81R12952 UM-D
 
  By: Pitts H.B. No. 4116
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a uniform state policy regarding the
  purchases and acquisitions by or for the state or a political
  subdivision of the state or for the use or benefit of residents of
  this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 10, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 2159 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 2159. UNIFORM STATE POLICY FOR PURCHASES
  AND ACQUISITIONS
         Sec. 2159.001.  UNIFORM PURCHASING AND ACQUISITION POLICY.  
  (a)  The comptroller shall adopt uniform rules regarding the
  purchase and acquisition of property by and for the state or a
  political subdivision of the state or for the use of residents of
  this state, including the acquisition of property through the use
  of eminent domain, as necessary to implement the policy of this
  state that those purchases and acquisitions are:
               (1)  efficient, effective, and appropriate for the
  purposes of the state and the residents of this state; and
               (2)  uniformly performed, regulated, and managed by
  state agencies, local governments, and other entities on behalf of
  this state or for the benefit of residents of this state.
         (b)  The comptroller may hold public hearings regarding a
  rule proposed under this section.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 2206, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
  CHAPTER 2206.  [LIMITATIONS ON USE OF] EMINENT DOMAIN
  SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 2206.001.  DEFINITION OF PUBLIC USE.  Except as
  otherwise provided by this chapter, "public use," with respect to
  the use of eminent domain authority, means a use of property,
  including a use described by Section 2206.051(c), that allows the
  state, a political subdivision of the state, or the general public
  of the state to possess, occupy, and enjoy the property.
  SUBCHAPTER B. LIMITATIONS ON PURPOSE AND USE OF PROPERTY
  ACQUIRED THROUGH EMINENT DOMAIN
         Sec. 2206.051.  LIMITATION ON EMINENT DOMAIN FOR PRIVATE
  PARTIES OR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.  (a)  This section
  applies to the use of eminent domain under the laws of this state,
  including a local or special law, by any governmental or private
  entity, including:
               (1)  a state agency, including an institution of higher
  education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code;
               (2)  a political subdivision of this state; or
               (3)  a corporation created by a governmental entity to
  act on behalf of the entity.
         (b)  A governmental or private entity may not take private
  property through the use of eminent domain if the taking:
               (1)  confers a private benefit on a particular private
  party through the use of the property;
               (2)  is for a public use that is merely a pretext to
  confer a private benefit on a particular private party; [or]
               (3)  is for economic development purposes, unless the
  economic development is a secondary purpose resulting from
  municipal community development or municipal urban renewal
  activities to eliminate an existing affirmative harm on society
  from slum or blighted areas under:
                     (A)  Chapter 373 or 374, Local Government Code,
  other than an activity described by Section 373.002(b)(5), Local
  Government Code; or
                     (B)  Section 311.005(a)(1)(I), Tax Code; or
               (4)  is not for a public use.
         (c)  This section does not affect the authority of an entity
  authorized by law to take private property through the use of
  eminent domain for:
               (1)  transportation projects, including, but not
  limited to, railroads, airports, or public roads or highways;
               (2)  entities authorized under Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution, including:
                     (A)  port authorities;
                     (B)  navigation districts; and
                     (C)  any other conservation or reclamation
  districts that act as ports;
               (3)  water supply, wastewater, flood control, and
  drainage projects;
               (4)  public buildings, hospitals, and parks;
               (5)  the provision of utility services;
               (6)  a sports and community venue project approved by
  voters at an election held on or before December 1, 2005, under
  Chapter 334 or 335, Local Government Code;
               (7)  the operations of:
                     (A)  a common carrier pipeline [subject to Chapter
  111, Natural Resources Code, and Section B(3)(b), Article 2.01,
  Texas Business Corporation Act]; or
                     (B)  an energy transporter, as that term is
  defined by Section 186.051, Utilities Code;
               (8)  a purpose authorized by Chapter 181, Utilities
  Code;
               (9)  underground storage operations subject to Chapter
  91, Natural Resources Code;
               (10)  a waste disposal project; or
               (11)  a library, museum, or related facility and any
  infrastructure related to the facility.
         (d)  This section does not affect the authority of a
  governmental entity to condemn a leasehold estate on property owned
  by the governmental entity.
         (e)  The determination by the governmental or private entity
  proposing to take the property that the taking does not involve an
  act or circumstance prohibited by Subsection (b) does not create a
  presumption with respect to whether the taking involves that act or
  circumstance.
         SECTION 3.  Not later than January 1, 2011, the comptroller
  shall:
               (1)  identify all public and private entities with
  eminent domain authority; and
               (2)  make recommendations to the legislature and the
  governor regarding:
                     (A)  which entities have, need, or should have
  eminent domain authority;
                     (B)  whether that eminent domain authority of
  those entities should be continued, expanded, or limited; and
                     (C)  the cause and effect of continuing,
  eliminating, expanding, or limiting the eminent domain authority of
  those entities.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 2206, Government Code, as amended by
  this Act, applies only to a condemnation proceeding in which the
  petition is filed on or after the effective date of this Act and to
  any property condemned through the proceeding. A condemnation
  proceeding in which the petition is filed before the effective date
  of this Act and any property condemned through the proceeding is
  governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and that
  law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2009.