein, may not be transferred, bequeathed, hypothecated, encumbered, sublet, assigned, sold, alienated, exchanged, or otherwise changed to the benefit of another party. The leaseholder shall annually certify to the department that he or she has not transferred, bequested, hypothecated, encumbered, sublet, assigned, sold, alienated, or exchanged the lease for consideration or by gift, or otherwise.

(4) If a lease is violated or breached by the leaseholder at any time during the life of the leaseholder, the lease may be terminated by the department within 30 days of the receipt by the department of actual or constructive notice of the breach.

(b) All leases entered into pursuant to this section shall include the following:

(1) A requirement for public access to navigable waters adjacent to the lease properties.

(2) A provision prohibiting the introduction and cultivation of exotic plant species and requiring existing exotic plant species to be removed according to a plan developed by the department.

(3) A provision establishing the right of the department and county employees to inspect the property for the purposes of monitoring and enforcing the conditions of the lease.

(4) A provision requiring the lessee, within 60 days after the lease is extended, and annually thereafter, to provide the department with proof that (A) the lessee will remove the buildings and all ancillary structures and facilities necessary to return the area to a natural condition, or (B) the lessee has made arrangements for the removal of the buildings and all ancillary structures and facilities necessary to return the area to a natural condition, upon termination of the lease.

(c) The department shall develop a plan for the removal of nonnative plants from the island. The plan shall include, at a minimum, the following:

(1) The type and location of nonnative plants.

(2) The relative threat that these plants pose to the natural environment of the island.

(3) A time schedule for the leaseholders to remove the nonnative plants within 200 yards of the leaseholders’ structures.

(d) Proceeds from the leases of lands under the control of the department on Lower Sherman Island shall be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and used for the purpose of enforcing and monitoring those lease terms and managing the Lower Sherman Island Wildlife area.

(e) The department shall, on or before July 31, 1991, and annually thereafter, review all leases of land subject to subdivision (a) under the control of the department and, as soon as possible, charge the fair market rate on those leases of land.

(Added by Stats. 1991, Ch. 323, Sec. 1. Effective August 5, 1991.)