SRC-EPT S.B. 1951 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1951
78R16652 AJA-DBy: Ratliff
State Affairs
5/17/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under the Texas Constitution, the General Land Office and the School Land
Board manage and administer the Permanent School Fund and the sovereign
land which has been dedicated to the Permanent School Fund.  However, they
do not have authority to issue a patent for release of title when a
portion of state dedicated land is sold.  Legislation is required to
authorize the School Land Board to sell certain land dedicated to the
permanent school fund in exchange for an amount to be determined by the
board.   As proposed, S.B. 1951 is the enabling legislation for a
constitutional amendment that would grant a patent on certain land managed
by the School Land Board. The School Land Board, in consultation with the
Veterans' Land Board, will determine the amount of consideration for the
35.686 acre parcel. 
 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  (a)  Requires the School Land Board, on or before January 1,
2004, to approve a patent to release all of the state's interest in the
land described by Subsection (b) of this section, excluding mineral
rights, to a person holding the land under a contract for deed with the
Veterans' Land Board on January 1, 1964, or an heir or assign of that
person, in exchange for consideration in an amount determined by the
School Land Board in consultation with the Veterans' Land Board. 
 
(b)  Provides that this section applies to the tract of land described as
follows:  that 35.686 acre tract in that certain judgement under cause No.
75-49, The Veterans Land Board of the State of Texas vs. Alice Christian,
in the 4th Judicial District Court of Rusk County, Texas and in that
certain judgement in Cause No. 55, 765, State vs. Humble Oil, et al in the
98th District Court of Travis County, Texas; said 117.436 acre tract is
also further described in that Contract of Sale to said GRANTEE(s) dated
October 14, 1963, recorded in Volume 782, Page 46, Deed Records of said
County, Texas. 
 
(c)  Provides that this section expires January 1, 2006.
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  the date on which the constitutional
amendment proposed by the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to
permit the legislature to require the sale of certain land dedicated to
the permanent school fund takes effect.  Provides that if that amendment
is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.