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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a commission to study land titles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "land title" means the |
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initial conveyance of real property in this state, as evidenced by a |
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certificate, title, or patent. |
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SECTION 2. LAND TITLE REVIEW COMMISSION. (a) The Land |
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Title Review Commission is created to study and provide |
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recommendations on providing alternative remedies to disputed land |
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title claims before litigation is pursued. |
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(b) The commission shall determine: |
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(1) the feasibility in creating a review board that is |
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tasked with establishing title in the name of the appropriate owner |
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of real property if title is not contested by another person; and |
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(2) the legal impacts of a possible review board that |
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establishes title in the name of the appropriate owner of real |
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property if title is not contested by another person |
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(c) The commission consists of the following members: |
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(1) three members who have expertise in land title |
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claims, appointed by the governor; |
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(2) three members who have expertise in property law, |
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appointed by the governor; |
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(3) a designee of the lieutenant governor; |
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(4) a designee of the speaker; |
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(5) a designee of the commissioner of the General Land |
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Office; |
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(6) a designee of the comptroller; |
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(7) a designee of the attorney general; |
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(d) When making initial appointments under Subsection (c), |
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the governor shall designate one of the governor's appointees as |
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presiding officer of the commission. |
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(e) Members of the commission shall be appointed or |
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designated, as appropriate, not later than December 31, 2021. |
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(f) The commission shall meet not later than the 30th day |
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after the date initial appointments or designations are made under |
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Subsection (c) and shall meet regularly as necessary at the call of |
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the presiding officer. |
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(g) A commission member is not entitled to reimbursement of |
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expenses or to compensation. |
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(h) On the commission's request, the comptroller or any |
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other state agency, department, or office shall provide any |
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assistance the commission needs to perform the commission's duties. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT ON LAND TITLE REVIEW. Not later than |
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January 1, 2023, the commission shall provide to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a |
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final report on the feasibility of an alternative land title |
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review. The final report must include: |
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(1) recommendation for how a land title review board |
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would operate and review land title disputes; |
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(2) pertinent case law that would be impacted by a land |
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title review process; |
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(3) proposed legislation necessary to implement the |
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recommendations made in the final report; |
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(4) any administrative recommendations proposed by |
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the commission; and |
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(5) a complete explanation of each of the commission's |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 4. OTHER LAW. The commission is not subject to |
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Chapter 2110, Government Code. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires and the Land |
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Title Review Commission is abolished on June 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |