Condemnation of private or public property for system

(a) The board of regents is authorized to take or damage, by condemnation, private property for public purposes of the university system upon paying or tendering to the owner thereof just compensation. Condemnation proceedings by the board may take the forms provided in Chapter 2 of Title 22. 51 20-3-59 (b)(1) As used in this subsection, the term ‘‘public property’’ has the meaning provided for in Code Section 50-16-180. (2) The board of regents is also authorized to acquire public property or an interest therein by condemnation and the power of eminent domain when such acquisition is approved by the State Commission on the Condemnation of Public Property as provided in Code Section 50-16-183. Condemnation proceedings by the board may take the forms provided in Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 22. (Ga. L. 1939, p. 411, § 1; Ga. L. 1986, p. 1187, § 2; Ga. L. 1987, p. 3, § 20.) 20-3-59. Power of local school boards to add facilities to university system; bond issues. The board of education of any county school district or the governing body of any independent school system in providing an adequate public school system shall have the right and authority either alone or in conjunction with another district or system: (1) To acquire real property and to acquire, construct, and equip buildings and facilities for education beyond the twelfth grade and to convey any such property so acquired to the board of regents, its successors, or assigns; and (2) To contribute funds to the board of regents, acting for and on behalf of the board of regents, to be applied toward the acquisition of real property and the acquisition, construction, and equipping of buildings and facilities for education beyond the twelfth grade. In addition to the foregoing powers, each such governing body shall have the right and authority to issue bonds in accordance with the Constitution and laws of this state for any of the aforesaid purposes; provided, only, that prior to exercising such right or authority, any such board of education or governing body shall have agreed by contract to convey any such property so acquired or to contribute such funds, and the board of regents, acting as aforesaid, shall have agreed to accept any such property or contribution and to acquire, construct, and equip such buildings and facilities and to operate and maintain them as a unit of the university system rather than as a part of the public school system of this state. (Ga. L. 1919, p. 288, § 107; Code 1933, § 32-933; Ga. L. 1963, p. 617, § 1.)