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2009 SESSION

097672444
HOUSE BILL NO. 2107
Offered January 14, 2009
Prefiled January 13, 2009
A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 15.2-1800, 15.2-1814, 15.2-1901, 15.2-1901.1, and 15.2-1904 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the definition of public use.
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Patron-- Bulova
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §§ 15.2-1800, 15.2-1814, 15.2-1901, 15.2-1901.1, and 15.2-1904 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.2-1800. Purchase, sale, use, etc., of real property.

A. A locality may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, bequest, exchange, lease as lessee, or otherwise, title to, or any interests in, any real property, whether improved or unimproved, within its jurisdiction, for any public use. Acquisition of any interest in real property by condemnation is governed by Chapter 19 (§ 15.2-1901 et seq.). The acquisition of a leasehold or other interest in a telecommunications tower, owned by a nongovernmental source, for the operation of a locality's wireless radio communications systems shall be governed by this chapter.

B. Subject to any applicable requirements of Article VII, Section 9 of the Constitution, any locality may sell, at public or private sale, exchange, lease as lessor, mortgage, pledge, subordinate interest in or otherwise dispose of its real property, which includes the superjacent airspace (except airspace provided for in § 15.2-2030) which may be subdivided and conveyed separate from the subjacent land surface, provided that no such real property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be disposed of until the governing body has held a public hearing concerning such disposal. However, the holding of a public hearing shall not apply to (i) the leasing of real property to another public body, political subdivision or authority of the Commonwealth or (ii) conveyance of site development easements across public property, including, but not limited to, easements for ingress, egress, utilities, cable, telecommunications, storm water management, and other similar conveyances, that are consistent with the local capital improvement program, involving improvement of property owned by the locality. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the vacation of public interests in real property under the provisions of Articles 6 (§ 15.2-2240 et seq.) and 7 (§ 15.2-2280 et seq.) of Chapter 22 of this title.

C. A city or town may also acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries; a county may acquire real property for a public use outside its boundaries when expressly authorized by law.

D. A locality may construct, insure, and equip buildings, structures and other improvements on real property owned or leased by it.

E. A locality may operate, maintain, and regulate the use of its real property or may contract with other persons to do so.

Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, general or special, no locality providing access and opportunity to use its real property, whether improved or unimproved, may deny equal access or a fair opportunity to use such real property to, or otherwise discriminate against, the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require any locality to sponsor the Boy Scouts of America or the Girl Scouts of the USA, or to exempt any such groups from local policies governing access to and use of a locality's real property. The provisions of this paragraph applicable to a locality shall also apply equally to any local governmental entity, including a department, agency, or authority.

F. This section shall not be construed to deprive the resident judge or judges of the right to control the use of the courthouse.

G. "Public use" as used in this section shall have the same meaning as the definition of "public use" in § 1-219.1. Where the real property interest is not to be acquired by the threat or use of condemnation or eminent domain, "public use" also means any other use as reasonably determined by the locality to be in the public interest.

§ 15.2-1814. Acquisition authorized by chapter declared to be for public use.

Any acquisition of property, except for a taking through the threat or use of condemnation or eminent domain, authorized by any provision of this chapter is hereby declared to be for a public use as the term "public uses" is used in § 1-219.1.

§ 15.2-1901. Condemnation authority.

A. In addition to the authority granted to localities pursuant to any applicable charter provision or other provision of law, whenever a locality is authorized to acquire real or personal property or property interests for a public use, it may do so by exercise of the power of eminent domain, except as provided in subsection B and as restricted in § 15.2-1800.

B. A locality may acquire property or property interests outside its boundaries by exercise of the power of eminent domain only if such authority is expressly conferred by general law or special act. However, cities and towns shall have the right to acquire property outside their boundaries for the purposes set forth in § 15.2-2109 by exercise of the power of eminent domain. The exercise of such condemnation authority by a city or town shall not be construed to exempt the municipality from the provisions of subsection F of § 56-580.

§ 15.2-1901.1. Condemnation by localities authorized.

The governing body of any locality may acquire by condemnation title to (i) land, buildings and structures, (ii) any easement thereover or (iii) any sand, earth, gravel, water or other necessary material for the purpose of opening, constructing, repairing or maintaining a road or for any other authorized public undertakinguse, as defined in § 1-219.1, if the terms of purchase cannot be agreed upon or the owner (a) is unknown, (b) cannot with reasonable diligence be found in the Commonwealth or (c) due to incapacity cannot negotiate an agreement. Condemnation proceedings shall be conducted under the provisions of Chapter 2 (§ 25.1-200 et seq.) of Title 25.1 insofar as applicable.

§ 15.2-1904. Possession of property prior to condemnation; authority to utilize expedited acquisition procedure conferred.

A. When a condemnation is authorized by § 15.2-1901, a locality may enter upon and take possession of property before the conclusion of condemnation proceedings, using the procedures in Chapter 3 (§ 25.1-300 et seq.) of Title 25.1, for public purposes of (i) streets and roads, (ii) drainage facilities, (iii) water supply and sewage disposal systems, including pipes and lines, and (iv) oyster beds and grounds, and for any of the purposes set out in § 15.2-1901.1. In such proceedings, the procedure may be the same as is prescribed in Chapter 2 (§ 25.1-200 et seq.) of Title 25.1 or Chapter 3 of Title 25.1. Property may be condemned after the construction of a project, as well as prior thereto. The provisions of Chapter 3 of Title 25.1 shall be used to identify the fund out of which the judgment of the court in condemnation proceedings shall be paid. However, no property of any public service corporation shall be condemned except in accordance with §§ 15.2-1906, 15.2-2146 through 15.2-2148 and 25.1-102.

B. In all other condemnation proceedings authorized by § 15.2-1901, property shall be acquired by condemnation proceedings in accordance with the procedure provided in Chapter 2 of Title 25.1.

C. Before entering and taking possession of any property, the locality shall pay into court or to the clerk thereof, for the property owner's benefit, such sum as the governing body estimates to be the fair value of the property taken and damage, if any, done to the residue. Such payment shall not limit the amount to be allowed under proper proceedings.

D. When a locality enters upon and takes possession of property before the conclusion of condemnation proceedings pursuant to the procedures in Chapter 3 of Title 25.1, a certificate in lieu of payment may be issued by the governing body through its authorized designee, which certificate shall be countersigned by the locality's director of finance or authorized agent for availability of funds.

E. As soon as practicable after the date of payment of the purchase price or the date of deposit into court of funds to satisfy the award of compensation in a condemnation proceeding to acquire real property, whichever is earlier, the locality shall reimburse the property owner, or other person legally obligated to pay the real property taxes, for the pro rata portion of real property taxes paid for the period subsequent to the date of title vesting in the locality or the effective date of possession of the real property by the locality, whichever is earlier.