By: Fraser S.B. No. 214

(In the Senate - Filed January 12, 2007; January 30, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; April 3, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 3, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 214 By: Seliger

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing the transfer for consideration of certain fractional mineral interests held by the state to certain landowners.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 31, Natural Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 31.1582 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.1582. SALE OF CERTAIN MINERAL INTERESTS. (a) If the General Land Office receives from a landowner an offer to buy the state's interest in the mineral estate in real property to which the landowner holds title, the General Land Office may sell to the landowner, for fair market value, any fractional mineral interest held by the state that:

(1) is a fractional mineral interest of 1/32 or less; and

(2) is severed from a parcel of land that:

(A) is 80 acres or less; and

(B) is located in a county with a population of less than 11,000.

(b) This section does not apply to land under the management and control of the board of regents of a public or private institution of higher education.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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