PART 11. PROPERTY ACQUISITION LAW [15850. - 15866.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 11.
in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15852. Section 15852.

The State Public Works Board has all the duties, powers, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction of the Property Acquisition Board and whenever by law a duty or jurisdiction is imposed or authority conferred upon the Property Acquisition Board or upon any of its officers or employees such duty, jurisdiction, and authority are vested in the State Public Works Board with the same force and effect as if the title of the State Public Works Board had been specifically set forth therein.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15853. Section 15853.

(a) The board may select and acquire, in the name of and on behalf of the state, with the consent of the state agency concerned, the fee or any lesser right or interest in any real property necessary for any state purpose or function. (b) If moneys are appropriated by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act for any fiscal year or by any other act for the acquisition of land or other real property, either (1) subject to this part or (2) for any state agency for whom property is acquired by the board, the moneys and acquisitions are subject to this part and the moneys shall be expended in accordance with this part, notwithstanding any other law. (c) Notwithstanding any other law, all land and other real property to be acquired by or for any state agency, other than the Department of Transportation, the High-Speed Rail Authority, the Department of Water Resources, the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Wildlife Conservation Board, the Department of Parks and Recreation, until January 1, 2033, with respect to property acquired for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks pursuant to Section 15853.1, and with respect to acquisitions set forth in paragraph (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 11005, the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the State Teachers’ Retirement System, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the State Lands Commission, except for property to be acquired for the State Lands Commission pursuant to an appropriation from the General Fund, and the State Coastal Conservancy with respect to acceptance of offers to dedicate public accessways made pursuant to the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Division 20 (commencing with Section 30000)) of, and for the purposes of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 31411) of Division 21 of, the Public Resources Code, shall be acquired by the State Public Works Board in accordance with this part. (d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), and except as provided in subdivision (c), the board shall acquire, on behalf of and for the Department of Parks and Recreation, in accordance with this part, any interests in real property, including options to purchase, which have been appraised, selected, and settled through purchase negotiations by the Department of Parks and Recreation pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 5006 of the Public Resources Code. Out of moneys appropriated for the acquisition of options to purchase, no more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) may be expended for the acquisition of any single option unless otherwise provided by the Legislature. (2) Notwithstanding Section 15854, purchase negotiations for interests in real property for the state park system pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 5006 of the Public Resources Code shall be initiated within six months of the effective date of the act that appropriates funds for the acquisition. Purchase negotiations on all projects not proposed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 5006 of the Public Resources Code shall be initiated within 12 months of the effective date of the act appropriating funds for the acquisition. Either title shall be conveyed or a written agreement to transfer title shall be executed within the appropriate authorization period unless the Department of Parks and Recreation formally abandons the acquisition before the conclusion of the appropriate authorization period. For purposes of this section, in order for the Department of Parks and Recreation to “formally abandon” an acquisition, it shall transmit written notification to the board of its intent not to proceed with the acquisition. (3) The board, at any time during the periods specified in paragraph (2), may commence condemnation proceedings if it finds it to be appropriate. However, if during the appropriate authorization period title is not conveyed or a written agreement to transfer title is not signed, the acquisition has not been formally abandoned, or condemnation proceedings have not been commenced, the Department of Parks and Recreation shall notify, by letter, the chair of the committee in each house of the Legislature that considers appropriations, the Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Members of the Legislature within whose district any part of the land or other real property is located of the status of the acquisition. For the purpose of this paragraph, condemnation proceedings shall be deemed to be commenced as of the date the board authorizes acquisition by condemnation. (4) The board may schedule special meetings as are necessary to expedite the acquisition of options to purchase real property for the state park system. (e) The board may acquire furnishings that the owner of the furnishings agrees to sell and that are contained within improvements acquired by the board. The cost of acquisition of furnishings shall be charged to the appropriation available for acquisition of the real property. (f) This section does not apply to the acquisition of conservation easements made pursuant to the California Forest Legacy Program Act of 2007 (Division 10.5 (commencing with Section 12200) of the Public Resources Code).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15853.1. Section 15853.1.

