(a) A public entity shall offer to pay the reasonable costs, not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000), of an independent appraisal ordered by the owner of a property that the public entity offers to purchase under a threat of eminent domain, at the time the public entity makes the offer to purchase the property. The independent appraisal shall be conducted by an appraiser licensed by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers.
(b) For purposes of this section, an offer to purchase a property “under a threat of eminent domain” is an offer to purchase a property pursuant to any of the following:
(1) Eminent domain.
(2) Following adoption of a resolution of necessity for the property pursuant to Section 1240.040.
(3) Following a statement that the public entity may take the property by eminent domain.