S.B. No. 359

AN ACT
relating to the selection of certain members of the board of
directors of an appraisal district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (c) and (e), Section 6.03, Tax Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(c) Members of the board of directors other than a county
assessor-collector serving as a nonvoting director are appointed by
vote of the governing bodies of the incorporated cities and towns,
the school districts, the junior college districts, and, if
entitled to vote, the conservation and reclamation districts that
participate in the district and of the county. A governing body may
cast all its votes for one candidate or distribute them among
candidates for any number of directorships. Conservation and
reclamation districts are not entitled to vote unless at least one
conservation and reclamation district in the district delivers to
the chief appraiser a written request to nominate and vote on the
board of directors by June 1 of each odd-numbered year. On receipt
of a request, the chief appraiser shall certify a list by June 15 of
all eligible conservation and reclamation districts that are
imposing taxes and that participate in the district.
(e) The chief appraiser shall calculate the number of votes
to which each taxing unit other than a conservation and reclamation
district is entitled and shall deliver written notice to each of
those units of its voting entitlement before October 1 of each
odd-numbered year. The chief appraiser shall deliver the notice:
(1) to the county judge and each commissioner of the
county served by the appraisal district;
(2) to the presiding officer of the governing body of
each city or town participating in the appraisal district, to the
city manager of each city or town having a city manager, and to the
city secretary or clerk, if there is one, of each city or town that
does not have a city manager; [and]
(3) to the presiding officer of the governing body of
each school district participating in the district and to the
superintendent of those school districts; and
(4) to the presiding officer of the governing body of
each junior college district participating in the district and to
the president, chancellor, or other chief executive officer of
those junior college districts.
SECTION 2. Section 6.031, Tax Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(b-1) If an appraisal district increases the number of
members on the board of directors of the district or changes the
method or procedure for appointing the members as provided by this
section, the board of directors by resolution shall provide for the
junior college districts that participate in the appraisal district
to collectively participate in the selection of directors in the
same manner as the school district that imposes the lowest total
dollar amount of property taxes in the appraisal district among all
of the school districts with representation in the appraisal
district. A resolution adopted under this section is not subject to
rejection by a resolution opposing the change filed with the board
of directors by a taxing unit under Subsection (a).
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to the selection of appraisal district directors for terms
beginning on or after January 1, 2014. The change in law made by
this Act does not affect the selection of appraisal district
directors for terms beginning before that date.
SECTION 4. 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, 2013.

______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate           Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 359 passed the Senate on
March 13, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0;
May 21, 2013, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 22, 2013, House
granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2013, Senate adopted
Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31,
Nays 0.

______________________________
Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 359 passed the House, with
amendments, on May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 134,
Nays 0, two present not voting; May 22, 2013, House granted request
of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
May 26, 2013, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, one present not voting.

______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________
Date

______________________________
Governor