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2011 SESSION

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HJ 693 Constitutional amendment; taking or damaging of private property for public use (first reference).

Introduced by: Johnny S. Joannou | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); taking or damaging of private property; public use. Revises the prohibition on the enactment by the General Assembly of laws whereby private property may be taken or damaged. An existing provision authorizing the General Assembly to define what constitutes a public use is removed. The proposed amendment provides that private property can be taken or damaged only for a public use, only with just compensation to the owner, and only so much taken as is necessary for the public use. Just compensation must equal or exceed the value of the property taken, lost profits and lost access, and damages to the residue caused by the taking. A public service company, public service corporation, or railroad exercises the power of eminent domain for public use when such exercise is for the authorized provision of utility, common carrier, or railroad services. In all other cases, a taking or damaging of private property is not for public use if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development, except for the elimination of a public nuisance existing on the property. The condemnor bears the burden of proving that the use is public, without a presumption that it is. This resolution incorporates HJR 498, HJR 515, and HJR 647.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); taking or damaging of private property; public use.  Revises the prohibition on the enactment by the General Assembly of laws whereby private property may be taken or damaged. An existing provision authorizing the General Assembly to define what constitutes a public use is removed. The proposed amendment states that (i) no private property shall be damaged or taken except for public use without just compensation to its owner for the property taken and for damages to the residue caused by the taking or damaging and (ii) that no more private property may be taken than that which is necessary to achieve the stated public use. Just compensation shall be no less than the value of the property taken and the damages to the residue caused by the taking. A public service company, public service corporation, or railroad exercises the power of eminent domain for public use when such exercise is for the authorized provision of utility, common carrier, or railroad services. In all other cases, a taking or damaging of private property is not for public use if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development, except for the elimination of a public nuisance existing on the property. The condemnor bears the burden of proving that the use is public, without a presumption that it is.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Constitutional amendment (first resolution); taking or damaging of private property; public use.  Expands the prohibition on the enactment by the General Assembly of laws whereby private property may be taken or damaged. An existing provision authorizing the General Assembly to define what constitutes a public use is removed. The measure (i) states that the right to private property is fundamental; (ii) clarifies that the damaging or taking of private property is prohibited except for public use, and only upon the payment of just compensation to the owner; (iii) requires that the owner receive just compensation for the property taken or damaged and for damages to the residue; (iv) states that just compensation is no less than the value of the property taken or damaged, business goodwill, relocation expenses, loss of access and other economic loss proximately caused by the taking or damaging; (v) prohibits the taking of more property than is necessary to achieve the stated public use; (vi) provides that a taking of private property is not for public use if the primary use is for private gain, private benefit, private enterprise, increasing jobs, increasing tax revenue, or economic development, except for the authorized provision of a public utility, public service corporation, or railroad service or for the elimination of a public nuisance existing on the property; and (vii) requires the condemnor to bear the burden of proving that the use is public.