09 LC 38
0736
House
Bill 703
By:
Representative Smith of the
168th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Chapter 9 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to county property generally, so as to provide that certain persons be granted
first right to purchase property previously condemned by the county; to provide
for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
9 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county
property generally, is amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (g) of
Code Section 36-9-3, relating to the sale or disposition of county property, as
follows:
"(3)
In disposing of property, as authorized under this subsection, the county shall
notify the owner of such property at the time of its
acquisition.
If the original owner of the property at the time of the county's acquisition of
such property is deceased, the county shall make every effort to locate and give
notice to the original owner's next of kin. If, after 180 days, the county is
unable to identify the next of kin of the original owner of the property at the
time of such property's acquisition
or,
if the tract from which the county acquired its property has been subsequently
sold, the
county shall notify the owner of abutting
land holding title through the owner from whom the county acquired its property.
The notice shall be in writing
and
delivered to the appropriate owner
or his or her
next of kin or
shall
be by publication if such owner's address
is unknown; and such owner
or his or her
next of kin shall have the right to
acquire, as provided in this subsection, the property with respect to which the
notice is given. Publication, if necessary, shall be in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county where the property is located."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.