SRC-AXB S.B. 803 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 803
76R3453  MLS-DBy: Ellis
State Affairs
4/18/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, of Texas' 170 million acres of land, state agencies own 873,000
acres, worth over $1.6 billion.  The most recent General Land Office
appraisal determined that 25,633 acres of agency lands, worth $652,710,000,
was being substantially underused.  State agency-owned lands are
technically owned by the citizens of Texas, not by individual agencies.
However, the agencies have no obligation to sell or lease the underused
property, nor do they have an obligation to justify failure to comply with
General Land Office recommendations regarding land transactions.  This bill
would require state agencies to submit certain reports regarding agency
property. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 803 requires state agencies to submit certain reports
regarding agency property, and authorizes them to comment on a draft report
if the agency is the subject of such a report. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 31.153(a) and (b), Natural Resources Code, to
require a state agency to provide the asset management division of the
General Land Office (division) with a report including the agency's total
acreage, by a certain deadline.  Creates a deadline for the record to be
submitted to the division, rather than on the request of the division.
Adds information required to be in the record, including the fair market
value of the property, and a description of state procedures for selling or
leasing the property.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Sections 31.157(b) and (c), Natural Resources Code, to
authorize certain agencies that own or hold trust property to make certain
comments regarding a draft report.  Requires the Commissioner of the
General Land Office to issue a final report incorporating all comments
received from any state agency.  Sets forth information required to be in
the report.  

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.