SCHOOL LAND BOARD APPROVAL OF PATENT FOR INTEREST IN LAND RELEASED BY STATE.

(a) The School Land Board may approve a tract of land for patenting to release all or part of the state's interest in land, excluding mineral rights, if the board:

(1) finds that:

(A) the land is surveyed, unsold, permanent school fund land according to the records of the land office;

(B) the land is not patentable under the law in effect before January 1, 2002; and

(C) the person claiming title to the land:

(i) holds the land under color of title;

(ii) holds the land under a chain of title that originated on or before January 1, 1952;

(iii) acquired the land without actual knowledge that title to the land was vested in the State of Texas;

(iv) has a deed to the land recorded in the appropriate county; and

(v) has paid all taxes assessed on the land and any interest and penalties associated with any period of tax delinquency; and

(2) unanimously approves the release of the state's interest.

(b) This section does not apply to:

(1) beach land, submerged or filled land, or islands; or

(2) land that has been determined to be state-owned by judicial decree.

(c) This section may not be used to:

(1) resolve boundary disputes; or

(2) change the mineral reservation in an existing patent.