HBA-NIK H.B. 2949 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2949
By: Dukes
Land & Resource Management
3/30/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

As part of its ongoing urban renewal plan for the East 11th and 12th Street
corridors, the Austin Revitalization Authority (ARA) has proposed to buy
the State Support Center site which is currently owned and operated by the
General Services Commission.  Pursuant to the purchase of this land, the
ARA plans to develop a mixed-use community including office and retail
space, as well as housing for all income groups through market-rate housing
opportunities, housing assistance programs, or rehabilitation and new
construction of affordable housing.  The ARA will also coordinate a plan to
utilize public investment to leverage and encourage private investment
throughout the area.  H.B. 2949 provides for the sale of this specific
property by the state to the ARA for fair market value. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  (a) Authorizes the General Services Commission (commission) to
convey, on behalf of the state, the state's interest in the real property
described by Subsection (e) to the Austin Revitalization Authority (ARA), a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization with involvement in efforts leading to
designation of the East 11th and 12th Street corridors, as an Urban Renewal
area and with the primary responsibility for implementation of the
Community Redevelopment Plan for the City of Austin. 

(b) Requires the purchase and sale agreement relating to the conveyance
authorized by this section to be for cash consideration in an amount no
less than equal to the fair market value of the property as established by
an independent appraisal obtained by the commission, and for closing to
occur at the mutual convenience of the parties.  Authorizes the purchase
and sale agreement to require other terms and conditions negotiated by the
commission and the ARA. 

(c) Authorizes the commission to transfer the real property only by a
special warranty deed. 

(d) Provides that Section 31.158 (Real Estate Transaction Authorized by
Legislature), Natural Resources Code, does not apply to the conveyance
authorized by this section. 

(e) Specifies the tract or parcel of land that the real property includes.
Provides the enumerated metes and bounds description. 

(f) Requires proceeds from the conveyance to be deposited in the state
treasury and authorizes the proceeds to be used by the commission for any
lawful purpose. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.