HJR302 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

U. S. Congress/Federal Government urged to indemnify Alabama counties for lost sixteenth section lands from offshore gulf oil revenues, Attorney General to provide oversight, amounts provided

Summary

A House Joint Resolution urging Congress to annually indemnify Alabama counties for lost sixteenth section lands using offshore Gulf of Mexico royalty revenues, with the Attorney General overseeing the process.

What This Bill Does

If enacted as a resolution, it would formally request that Congress compensate Alabama counties for lost sixteenth section lands from offshore royalties. It presents a calculation framework to determine per-county payments based on remaining sixteenth section acres and royalty revenue data, including illustrative per-acre value and county-by-county payment amounts. It also requires safeguards to ensure indemnification funds increase educational funding and not replace existing funds, and it assigns oversight to the Attorney General. Finally, it asks Alabama's congressional delegation to pursue the necessary federal action.

Who It Affects

• Alabama counties – could receive indemnification payments for lost sixteenth section lands according to the proposed calculation.
• Attorney General and state government – would oversee the process, rules, and distribution of indemnification funds to ensure proper implementation.

Key Provisions

• Urges Congress to annually indemnify Alabama counties from offshore royalty revenues for lost sixteenth section lands.
• Outlines a calculation method: divide approximately 930,027 acres among 67 counties to determine per-county allocations, use a per-acre value derived from one-sixteenth of 2008 offshore royalty revenues, and multiply by lost acres per county to determine payments; includes an illustrative list of county amounts.
• Incorporates safeguards that indemnification funds must increase, not replace, existing education funds; designates the Attorney General to oversee the process and promulgate rules.
• Requests Alabama's Congressional Delegation to pursue federal action and authorize necessary legislation and administrative steps to ensure proper indemnification payments.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative