BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 916

By: Seliger

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In Texas, local appraisal districts may hire and retain chief appraisers. However, it has been noted that there is no uniform way for these appraisal districts to inquire about the previous performance of an applicant for a chief appraiser position. If a chief appraiser is unable to pass a methods and assistance program review and subsequent property value studies, public school districts located within the appraisal district could lose funding even though the school districts and their students are not at fault. C.S.S.B. 916 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to provide an inquiring appraisal district information on whether a registered appraiser who is being considered for appointment as the district's chief appraiser has received a notation of noncompliance.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 916 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation by rule to require the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) to include in the record of the registered professional appraiser who serves as chief appraiser for an appraisal district at the time the comptroller of public accounts finalizes the biennial review of the appraisal district's performance an electronic link to the following information:

· the comptroller's report for the review; and

· each school district property value study the comptroller conducts that is used in the review.

C.S.S.B. 916 authorizes an appraisal district to request from TDLR information on a registered professional appraiser whom the board of directors of the appraisal district is considering for appointment as chief appraiser of the appraisal district. The bill requires TDLR to inform the requestor of the status of certain compliance efforts of an appraisal district for previous reviews in which the appraiser served as chief appraiser of that appraisal district.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 916 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes a requirement that did not appear in the engrossed for the record of a registered professional appraiser who serves as chief appraiser for an appraisal district at the time the comptroller finalizes the district's biennial performance review to include an electronic link to each property value study that is used in the review.