EXTENSION OF LEASES ON UNIVERSITY LAND; WAR AGENCY RESTRICTIONS.

Sec. 1. In the case of any non-producing oil, gas or mineral lease on University land, if one hundred twenty (120) days before expiration of the primary term there be in effect any restrictions issued by a Federal war agency prohibiting the drilling or completion of a well thereon, the holder of such lease shall have the right to negotiate an extension or renewal of such lease for a period of not longer than two (2) years with the Board of Regents of the University of Texas and the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

The Board of Regents of the University of Texas and the Commissioner of the General Land Office, in considering an application for an extension or renewal of any such lease above described, shall take into consideration in establishing the consideration for such lease the diligence with which the lessee has followed his duties under the existing lease, the present value of the land upon which an extension or renewal of the lease is sought, and all other good business practices. The lessee in presenting his application for extension or renewal of such lease or leases shall present evidence to the Board of Regents of the University of Texas and to the Commissioner of the General Land Office showing it was impossible for him or any of his co-owners to comply with the restrictions which he claims prohibited the drilling or completion of the well on said tract.

If the lessee should claim as grounds for an extension or renewal of any such lease that there is insufficient acreage within the tract under lease by him to comply with the Federal restriction then no extension or renewal shall be granted unless said lessee also show that there is no adjacent and adjoining acreage to said tract wherein said applicant is a party in interest that could have been combined with the tract upon which the application for extension or renewal is made in order to comply with the Federal restriction.

Sec. 2. The Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby authorized to issue to the lease owner such instrument in writing in the nature of an extension or renewal of such lease as may be necessary or proper to carry into effect the foregoing provision of this Act.

Sec. 3. The provisions of this Act are and shall be held and construed to be cumulative of all General Laws of this state on the subject treated of and embraced in this Act when not in conflict herewith, but in case of conflict, in whole or in part, this Act shall control.

Sec. 4. If any section, subdivision, paragraph, sentence, or clause of this Act be held to be unconstitutional, the remaining portions of same shall nevertheless be held valid and binding.