§ 22-5-411 - Filing of deeds to state property. - Arkansas Statutes

22-5-411. Filing of deeds to state property.

(a) A copy of the deed or other primary evidence of title to realty belonging to the State of Arkansas shall be filed in the office of the Commissioner of State Lands and shall be preserved by the Commissioner of State Lands as the other public records and files of his or her office.

(b) The realty belonging to the State of Arkansas shall not, for the purposes of this section, include realty acquired by the State Highway Commission.

(c) The officer charged with the administration of the affairs of each state office, department, agency, or institution having under its supervision and management realty owned by the State of Arkansas shall file with the Commissioner of State Lands a copy of the deed or other primary evidence of title to such property conveyed under fee simple title, and acquired by the state through gift or purchase or otherwise, within sixty (60) days after the acquisition and shall likewise notify the Commissioner of State Lands when any lands are disposed of.

(d) The Commissioner of State Lands shall designate one (1) of his or her deputies to periodically call upon each state office, department, agency, and institution for the purpose of obtaining a copy of the deed or other primary evidence of title and for the purpose of determining whether the state office, department, agency, or institution has disposed of title to any state lands.

(e) A statement by the administrative officer of any state office, department, agency, or institution to the effect that the office, department, agency, or institution does not supervise, control, or manage any realty owned by the state shall constitute sufficient compliance with this section.

(f) In the event any office, department, agency, or institution does supervise, control, or manage realty belonging to the state for which no evidence of title can be found, the administrative officer in charge of the office, department, agency, or institution shall conduct an investigation to ascertain the facts pertaining to the acquisition of the realty by the state. A report of the investigation shall be made to the Commissioner of State Lands within sixty (60) days following the conclusion of the investigation.

(g) In the event any state office, department, agency, or institution shall fail or refuse to comply with the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of State Lands shall report such failure or refusal to comply to the Governor, who shall notify the administrative officer of any such office, department, agency, or institution to immediately report to him or her the reasons for his or her failure or refusal to comply.

(h) Willful failure or refusal to comply with this section by any officer shall constitute nonfeasance in office.