Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023
PL 118-11 (H.R.423), enacted 07/28/2023

[118th Congress Public Law 11]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 137 STAT. 62]]

Public Law 118-11
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To take certain land located in San Diego County, California, into trust 
   for the benefit of the Pala Band of Mission Indians, and for other 
            purposes. <<NOTE: July 28, 2023 -  [H.R. 423]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Pala Band of 
Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2023.>> 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Pala Band of Mission Indians Land 
Transfer Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF LAND IN TRUST FOR THE PALA BAND OF MISSION 
                    INDIANS.

    (a) Transfer and Administration.--
            (1) Transfer of lands into trust.-- <<NOTE: Deadline.>> If, 
        not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act, the Tribe transfers title to the land referred to in 
        subsection (b) to the United States, the Secretary, not later 
        than 180 days after such transfer, shall take that land into 
        trust for the benefit of the Tribe.
            (2) Administration.--The land transferred under paragraph 
        (1) shall be part of the Pala Indian Reservation and 
        administered in accordance with the laws and regulations 
        generally applicable to land held in trust by the United States 
        for an Indian Tribe.

    (b) Land Description.--The land referred to in subsection (a)(1) is 
the approximately 721.12 acres of land located in San Diego County, 
California, generally depicted as ``Gregory Canyon Property Boundary'' 
on the map titled ``Pala Gregory Canyon Property Boundary and Parcels''.
    (c) Rules of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall--
            (1) enlarge, impair, or otherwise affect any right or claim 
        of the Tribe to any land or interest in land that is in 
        existence before the date of the enactment of this Act;
            (2) affect any water right of the Tribe in existence before 
        the date of the enactment of this Act; or
            (3) terminate or limit any access in any way to any right-
        of-way or right-of-use issued, granted, or permitted before the 
        date of the enactment of this Act.

    (d) Restricted Use of Transferred Lands.--The Tribe may not conduct, 
on the land taken into trust for the Tribe pursuant to this Act, gaming 
activities--
            (1) as a matter of claimed inherent authority; or

[[Page 137 STAT. 63]]

            (2) under any Federal law, including the Indian Gaming 
        Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and regulations 
        promulgated by the Secretary or the National Indian Gaming 
        Commission under that Act.

    (e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (2) Tribe.--The term ``Tribe'' means the Pala Band of 
        Mission Indians.

    Approved July 28, 2023.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 423 (S. 277):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

SENATE REPORTS: No. 118-2 (Comm. on Indian Affairs) accompanying S. 277.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 169 (2023):
            Feb. 6, considered and passed House.
            July 18, considered and passed Senate.

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