What This Bill Does
This law allows the Pala Band of Mission Indians to transfer land in San Diego County, California to the federal government, which will then hold that land in trust for the tribe. The transferred land becomes part of the Pala Indian Reservation and is managed under the same rules that apply to other trust land held by the United States for Indian tribes.
Who It Affects
The Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Secretary of the Interior (the federal official who oversees Native American affairs), and potentially anyone conducting activities on the transferred land.
Key Provisions
• The Pala Band of Mission Indians must transfer the land to the United States within 180 days of this law's passage, and the Secretary of the Interior must take the land into trust within 180 days after receiving it. (Sec. 2(a)(1))
• The transferred land covers approximately 721.12 acres located in San Diego County, California, shown on a map titled "Pala Gregory Canyon Property Boundary and Parcels." (Sec. 2(b))
• The tribe cannot conduct gaming activities (casino or gambling operations) on this transferred land, either based on inherent tribal authority or under any federal law including the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. (Sec. 2(d))
• The law does not affect any water rights or existing easements (rights to use land for specific purposes like roads) that the tribe already had before this law passed. (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
If this law takes effect, approximately 721.12 acres of land in San Diego County becomes federally held trust land for the Pala Band of Mission Indians rather than privately or otherwise owned land. The tribe cannot use this specific land for gambling or casino operations.
Important Definitions
Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior (the federal official who oversees Native American affairs and tribal lands). (Sec. 2(e)(1))
Tribe means the Pala Band of Mission Indians. (Sec. 2(e)(2))
137 STAT. 60
PUBLIC LAW 118–11—JULY 28, 2023
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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 MIS-
SION INDIANS.
(a) TRANSFER AND ADMINISTRATION.—
(1) TRANSFER OF LANDS INTO TRUST.—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 para-
graph (1) shall be part of the Pala Indian Reservation and
administered in accordance with the laws and regulations gen-
erally 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 Prop-
erty 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
Deadline.
Pala Band of
Mission Indians
Land Transfer
Act of 2023.
July 28, 2023
[H.R. 423]
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137 STAT. 61
PUBLIC LAW 118–11—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.
Æ
(2) under any Federal law, including the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) and regulations promul-
gated by the Secretary or the National Indian Gaming Commis-
sion 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 Mis-
sion Indians.
Approved July 28, 2023.
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