H.B. No. 2382




AN ACT
relating to training requirements for certain chief appraisers of appraisal districts. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1151.164 to read as follows: Sec. 1151.164. CHIEF APPRAISER TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The board shall implement a training program for newly appointed chief appraisers and shall prescribe the curriculum for the training program as provided by this section. (b) The training program must provide the appointee with information regarding: (1) this chapter; (2) the programs operated by the board; (3) the role and functions of the board; (4) the rules of the board, with an emphasis on the rules that relate to ethical behavior; (5) the role and functions of the chief appraiser, the appraisal district board of directors, and the appraisal review board; (6) the importance of maintaining the independence of an appraisal office from political pressure; (7) the importance of prompt and courteous treatment of the public; (8) the finance and budgeting requirements for an appraisal district, including appropriate controls to ensure that expenditures are proper; and (9) the requirements of: (A) the open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government Code; (B) the public information law, Chapter 552, Government Code; (C) the administrative procedure law, Chapter 2001, Government Code; (D) other laws relating to public officials, including conflict-of-interest laws; and (E) the standards of ethics imposed by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. (c) The training program implemented by the board under this section must be provided by the board or by a provider approved by the board. The board shall identify no less than two providers before the board may finally approve a provider under this section. SECTION 2. Chapter 5, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 5.042 to read as follows: Sec. 5.042. REQUIRED TRAINING FOR CHIEF APPRAISERS. (a) Except as provided by this section, a person may not serve as a chief appraiser for an appraisal district unless the person has completed the course of training prescribed by Section 1151.164, Occupations Code. (b) A person may serve in a temporary, provisional, or interim capacity as chief appraiser for a period of up to one year without completing the training required by this section. (c) This section does not apply to a county assessor-collector who serves as chief appraiser under Section 6.05(c). SECTION 3. (a) The Board of Tax Professional Examiners shall implement the training program required under Section 1151.164, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2006. (b) A person is not required to complete the training program prescribed under Section 1151.164, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, to serve as a chief appraiser for an appraisal district until July 1, 2006. (c) The change in law made by this Act by the enactment of Section 5.042, Tax Code, applies only to a chief appraiser appointed on or after July 1, 2006. SECTION 4. Section 5.042, Tax Code, takes effect July 1, 2006. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2382 was passed by the House on April 18, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 1, 2 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2382 on May 26, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2382 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 23, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor