The General Assembly of 1850 created the Internal Improvement Board to manage the swamp and overflow lands and the 500,000 acres of public lands transferred to state ownership when Florida entered the Union (Ch. 332, Laws). In 1854, the Internal Improvement Fund was created to control the funds already accumulated and any future funds resulting from sales (Ch. 610, Laws). The Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund was also established and was given the power to transfer and sell lands; to collect revenues from railroad companies; to approve the building of railroads, bridges, and canals; and to invest surplus monies in United States stocks, stocks of other states, or internal improvement bonds.
In 1963, the Board also took control of the State Land Office from the Commissioner of Agriculture (Ch. 63-294, Laws). Then in 1969, the name was changed to Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (Ch. 69-106, Laws). The powers and duties of the Board concerning state lands were transferred to the Dept. of Natural Resources in 1975 (Ch. 75-22, Laws) and its Division of State Lands in 1979 (Ch. 79-255, Laws). The Board currently holds title to state lands held in trust for the use and benefit of the people of Florida (Article X, Section 11, 1968 Constitution) and maintains the State Land Office (Ch. 253.031, FS).
From the description of Minutes, 1855-1973. (Florida State Archive). WorldCat record id: 32413650
