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