(a) WHEREAS, on December 13, 1982, the state issued to the university a patent to certain lands in Mobile County, herein called “the patent,” covering the following described property in Mobile County, Alabama, to wit:
Beginning at Alabama West Zone Coordinates Y = 118,606.82; X = 296,291.22 which point is on or near the intersection of the North line of Section 26, Township 8 South, Range 2 West and the East Shore line of Heron Bay, thence run North 77 degrees 54 minutes 52 seconds West a distance of 3883.84 feet to a point on the South shore line of Mon Louis Island, (Y = 119,419.98; X = 292,493.47) thence run due South a distance of 20,071.04 feet to coordinates Y = 99,348.94; X = 292,493.47 which point is in the Mississippi Sound, thence run North 79 degrees - 40 minutes - 28 seconds East a distance of 7805.85 feet to coordinates Y = 100,748.05; X = 300,172.90 which point is in the Mississippi Sound, thence run North 26 degrees - 35 minutes - 34 seconds East a distance of 4,273.18 feet to coordinates Y = 104,569.17; X = 302,085.78 which point is on the center line of Dauphin Island Bridge (Alabama Highway No. 163) at station 106 + 53.04, thence run South 67 degrees - 50 minutes - 12 seconds East a distance of 2358.05 feet to point No. L-D-3 as shown on the plat of Harbor Lines, Dauphin Island and Little Dauphin Island as recorded in Real Property Book 617, Page 610, in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Mobile County, Alabama, thence run South 53 degrees - 14 minutes - 12 seconds East along the Harbor Line of Little Dauphin Island a distance of 12,522.99 feet to coordinates Y = 96,184.54; X = 314,302.02 which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due North a distance of 8815.46 feet to coordinates Y = 105,000.00; X = 314,302.02 which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due West a distance of 7151.01 feet to coordinates Y = 105,000.00; X = 307,151.01 which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due North a distance of 15,000.00 feet to coordinates Y = 120,000.00; X = 307,151.01, which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due East a distance of 834.76 feet to coordinates Y = 120,000.00; X = 307,985.77, which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due North a distance of 5945.61 feet to coordinates Y = 125,945.61; X = 307,985.77, which point is in Mobile Bay, thence run due West a distance of 4646.75 feet to a point on the West shore line of Mobile Bay and the East shore line of Mon Louis Island (Y = 125,945.61; X = 303,339.02) thence run Southwestwardly along the meanders of said East shore line of Mon Louis Island to coordinates Y = 120,000.00; X = 300,000.00, (chord bears South 29 degrees - 19 minutes - 06 seconds West a distance of 6819.04 feet) thence continue Southwestwardly along the meanders of the East shore line of Mon Louis Island to coordinates Y = 113,374.12; X = 298,664.12, which point is on station 11 + 69 more or less on the Northwest corner of Dauphin Island Bridge at Cedar Point (Alabama Highway No. 163) (chord bears South 11 degrees 23 minutes 56 seconds West a distance of 6759.21 feet) thence run Northwestwardly along the meanders of the West shore line of Cedar Point (Mon Louis Island) to coordinates Y = 116,364.22; X = 296,862.69 (chord bears North 31 degrees - 04 minutes - 03 seconds West a distance of 3490.82 feet) thence continue Northwestwardly along the meanders of said Cedar Point (Mon Louis Island) to the point of beginning (Y = 118,606.82; X = 296,291.22) chord bears North 14 degrees - 17 minutes - 45 seconds West a distance of 2314.27 feet) containing 7,664 acres more or less
and which lands are hereinafter referred to as “the subject property”; and
WHEREAS, by conveyance, the university on July 11, 1983, transferred and conveyed to the foundation all of its right, title, claim, or interest in the subject property arising under the patent; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature then passed an act attempting to void the patent; and
WHEREAS, the foundation then filed suit to have that act declared void as unconstitutional under the United States and Alabama Constitutions; and
WHEREAS, the state has heretofore disputed the validity of the patent, and, by reason of such dispute, the university and the foundation have heretofore commenced certain legal proceedings seeking to quiet title to the subject property in the foundation, and seeking other relief, which proceedings are presently pending in the Supreme Court of Alabama as Case No. 83-1405, and in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, Southern Division, as Cases Nos. 83-1218-H and 83-1397-H, all of which are herein sometimes called the “pending cases”; and
WHEREAS, on June 11, 1984, the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, entered a judgment in Case No. CV 83-1242 declaring the patent to be null and void; and
WHEREAS, the foundation within the time permitted by law filed an appeal from the said judgment in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County to the Supreme Court of Alabama which such appeal (Case No. 83-1405) is presently pending before and unresolved by the Supreme Court of Alabama; and
WHEREAS, the foundation continues to claim that it is the owner of certain property rights or interests in the subject property arising from the patent, and the state continues to claim that the patent is void and of no effect; and
WHEREAS, the state has acknowledged that the decisions which may result from the said appeal, now pending before the Supreme Court of Alabama and from the two actions presently pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, above described, cannot presently be predicted with certainty; and
WHEREAS, the university and the foundation wish to make provision for the conclusion of all litigation relating to the validity of the patent and other issues surrounding the subject property, and to resolve all disputes relating thereto and, at the earliest possible date, to make the subject property available for leasing for the purpose of exploration for and production of oil, gas, and hydrocarbon minerals:
It is the intent of the Legislature by the adoption of this section that the State of Alabama, by and through the Governor of the state, shall forthwith conclude by settlement all pending litigation between and among the State of Alabama, the University of South Alabama, and the University of South Alabama Foundation, and all issues related thereto.
(b) As an inducement to such settlement, the University of South Alabama Foundation may be allowed to retain such a right in the subject property as will authorize it to receive, directly from any lessee thereof, a percentage of the proceeds or revenues from oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon mineral leases, bonuses, delay rentals, and royalties, which may arise from or be generated by the subject property.
(c) The Governor of the State of Alabama is hereby authorized and empowered to take all steps on behalf of the State of Alabama to conclude by settlement all pending cases involving directly or indirectly the validity of the patent, wherein the University of South Alabama, and the University of South Alabama Foundation are parties litigant, provided, however, (1) that in no case shall the foundation be allowed to retain a right in the said oil, gas, or other hydrocarbon mineral proceeds or revenues from the subject property in excess of a net of 28.5 percent, and (2) that upon such settlement, all right, title, claim, or interest in and to the subject property, under the patent, except the right herein authorized to be retained by the Foundation, shall be transferred and conveyed by the University of South Alabama and the University of South Alabama Foundation to the State of Alabama.