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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for an appointment as a special |
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commissioner in a condemnation proceeding. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.014(a), Property Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The judge of a court in which a condemnation petition is |
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filed or to which an eminent domain case is assigned shall appoint |
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three disinterested registered voters of [freeholders who reside
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in] the county in which the property is located as special |
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commissioners to assess the damages of the owner of the property |
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being condemned. The judge appointing the special commissioners |
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shall give preference to persons agreed on by the parties. If a |
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person fails to serve as a commissioner, the judge may appoint a |
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replacement. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a condemnation proceeding in which the petition is filed on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A condemnation proceeding in which |
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the petition is filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that |
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law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |