By:  Haley                                             S.B. No. 552
       73R5261 JD-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to contingent fees in ad valorem tax matters.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 1.111, Tax Code, is amended by adding
    1-5  Subsection (i) to read as follows:
    1-6        (i)  A property owner and a person who is not an employee of
    1-7  the property owner may not enter into an agreement for
    1-8  representation of the property owner by that person for a purpose
    1-9  under this title if the fee or compensation for the representation
   1-10  is contingent on a reduction in the property owner's tax liability
   1-11  or on a reduction in the appraised or taxable value of property of
   1-12  the property owner.  An agreement that violates this section is
   1-13  void.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.  The
   1-15  change in law made by this Act applies only to an agreement for
   1-16  representation in an ad valorem tax matter entered into on or after
   1-17  that date.  An agreement entered into before the effective date of
   1-18  this Act is covered by the law in effect when the agreement was
   1-19  entered into, and the former law is continued in effect for that
   1-20  purpose.
   1-21        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-22  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-1  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.