A.  The Registrar of the State Land Office, acting for and on behalf of the state of Louisiana, may execute surface leases for any of the purposes enumerated in La. Rev. Stat. 41:1212 of not more than two acres on any lands, including water bottoms, under his jurisdiction.  All such leases shall be for a cash consideration and under such terms and conditions as the Registrar of the State Land Office deems to be most beneficial to the state of Louisiana.  Leases of this type shall be granted only when the individual seeking to acquire such a lease has, prior to January 1, 1985, in good faith, constructed permanent improvements in the amount of not less than ten thousand dollars on said lands and is the owner or lessee of said improvements.

B.  Each lease granted under the authority of this Section shall be for a term not to exceed ten years.  The secretary shall have the right to renew any such lease in accordance with the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 41:1217.

C.  Any lease granted under authority of this section shall be subordinate to any lease hereafter made of the lands for oil, gas or other mineral development, and any lease granted shall be subject to termination at any time if it is determined that the land covered by the lease is required for use by the state.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 196, §1.  Amended by Acts 1967, No. 33, §5; Acts 1983, No. 460, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1061, §1.