Section 40-10-137 Conveyance to Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of Land Bid in by State - Procedure.

Any lands which have been bid in by the state at tax sale shall, after three years have elapsed from the date of sale to the state and no person having any interest therein having redeemed same from tax sale, be subject to conveyance to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in the manner hereinafter provided: (1) Whenever the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall determine any lands which have been bid in by the state at tax sale and the title to which has not passed out of the state, to be suitable or desirable for the use of the said Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, either for the purpose of being used as a state park, state forest, or for the purpose of exchange for other lands of equal value, which are determined to be suitable for said purposes, or for any other use or disposition which the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may hereafter be authorized by law to make of such lands, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall file with the Land Commissioner a written application, signed by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on a form to be prescribed by the Land Commissioner, giving such information as may be required by the Land Commissioner. (2) When application is made to the Land Commissioner for the conveyance of any lands to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Land Commissioner shall mail a notice in writing to the owner, or some person having an interest in such land, if his place of residence is known to the Land Commissioner, and also to the judge of probate of the county in which such lands are situated, informing the owner or other persons having an interest in such land that such application has been made and informing him that he shall have 30 days from the date of said notice within which to redeem said lands, and the judge of probate shall cause the notice to be posted at the courthouse, and he shall mail a copy of said notice to the owner, if known to him; and if such lands are not redeemed within the time so fixed, the same shall, upon approval of the Governor, be conveyed to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, without other or further notice to such owner or persons having an interest in the lands. If such lands are redeemed within the time so fixed, the judge of probate must, without delay, report the same to the Land Commissioner and pay over the redemption money as required by law.