NY S07659

Amends Environmental Conservation Law to create Title 19 (Township Forty Settlement Act) to resolve century-old title disputes between New York State and private parties over 144 identified parcels in Township 40, Totten and Crossfield Purchase, Long Lake, Hamilton County.

Requires the Department to notify all persons claiming title to disputed parcels within 30 days; claimants have 90 days to either participate in the resolution process or file a notarized statement of nonparticipation.

Participating claimants must convey disputed land to the State or conservation easements to the Town within 12 months, and pay administrative costs to the Town calculated as a flat $2,000 per parcel plus a proportional share of $200,000 based on assessed values.

Upon legislative approval of replacement lands identified by the Department, the State becomes estopped from asserting title claims to disputed parcels based on pre-enactment facts, deeds, or tax sales; the Town uses collected payments to acquire replacement forest preserve lands.

Non-participating claimants remain subject to litigation initiated by the Attorney General within 24 months to determine title through court proceedings under the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.