1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of the General Services Commission to
 1-3     grant certain interests in certain real property owned by the
 1-4     state.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 2166.056, Government Code, is amended to
 1-7     read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 2166.056.  GRANT OF EASEMENT, FRANCHISE, LICENSE, OR
 1-9     RIGHT-OF-WAY; JOINT USE AGREEMENTS.  (a)  The commission may grant
1-10     a permanent or temporary easement, franchise, license, or
1-11     right-of-way over and on the land of a state agency on a project
1-12     administered by the commission  or enter into a joint use agreement
1-13     regarding the land if it is necessary to ensure the efficient and
1-14     expeditious construction, improvement,  renovation, use, or
1-15     operation of a building or facility of the project.
1-16           (b)  The commission shall submit an easement or right-of-way
1-17     that may extend beyond the period of construction to the asset
1-18     management division of the General Land Office for written comment
1-19     not later than the 30th day before the date it is granted by the
1-20     commission.  The commission may enter into a joint use agreement or
1-21     grant a franchise or license at the commission's discretion and for
1-22     the period determined by the commission if the commission
1-23     determines that the joint use agreement, franchise, or license is
1-24     in the best interests of the state and if adequate consideration is
 2-1     received by the state under the agreement or under the terms of the
 2-2     franchise or license.
 2-3           (c)  The commission shall consider comments submitted by the
 2-4     asset management division of the General Land Office before
 2-5     granting an easement or right-of-way.
 2-6           (d)  The commission shall approve all joint use agreements,
 2-7     franchises, and licenses under this section by a majority vote in
 2-8     an open meeting.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-10     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-11     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-12     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-13     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-14     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-15     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2735 was passed by the House on May
         4, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
         No. 2735 on May 27, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 139, Nays 0,
         2 present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 2735 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 25, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
         0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor