1-1     By:  Chisum (Senate Sponsor - Brown)                   H.B. No. 664
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 1999;
 1-3     March 30, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Natural Resources; May 3, 1999, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 3, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the sale of certain land by the Texas Department of
 1-9     Health.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Section 401.267, Health and Safety Code, is
1-12     amended to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 401.267.  ACQUISITION AND SALE OF CERTAIN BY-PRODUCT
1-14     MATERIALS AND SITES.  (a)  The department may acquire by-product
1-15     material  and fee simple title in land, affected mineral rights,
1-16     and buildings at which that by-product material is disposed of and
1-17     abandoned so that the by-product material and property can be
1-18     managed in a manner consistent with protecting public health,
1-19     safety, and the environment.
1-20           (b)  The department may sell land acquired under this section
1-21     at the land's fair market value after the department has taken
1-22     corrective  action to restore the land to a condition that does not
1-23     compromise the public health or safety or the environment.  The
1-24     General Land Office shall negotiate and close a transaction under
1-25     this subsection on behalf of the department using procedures under
1-26     Section 31.158(c), Natural Resources Code.  Proceeds from the
1-27     transaction shall be deposited in the Texas capital trust fund.
1-28           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-29     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-30     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-31     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-32     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-33     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-34     passage, and it is so enacted.
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