(a) For the acquisition of fee title or any lesser right or interest in real property by the Department of Parks and Recreation with respect to property acquired for Big Basin Redwoods, Año Nuevo, and Butano State Parks pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 15853, all of the following apply: (1) The purchase price for the land and other real property acquired by the Department of Parks and Recreation pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 15853 shall not exceed the fair market value of the property, as defined in Section 1263.320 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (2) The fair market value of the property acquired pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be set forth in an appraisal that is prepared by a licensed real estate appraiser and approved by the Department of General Services pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 5006 of the Public Resources Code. (3) The real property shall be appraised and an appraisal review completed before commencement of any purchasing negotiations. (4) All contracts related to the acquisition of real property shall be reviewed and approved by the Department of General Services pursuant to Section 11005. (5) Public notice shall be given, and a public meeting shall be held, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 5006.1 of the Public Resources Code. (b) This section does not exempt the Department of Parks and Recreation from complying with all other applicable laws and regulations. (c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2033, and as of that date is repealed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15854. Section 15854.

Property may be acquired pursuant to this part by condemnation in the manner provided for in Title 7 (commencing with Section 1230.010) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15854.1. Section 15854.1.

At the request of the owner of property acquired pursuant to this part, the board may enter into an agreement with the owner specifying the manner of payment of compensation to which the owner is entitled as the result of the acquisition. The agreement may provide that the compensation shall be paid by the board to the owner over a period not to exceed 10 years from the date the owner’s right to compensation accrues. The agreement may also provide for the payment of interest by the board; however, the rate of interest agreed upon may not exceed the maximum rate authorized by Section 16731 or 53531 of the Government Code, as applicable, in connection with the issuance of bonds.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15854.5. Section 15854.5.

To promote the safety of students, comprehensive community planning, and greater educational usefulness of state university sites, the Trustees of the California State University, before the board acquires title to property for any site, shall undertake the following action: Immediately after receiving notice of the proposed acquisition of property which is within two miles, measured by air line, of that point on an airport boundary which is nearest the site, the Trustees of the California State University shall notify the Department of Aeronautics, in writing, of the proposed acquisition. The Department of Aeronautics shall make an investigation and report to the trustees within 25 days after receipt of the notice. If the Department of Aeronautics is no longer in operation, the trustees shall, in lieu of notifying the commission, notify the Federal Aviation Agency or any other appropriate agency, in writing, of the proposed acquisition for the purpose of obtaining from the authority or other agency any information or assistance it may desire to give. The Trustees of the California State University shall investigate the proposed site and within 30 days after receipt of the notice shall submit to the board a written report and its recommendations concerning acquisition of the site. The board shall not acquire title to the property until the report of the trustees has been received. If the report does not favor the acquisition of the property for a state university site or an addition to a state university site, the board shall not acquire title to the property until 30 days after the trustees’ report is received and until the trustees’ report has been read at a public hearing duly called after 10 days’ notice published once in a newspaper of general circulation within the county in which the property is located.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15855. Section 15855.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in subdivision (b), the State Public Works Board is the only state agency that may exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property needed by any state agency for any state purpose or function. (b) Subdivision (a) does not affect or limit the right of the Department of Transportation, High-Speed Rail Authority, Department of Water Resources, State Lands Commission, Central Valley Flood Protection Board, the college named in Section 92200 of the Education Code, or the Regents of the University of California to exercise the power of eminent domain. Subdivision (a) does not affect or limit the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the Department of Fish and Wildlife pursuant to Section 1348 of the Fish and Game Code. (c) (1) Any eminent domain proceeding commenced by the State Public Works Board for an acquisition for high-speed train system purposes before, and pending after, January 1, 2019, shall be deemed to have been commenced by the High-Speed Rail Authority, and the High-Speed Rail Authority shall be automatically substituted for the State Public Works Board as a party in any such action. All subsequent proceedings shall be in the name of the High-Speed Rail Authority. However, any misnomer not affecting the parties’ substantial rights shall be disregarded. The court may order substitution at any time, but the absence of such an order does not affect the substitution. (2) The State Public Works Board shall file with the court and serve on all parties to an action described in paragraph (1) a notice that the High-Speed Rail Authority is automatically substituted in place of the State Public Works Board and is the agency exercising the power of eminent domain on behalf of the state in the action.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15857. Section 15857.

The board may agree with the owner of part or all of the property to be condemned as to the compensation to be paid, and may incorporate such agreement in a stipulation to be filed in the condemnation proceeding.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15860. Section 15860.

