TITLE 2: NATURAL RESOURCES
DIVISION 4: LAND RESOURCES
§ 4324. Conveyance of Public Lands: Limitations and Requirements. (a) The Department of Public Lands shall establish procedures for granting deeds to persons who have established continuous use of public lands for at least 15 years as of the effective date of the Constitution [January 9, 1978]. (b) A person receiving a deed under this article is limited to an agricultural homestead lot that does not exceed the land area allowable at the time the land was entered, occupied and improved. (c) No time limitation shall be imposed by the Department of Public Lands for submission of requests or applications for deeds and permits pursuant to this article. Source: PL 2-13, § 4; amended by PL 5-33, § 9; (c) amended by PL 14-66, § 3, modified; (a) and (c) global amendments by PL 15-2, § 4; (c) amended by PL 16-50 § 5 (January 15, 2010). Commission Comment: The Commission inserted a colon in place of a dash in the heading of this section to conform the heading to the style used elsewhere in the code. According to PL 3-90, § 7(a) (reprinted in the preface material, prior to title 1), “section headings . . . do not in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of this Code.” With respect to the references to the “Marianas Public Land Corporation,” see Executive Order 94-3 (effective August 23, 1994), reorganizing the executive branch, changing agency names and official titles, and effecting other changes, set forth in the Commission comment to 1 CMC § 2001; see also the comment to 2 CMC § 4142. The Commission deleted figures that were a repetition of words in the above section pursuant to the authority granted by 1 CMC § 3806(e). PL 14-66 was enacted on May 5, 2005, and contained the following findings, in addition to an amendment to 2 CMC § 4323, severability, and savings clause provisions. See the Commission comment to 2 CMC § 4323 regarding the findings of PL 1466. PL 15-2, which was enacted on February 22, 2006, abolished the Marianas Public Lands Authority and created a Department of Public Lands in its place. PL 15-2 contained short title, legislative findings and declaration of policy, repealer, global amendment, transition, severability, and savings clauses. See 1 CMC § 2801 for detailed information regarding PL 15-2. See comment to 2 CMC § 4401 for more information regarding PL 16-50.