BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 892
                                                    By: Patterson
                                      Intergovernmental Relations
                                                         03-30-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, the City of Galveston owns a small plot of property
adjacent to a city park but surrounded by privately owned property. 
This plot has been determined to be surplus property, unusable as
park land due to its limited size and isolation from the rest of
the park.  The city has determined that this property should be
sold and combined with the adjoining private property, which may
enhance the city park by allowing the buyer to use the space for
parking or landscaping.  No citywide election will be held in 1995
and the city would like to avoid the cost of a special election.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 892 authorizes certain municipalities to sell
certain park land without voter approval.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 253.001, Local Government Code, by
amending Subsection (e) and by adding Subsection (g), as follows:

     (e)  Provides that Subsection (b) does not apply to a
     conveyance of park land that:
     
     (1)  is owned by a home-rule municipality with a population
       of less than 80,000, rather than 115,000, and that is
       located in a county bordering the Gulf of Mexico;
       
       (3)  is part of a park that is 100, rather than 600, acres
       or less;
       
       (4)  is sold or conveyed as a sale to the owner of adjoining
       property, rather than part of an exchange for property; and
       
       (5)  is conveyed pursuant to a resolution or an ordinance
       that requires the sale to be with an owner of adjoining
       property for fair market value and has an effective date
       before December 31, 1995, rather than November 1, 1989.
       
     (g)  Provides that a sale made under Subsection (e) is exempt
     from the notice and bidding requirements in Chapter 272.
     
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.