§5A-11-1. Public Land Corporation.

(a) The Public Land Corporation, heretofore created and established as a unit of the Division of Natural Resources, and previously continued and established as a unit of the Real Estate Division of the Department of Administration, is hereby eliminated. The property belonging to the Public Land Corporation upon the effective date of its elimination shall be transferred to the Division of Natural Resources of the Department of Commerce.

(b) The Division of Natural Resources of the Department of Commerce shall be forthwith vested with:

(1) The title of the State of West Virginia in public lands, the title to which now is or may hereafter become vested in the State of West Virginia by reason of any law governing the title of lands of the state: Provided, That lands for which title is specifically vested by law in other state agencies, institutions, and departments shall continue to be vested in such state agencies, institutions, and departments;

(2) The State of West Virginia’s interest in the rivers, streams, creeks, or beds thereof; or

(3) All other public lands managed or acquired by the Division of Natural Resources pursuant to §20-1-1 et seq. of this code.

(c) All property vested with the Division of Natural Resources shall be for the use and enjoyment of the citizens of the state. When appropriate, the Division of Natural Resources should collaborate with the Secretary of Tourism to determine the best use for the public property.

(d) The powers and duties of the Director of the Division of Natural Resources, as set forth in §20-1-7 of this code, shall apply to all public property vested with the Division of Natural Resources, without distinction.