Bill
AB 971
Return of roughly 3.68 acres of state land within San Pasqual Battlefield to the San Pasqual Band, enabling a tribal-run public park and cemetery preservation.
Status
- Introduced: February 20, 2025 (Asm. Alvarez)
- Most recent action: In committee — Held under submission (May 23, 2025)
- Referred to: Assembly Governmental Organization (G.O.) and Assembly Appropriations (suspense file) committees
Purpose / Intent
- States the Legislature’s intent to return ancestral land in the San Pasqual Valley to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians as a remedial action for historical wrongs. The bill includes findings about the tribe’s historical ownership, the mis‑siting of a reservation, the existence of a tribal cemetery on the land, and the tribe’s plan to operate a public park that commemorates its history.
Key provisions
- Adds Government Code Section 14673.14.
- Directs the Department of General Services (DGS), notwithstanding Gov. Code §11011.1, to quitclaim to the San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians, at no cost to the tribe, all state interests in three parcels (approximately 3.68 acres) the state owns within San Pasqual Battlefield State Park.
- Encourages the City of San Diego to transfer its interests in lands it owns within the park to the tribe.
- If the City of San Diego agrees to transfer its lands, requires the state to relinquish or transfer, at no cost to the tribe, any state rights or interests in those city-owned lands (including rights held by lease or permit) and to take any actions necessary to effectuate the transfer.
- Legislative findings:
- Declares a special statute is required under Article IV, §16 of the California Constitution due to the unique historical circumstances.
- Finds the transfers serve a public purpose (attempt to rectify past discrimination and to allow a public park), addressing potential concerns about a gift of public funds.
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiary: San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians (recipient of quitclaim and potential city land transfers).
- State agencies: Department of General Services (required to execute quitclaim and effectuate transfers/relinquishments).
- Local government: City of San Diego (encouraged, but not required, to transfer its interests).
- Public: potential reopening/operation of park and preservation of tribal cemetery and public education about tribal history.
Procedural / fiscal notes
- The bill contains no appropriation and the Legislative Digest indicates no state appropriation is required. It was referred to Appropriations (suspense) for fiscal consideration.
- The bill seeks to overcome normal property disposal limitations by expressly directing DGS to quitclaim and by including statutory language to address constitutional and gift‑of‑funds issues.
Legislative history highlights
- Read first time: 02/20/2025; amended and re‑referred to G.O. on 03/28/2025.
- G.O. committee: Do pass and re‑referred to Appropriations (04/30/2025).
- Appropriations: set for hearing and then held under submission (05/14/2025; 05/23/2025).
Potential impacts
- Transfers roughly 3.68 acres of state‑owned land to the tribe, and may facilitate additional transfers if the City of San Diego cooperates. Intended to remediate historical dispossession, preserve burial sites, and enable tribal operation of a public cultural/educational park. Legal and administrative steps will be required to clear leases/permits and complete conveyances.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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