The School Land Board has a first option to buy qualifying real property, but the purchase must be at market value and follow appraisal deadlines and dispute procedures.
Sec. 31.159. FIRST OPTION TO PURCHASE. (a) The School Land Board has a first option to purchase real property authorized for sale by the legislature or the governor. The board may exercise its option by tendering cash for market value as mutually agreed on by the board and the state agency that owns the real property, but the purchase price may not be less than market value. For purposes of this section, the division may request more than one appraisal to determine market value. If the parties cannot agree on a value, the board and the state agency that owns the real property shall follow the procedures provided by Subsections (d) and (e). The board may not pay more than market value. (b) The division shall inform the School Land Board of the proposed sale and its first option to purchase state agency real property. If the board decides to exercise its option under this section, the division shall appoint an appraiser not later than the 30th day after the date the board notifies the division of its decision. (c) The School Land Board must complete the cash purchase not later than the 120th day after the date the board exercises its first option to purchase. If the School Land Board fails to complete the purchase within the time permitted, the division may extend the time for completing the purchase or disposing of the real property as authorized by the legislature or approved by the governor. (d) If the state agency that owns the real property disputes the market value, the School Land Board shall request a second appraisal. If the School Land Board fails to request a second appraisal, the division shall appoint a second appraiser not later than the 21st day after the date the state agency notifies the School Land Board that it disputes the market value. On completion of the second appraisal, the two appraisers shall meet promptly and attempt to reach agreement on the market value. If the two appraisers fail to reach agreement within 10 days of the meeting, the land office shall request a third appraiser to reconcile the two previous appraisals. The determination of value by the third appraiser may not be less than the lower or more than the higher of the first two appraisals. The market value determined by the third appraiser is final and binding on all parties. (e) The division may appoint an appraiser employed by the land office for the performance of any one of the required appraisals. Any other appraiser employed under this section must be selected in accordance with Subchapter A, Chapter 2254, Government Code. The party requesting the appraisal shall award the appraisal services contract to the provider of professional services after considering the factors identified in Chapter 2254, Government Code. The division shall pay the expenses of appraisal. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 102, Sec. 2, eff. May 15, 1985. Amended by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 270, Sec. 5, eff. June 5, 1985; Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 208, Sec. 11, eff. Aug. 31, 1987; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(47), eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 17.19(18), eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1091, Sec. 19, eff. June 20, 2003.