[§173A-4.5]  Appraisalof land.  (a)  Notwithstanding section 171-30, the appraisal of land havingvalue as a resource to the State and acquired by the State under this chaptermay be performed as follows:

(1)  The board may review,approve, and accept any existing appraisal prepared on behalf of a nonprofitorganization if:

(A)  The appraisalwas completed within one year before the decision by the board to approve theacquisition of land; and

(B)  The board findsthat the appraisal was performed according to applicable and acceptedprofessional standards for land appraisal; or

(2)  The board may contractfor an independent appraisal from no more than three disinterested appraiserswho shall follow applicable and accepted professional standards for land appraisal.

The board shall submitthe appraisal to the attorney general for review and approval before itacquires the land having value as a resource to the State.

(b)  No land shallbe purchased for a sum greater than the highest value fixed by any appraisalaccepted or performed under subsection (a); provided that this limitation shallnot apply to any acquisition that is made by condemnation.

(c)  After the landhaving value as a resource to the State has been acquired or the State abandonsthe acquisition, the appraisal reports shall be made available for inspectionand copying by the public.

(d)  Anythingcontained in this section notwithstanding, no appraisal shall be required underthis section in the event that any interest in land having value as a resourceto the State is donated to the State. [L 2007, c 158, §1]