I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5799 
To provide for the Secretary of Agriculture to release the reversionary interest 
of the United States on certain land in the State of Florida if encroach-
ments and trespassing have occurred on that land, and for other pur-
poses. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2006 
Mr. MILLER of Florida (for himself and Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor-
ida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To provide for the Secretary of Agriculture to release the 
reversionary interest of the United States on certain 
land in the State of Florida if encroachments and tres-
passing have occurred on that land, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. BLACKWATER RIVER AND WITHLACOOCHEE 
STATE FORESTS, FLORIDA. 
(a) RELEASE.—If the State of Florida, not later than 
10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, noti-
fies the Secretary of Agriculture that encroachments by 
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improvements or occupation have occured before July 13, 
2006, on one or more of the parcels of real property de-
scribed in subsection (b), the Secretary shall release to 
Florida all right, title, and interest of the United States 
in and to any identified parcel, such right, title, and inter-
est consisting of the reversionary interest of the United 
States on the affected areas within any identified parcel 
without further Federal administrative review or analysis.
(b) ORIGINAL DEEDED LAND DESCRIPTIONS.— 
(1) The parcel of real property described in a 
deed dated November 4, 1955, conveying certain 
lands in Santa Rosa County to the State of Florida. 
(2) The parcel of real property described in a 
deed dated April 11, 1957, conveying certain lands 
in Santa Rosa County to the State of Florida. 
(3) The parcel of real property described in a 
deed dated November 4, 1955, conveying certain 
lands in Okaloosa County to the State of Florida. 
(4) The parcel of real property described in a 
deed dated November 26, 1982, conveying certain 
lands in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, and Sumter 
Counties to the State of Florida. 
(c) DEEDS.—The 4 deeds referred to in subsection 
(b) are recorded as follows: 
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(1) Deed Book 122, pages 397–437, Santa 
Rosa County, Florida. 
(2) Deed Book 133, pages 333–337, Santa 
Rosa County, Florida. 
(3) Deed Book 121, pages 511–528, Okaloosa 
County, Florida. 
(4) Official Record Book 610, pages 1228– 
1237, Citrus County, Florida. 
(5) Official Record Book 517, pages 491–500, 
Hernando County, Florida. 
(6) Official Record Book 269, pages 126–135, 
Sumter County, Florida. 
(7) Official Record Book 1240, pages 1065– 
1074, Pasco County, Florida. 
(d) CONSIDERATION.—The United States shall re-
ceive no funds as consideration for the release of the rever-
sionary interests under subsection (a). As consideration 
for such release, the State of Florida shall agree to the 
following: 
(1) USE OF PROCEEDS.—All net proceeds from 
the sale, exchange, or other disposition of the real 
property subject to the reversionary interests shall 
be used by the State of Florida for the acquisition 
of other lands within or adjacent to the exterior 
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boundaries of Blackwater River State Forest and 
Withlacoochee State Forest. 
(2) USE OF ACQUIRED LANDS.—Any lands ac-
quired by the sale, exchange, or other disposition of 
the real property subject to the reversionary inter-
ests shall become a part of the State forest in which 
the acquired lands are located and shall be subject 
to the condition that the acquired lands be used for 
public purposes. 
(3) RETENTION
OF
LAND
BASE.—The total 
land base of such State forests shall not be reduced 
below the original acreage of the real property in-
cluded in the conveyances described in subsection 
(a), except in the case of any lands conveyed at the 
request of the United States, and the total land base 
shall be managed in perpetuity as State forest land. 
(4) FUND; RECORDS.—All net proceeds from 
the sale, exchange, or other disposition of the real 
property subject to the reversionary interests shall 
be maintained by the State of Florida in a separate 
fund prior to use under paragraph (1). The record 
of all transactions involving such fund shall be open 
to inspection by the Secretary of Agriculture. 
(5) INDEMNIFICATION.—The State of Florida 
shall agree to indemnify and hold the United States 
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harmless with regard to any boundary disputes re-
lated to any parcel released under this section. 
(6) SURVEY; MAPS.—Before any release of a re-
versionary interest under subsection (a), the State of 
Florida shall provide to the Secretary, at the ex-
pense of the State of Florida, a survey and a map 
acceptable to the Secretary of the areas encroached 
upon by improvements or occupied to be identified 
and for which a release under subsection (a) is re-
quested. 
(e) INSTRUMENT OF RELEASE.—Not later than 90 
days after receipt from the State of Florida of an identi-
fied parcel under subsection (a), the Secretary of Agri-
culture shall execute and file in the appropriate office or 
offices a deed of release, amended deed, or other appro-
priate instrument effectuating the release of the rever-
sionary interests on that parcel. 
(f) AVAILABILITY
OF RECORDS.—The survey and 
maps required under subsection (d)(6), deeds, and other 
relevant legal records related to any release of a rever-
sionary interest under subsection (a) shall be kept on file 
and available for public inspection at the approprate office 
of the Department of Agriculture. 
Æ 
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