This website will be unavailable from Friday, April 26, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, April 29, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.

  83R5446 NC-F
 
  By: Guillen, Herrero H.B. No. 724
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 724:
 
  By:  Deshotel C.S.H.B. No. 724
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of a commission to study unclaimed land
  grant mineral proceeds.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "original land grant"
  means the initial conveyance of real property in this state, as
  evidenced by a certificate, title, or patent, from:
               (1)  the Crown of Spain;
               (2)  Mexico;
               (3)  the Republic of Texas; or
               (4)  this state.
         SECTION 2.  UNCLAIMED MINERAL PROCEEDS COMMISSION. (a) The
  Unclaimed Mineral Proceeds Commission is created to study and
  provide recommendations to the legislature regarding the
  distribution of mineral proceeds that are:
               (1)  derived from an original land grant;
               (2)  owned by a descendant of an original grantee;
               (3)  unclaimed and presumed abandoned under Chapter 72,
  73, 74, or 75, Property Code; and
               (4)  delivered to the comptroller under Chapter 74,
  Property Code.
         (b)  The commission shall determine:
               (1)  the amount of unclaimed original land grant
  mineral proceeds delivered to the comptroller that remain unclaimed
  on December 1, 2014; and
               (2)  efficient and effective procedures under which the
  state may be required to:
                     (A)  determine the owners of the proceeds;
                     (B)  notify the owners of the proceeds; and
                     (C)  distribute the proceeds to the owners.
         (c)  The commission consists of 17 members as follows:
               (1)  three members who represent the interests of land
  grant heirs, appointed by the governor;
               (2)  three members who have expertise in property law,
  appointed by the governor;
               (3)  two members appointed by the lieutenant governor;
               (4)  two members appointed by the speaker of the house
  of representatives;
               (5)  two members appointed by the commissioner of the
  General Land Office;
               (6)  two members appointed by the comptroller;
               (7)  two members appointed by the executive director of
  the Texas Historical Commission; and
               (8)  the state historian or the state historian's
  designee.
         (d)  When making initial appointments under Subsection (c),
  the governor shall designate one of the governor's appointees as
  presiding officer of the commission.
         (e)  The governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
  house of representatives shall appoint members to the commission
  not later than December 31, 2013.
         (f)  The commission shall meet not later than the 30th day
  after the date initial appointments are made under Subsection (c)
  and shall meet regularly as necessary at the call of the presiding
  officer.
         (g)  A commission member is not entitled to reimbursement of
  expenses or to compensation.
         (h)  On the commission's request, the comptroller or any
  other state agency, department, or office shall provide any
  assistance the commission needs to perform the commission's duties.
         SECTION 3.  REPORT ON UNCLAIMED MINERAL PROCEEDS. Not later
  than January 1, 2015, the commission shall provide to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a
  final report on unclaimed original land grant mineral proceeds.
  The final report must include:
               (1)  the amount of unclaimed original land grant
  mineral proceeds delivered to the comptroller that remain unclaimed
  on December 1, 2014;
               (2)  recommendations for efficient and effective
  procedures under which the state may be required to:
                     (A)  determine the owners of the proceeds;
                     (B)  notify the owners of the proceeds; and
                     (C)  distribute the proceeds to the owners;
               (3)  proposed legislation necessary to implement the
  recommendations made in the final report;
               (4)  any administrative recommendations proposed by
  the commission; and
               (5)  a complete explanation of each of the commission's
  recommendations.
         SECTION 4.  OTHER LAW. The commission is not subject to
  Chapter 2110, Government Code.
         SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires and the
  Unclaimed Mineral Proceeds Commission is abolished on June 1, 2015.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2013.