I just found a patent in the file for a Lot in Section 6 in one of our State Forests. It was School Lands. The State of California, acting by and through the State Public Works Board grants to the State of California, acting by and through the State Public Works Board, I'm not kidding 🙂
But don't worry, we reserved the mineral rights.
Usually when land or an easement is transferred from one department to another it's done with a Transfer of Jurisdiction. In the past when State Lands Commission lands were involved the SLC would issue a patent to the State.
Since it's school lands involved, depending upon the year of the patent, State Lands should have been involved. I'd have to check the history of agency shuffle in the early 1900s, but I don't think that the Public Works Board ever had the authority to issue patents.