SRC-JBJ H.B. 1539 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1539
75R6064 PAM-DBy: Pitts (Nelson)
State Affairs
4/28/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

In the early 1990s, the federal government canceled the Superconducting
Super Collider project. Following the cancellation, the General Land Office
(GLO), on behalf of the state, sold more than $10 million in the project's
real property to third parties.  Legislation passed by the 75th
Legislature, and codified in Section 31.309, Natural Resources Code,
created a preference right for certain previous owners of the real property
to repurchase the property before the property was offered to third parties
by the state.  GLO promulgated rules regarding the proper way to notice and
exercise these preference rights.  H.B. 1539 would validate all conveyances
of land subject to preference rights under Section 31.309, provided that
the conveyance takes place before the effective date of this Act.  This
bill also specifies that the validation will not affect a conveyance that
is the subject of a suit filed before the effective date of this Act. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1539 validates certain conveyances of land subject to
Section 31.309, Natural Resources Code, that was formerly used for the
superconducting super collider research facility. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  VALIDATION OF CONVEYANCE OF LAND USED FOR SUPERCONDUCTING SUPER
COLLIDER RESEARCH FACILITY.  Validates a conveyance of land that occurred
before the effective date of this Act, as of the date it occurred, which is
subject to a preference right described by Section 31.309, Natural
Resources Code (Preference Right to Purchase Certain Land).  Provides that
the right, title, and interest to the land is relinquished, confirmed, and
granted to the purchaser under the conveyance instrument subject only to
the conditions, limitations, and restrictions described and imposed by the
conveyance instrument. 

SECTION 2.  EFFECT ON LITIGATION.  Provides that if the validity of a
conveyance is the subject of a suit filed before the effective date of the
Act and the conveyance is ultimately determined invalid by a court, this
Act does not validate that conveyance. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.