By Eiland                                             H.B. No. 1171
       74R2289 PAM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to requiring counties to accept ownership of conveyed
    1-3  property in certain circumstances.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 270, Local Government Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Section 270.0011 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 270.0011.  ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY REQUIRED IN
    1-8  CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b),
    1-9  a county shall accept ownership of property located in the county
   1-10  if:
   1-11              (1)  the property is properly conveyed as a gift by a
   1-12  grantor who acquired title to the property from a debtor in
   1-13  default; and
   1-14              (2)  the conveyance instrument grants to the county
   1-15  unencumbered title to the property.
   1-16        (b)  A county is not required to accept property conveyed
   1-17  under this section if:
   1-18              (1)  an unabated nuisance exists on the property; or
   1-19              (2)  ownership of the property will subject the county
   1-20  to liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
   1-21  Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et
   1-22  seq.), Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, or Subchapter I,
   1-23  Chapter 26, Water Code.
   1-24        (c)  A county that accepts property under this section may
    2-1  retain the property or dispose of the property by any method
    2-2  authorized by law.
    2-3        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.