Section 32-8-1. Relocation assistance in accordance with Uniform Act; real property acquisition

   (a) As used in this chapter, the term "Uniform Act" means the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970, as amended by the Uniform Relocation Act Amendments of 1987, Title IV of Public Law 100-17. The department, as required by the Uniform Act:

   (1) Shall make or approve payments, in accordance with Section 210 of the Uniform Act, for relocation expenses and replacement housing expenses and shall provide relocation assistance advisory services outlined in Section 205 of the Uniform Act; and

   (2) Shall make or approve payments, in accordance with Section 305(2) of the Uniform Act, to any person, family, business, farm operation, or nonprofit organization whose real property has been acquired by the department or is subject to a condemnation proceeding brought by the department for any federal-aid project in the state, the costs of which are now or hereafter financed in whole or in part from federal funds allocated to the department:

      (A) For expenses incident to the transfer of real property acquired by the department, prepayment of mortgage penalties, and a pro rata portion of real property taxes on real property acquired by the department;

      (B) For litigation expenses actually incurred by the condemnee in any condemnation proceeding brought by the department if the final judgment is that the department cannot acquire the real property by condemnation or the condemnation proceeding is formally abandoned by the department; or

      (C) For litigation expenses incurred by the plaintiff in any inverse condemnation proceeding brought against the department in which judgment is rendered in favor of the plaintiff.

(b) In acquiring real property for any federal-aid project, the costs of which are financed in whole or in part from federal funds allocated to the department, the department shall be guided to the greatest extent practicable under state law by the land acquisition policies in Section 301 of the Uniform Act and the provisions of Section 302 of the Uniform Act.

(c) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be construed as creating in any condemnation proceeding brought under the power of eminent domain any element of value or of damage.

Ga. L. 1966, p. 588, § 1; Ga. L. 1969, p. 495, §§ 3, 6; Ga. L. 1972, p. 931, §§ 3-10; Code 1933, § 95A-623, enacted by Ga. L. 1973, p. 947, § 1; Ga. L. 1982, p. 3, § 32; Ga. L. 1988, p. 1737, § 3.