SRC-MAX S.B. 1925 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1925 By: Ratliff Natural Resources 4-22-97 As Filed DIGEST For a number of years public school land property located in Cass County has been occupied by a family who believed they owned the property. Title to this property has never been conveyed out of the permanent school fund. In 1996, this parcel was placed on a list of surplus state land to be publicly offered at a sealed bid sale. Because of the family's confusion over the ownership of the property, the General Land Office removed this tract form the sale list. This bill authorizes the School Land Board to conduct a direct sale of this property to the family located in Cass County. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1925 sets forth provisions for preferential rights to purchase certain surveyed, unsold land in Cass County dedicated to the permanent school fund. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Authorizes the School Land Board (board) to approve a preferential right for an applicant in possession to purchase certain land in Cass County dedicated to the permanent school fund before the land is made available for sale to another person under certain conditions. SECTION 2. Requires a person applying to the board to purchase a tract of land under this Act to submit information the board considers necessary to determine the qualifications of the applicant to receive a preferential right to purchase the tract. Requires the person applying for the preferential right to purchase under this Act to submit a written application not later than the first anniversary after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. Provides that the preferential right to purchase under this Act does not apply to certain types of land. Provides that the sale of certain tracts of land under this Act is subject to the reservation of minerals to the state in a certain manner. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.