75-52,136. Lease of land under secretary's control for production of oil, gas or other minerals. (a) The secretary of corrections is hereby authorized to lease any of the lands under the secretary's control, the title of which is vested in the state of Kansas for the production of oil, gas or other minerals which the secretary may deem valuable for that purpose. All such leases shall be on such terms and conditions as the secretary may prescribe, except that such leases shall not be for a period of more than five years, and so long thereafter as oil, gas or other minerals are produced in paying quantities thereon.

(b) Before entering into any lease pursuant to this section, the secretary of corrections shall give not less than 30 days' public notice, by publication in the Kansas register, of the secretary's intention to enter such lease. Any such lease shall be awarded in accordance with the competitive bid laws of this state. The right to reject any and all bids for leases shall be reserved by the secretary of corrections. Any lease under the provisions of this act shall be executed by the secretary of corrections, shall contain a recital of all proceedings in compliance with this section and shall be approved as to form by the attorney general.

(c) The lessee under any lease pursuant to this section shall be liable in damages to any surface lessee and to the state for any and all injury, damage or loss, caused by any act or omission of the lessee, to any property of the surface lessee or to any property of the state located upon or used in connection with such lands.

(d) No lease pursuant to this section, nor the uses or occupancy thereunder, shall interfere materially with the purposes for which the lands were granted to the state of Kansas.

(e) All proceeds of any lease pursuant to this section shall be remitted to the state treasurer in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-4215, and amendments thereto. Upon receipt of each such remittance, the state treasurer shall deposit the entire amount in the state treasury to the credit of the state general fund.

History: L. 1991, ch. 264, § 2; L. 2001, ch. 5, § 400; July 1.