(a) Any appropriation for the acquisition of real property pursuant to this part may be expended for the payment of all costs and expenses, including the cost of investigation and surveys, the fees and expenses of appraisers and expert witnesses, and the cost of title searches necessarily incurred in the examination, and the determination of the suitability of any real property to be acquired or under consideration for acquisition, or necessarily incurred in the course of acquisition of any such real property. Claims for costs and expenses shall be presented by the Director of General Services and shall be paid by the Controller. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), claims for those costs and expenses related to real property acquisitions by the Department of Parks and Recreation, shall be presented by the Director of Parks and Recreation, and shall be paid by the Controller.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15861. Section 15861.

Whenever it appears to the satisfaction of the board that any part of the campus of a state university acquired as a site for student housing will, if used for such purpose, interfere with the proper and orderly development of the campus, the board may authorize the use of such site for any other purpose of the state university upon the Trustees of the California State University designating some other part of the campus as a site for the student housing affected.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15862. Section 15862.

(a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), all real property or interest in real property acquired by the state or the Judicial Council pursuant to the Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002 (Chapter 5.7 (commencing with Section 70301) of Title 8), or pursuant to Sections 69202 to 69206, inclusive, shall be under the jurisdiction of the Judicial Council immediately upon transfer of the title to the state. (b) When real property is acquired by the state pursuant to this part, jurisdiction over the property shall remain in the Department of General Services until the property is needed for the purpose for which it was acquired. The Director of General Services may transfer jurisdiction of the property to the agency for whose use it was acquired before it is needed for the purpose for which acquired if in his opinion the transfer is in the best interests of the state. The department may lease all or any portion of the property which is not presently needed on terms and conditions as the director may fix and may maintain, improve, and care for the property in order to secure rent therefrom. The department may remove or demolish buildings or other structures on the property when it is desirable to do so. It may sell or dispose of the improvements or any materials available upon the demolishing of any building or structure on the property.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15862.5. Section 15862.5.

Notwithstanding Section 15862, all real property or interest in real property acquired by the Department of Parks and Recreation pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 15853 of the Government Code and Section 5006 of the Public Resources Code shall be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation, immediately upon transfer of the title to the state. The Department of Parks and Recreation shall attempt to make the real property accessible and usable by the general public at the earliest possible time.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15863. Section 15863.

(a) The net proceeds of any sale made pursuant to Section 15862 shall be deposited in the Deficit Recovery Bond Retirement Sinking Fund Subaccount established pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 20 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, until the time that the bonds issued pursuant to the Economic Recovery Bond Act (Title 18 (commencing with Section 99050)), approved by the voters at the March 2, 2004, statewide primary election, are retired. At that time, the net proceeds, as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 11011, received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties. (b) All rents received by the Department of General Services pursuant to Section 15862 shall be deposited in the Property Acquisition Law Money Account and shall be available for expenditure by the Department of General Services upon appropriation.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15864. Section 15864.

(a) On behalf of the board, the Director of General Services shall file against any appropriation made for expenditure under this part all claims covering expenditures incurred in acquiring real property pursuant to the act by which the appropriation is made, and the Controller shall draw a warrant therefor. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the Director of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the board, shall file against any appropriation for expenditure under this part all claims covering expenditures incurred by the Department of Parks and Recreation in the acquisition of real property for the state park system pursuant to the act by which the appropriation is made, and the Controller shall draw a warrant therefor.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15865. Section 15865.

Whenever the board finds that any portion of the funds in any appropriation for the acquisition of real property under this part is unneeded for the acquisition of the site for which the appropriation was made, the Director of Finance may, upon the recommendation of the board, authorize the transfer of the unneeded funds to any other appropriation for the acquisition of real property made for expenditure under this part and in augmentation of the other appropriation. However, no part of any appropriation made for expenditure pursuant to this part for the acquisition of a site for the use of an institution, college, school, or other agency within a state department shall be transferred to an appropriation for the acquisition of a site for the use of an institution, college, school, or other agency within another state department. For the purposes of this section appropriations for sites for state office buildings, state garages, state warehouses, and official residences are for the use of the Department of General Services.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 15866. Section 15866.

Without at the time furnishing vouchers and itemized statements, the board may withdraw from any appropriation made for expenditure under this part a sum that may be approved by the Director of Finance for use as a revolving fund where payment of compensation or cash advances are necessary.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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