BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 2978
	By: Howard (Watson)
	Business & Commerce
	5/15/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

C.S.H.B. 2978 amends current law relating to granting an easement to the City of Austin.

 

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 Texas General Land Office (GLO) on behalf of the State of Texas (state), subject to Subsection (b) of this section, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to grant to the City of Austin (city), by an appropriate instrument of conveyance, a permanent easement in the property owned by the state and described by Subsection (d) of this section.

 

(b) Provides that consideration for the easement to be granted under Subsection (a) of this section is the requirement that the city use the easement primarily to promote a public purpose of the state by using the easement primarily as a sidewalk, trail, and recreation easement and thereby promoting public health and general welfare and providing recreation, beautification, and civic improvement. Provides that the easement automatically terminates if the city:

 

(1) uses the easement in a manner that fails to promote a public purpose of the state described by this subsection of this section; or

 

(2) sells or transfers all or any part of the easement.

 

(c) Requires the city to reimburse GLO for the expenses incurred by GLO in connection with granting the easement under this section of this Act.

 

(d) Sets forth the metes and bounds of the property subject to the easement.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.