(A) The director of natural resources has exclusive authority to administer, manage, and establish policies governing canal lands.

(B)

(1) The director may sell, lease, exchange, give, or grant all or part of the state's interest in any canal lands in accordance with section 1501.01 of the Revised Code. The director may stipulate that an appraisal or survey need not be conducted for, and may establish any terms or conditions that the director determines appropriate for, any such conveyance.

Prior to proposing the conveyance of any canal lands, the director shall consider the local government needs and economic development potential with respect to the canal lands and the recreational, ecological, and historical value of the canal lands. In addition, the conveyance of canal lands shall be conducted in accordance with the director's policies governing the protection and conservation of canal lands established under this section.

(2) With regard to canal lands, the chief of the office of real estate and land management, with the approval of the director, may sell, lease, or transfer minerals or mineral rights when the chief, with the approval of the director, determines that the sale, lease, or transfer is in the best interest of the state. Consideration for minerals and mineral rights shall be by rental or on a royalty basis as prescribed by the chief, with the approval of the director, and payable as prescribed by contract. Moneys collected under division (B)(2) of this section shall be paid into the state treasury to the credit of the canal lands fund created in section 1520.05 of the Revised Code.

(C) The director may transfer to the Ohio history connection any equipment, maps, and records used on or related to canal lands that are of historical interest and that are not needed by the director to administer this chapter.

(D) If the director determines that any canal lands are a necessary part of a county's drainage or ditch system and are not needed for any purpose of the department of natural resources, the director may sell, grant, or otherwise convey those canal lands to that county in accordance with division (B) of this section. The board of county commissioners shall accept the transfer of canal lands.

(E) Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, the county auditor shall transfer any canal lands conveyed under this section, and the county recorder shall record the deed for those lands in accordance with section 317.12 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 293, §1, eff. 9/14/2016.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 141, §1, eff. 9/29/2015.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 7/17/2009.

Effective Date: 03-18-1999; 2006 HB699 03-29-2007; 04-06-2007.