BILL ANALYSIS



C.S.H.B. 674
By: Craddick
02-23-95
Committee Report (Substituted)


BACKGROUND

Section 6.41(c), Tax Code, provides term limits for people serving
on an appraisal review board of an appraisal district.  Currently,
in counties having a population over 50,000, board members may
serve for all or part of three terms and then are ineligible
forever.  In counties having fewer than 50,000 population, board
members may serve all or part of two consecutive terms, and then
may be reappointed after skipping a term.  Unfortunately, some
counties over 50,000 population may not have many citizens with the
specialized knowledge of appraisal techniques.  Therefore, counties
having a population over 50,000 may be forced to appoint less
qualified people to the appraisal review board.

PURPOSE

The bill would raise the point of differentiation for the purpose
of appointing appraisal review boards from the current county
population of 50,000 to 300,000.  The bill also extends the term
limits that members of an appraisal review board may serve from two
terms to three in counties under 300,000 population.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 6.41(c), Tax Code:
           It raises the county population from 50,000 to 300,000
           for the purpose of determining which statutory term
           limits apply for appraisal review board members.
           The bill also changes the term limits that board members
           from counties under 300,000 population may serve from
           two to three consecutive terms before skipping a term.

SECTION 2. The changes in the qualifications for appointment apply
           only to a member appointed on or after the effective
           date of this Act.  This law does not prohibit a member
           serving on the board prior to the effective date from
           being reappointed.

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  January 1, 1996.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.


COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 674 raises the county population from 50,000 to 300,000
for the purposes of determining which statutory term limits apply
for appraisal review board members.  It also changes the term
limits for board members from two terms to three in counties having
under 300,000 population.

H.B. 674 removes the population differentiation for determining
which statutory term limits apply for appraisal review board
members, and makes the term limits apply equally to appraisal
districts regardless of county population.  H.B. 674 establishes
term limits to be three consecutive terms and then one must skip a
term before being reappointed.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Public notice was posted in accordance to the rules and a public
hearing was held on February 14, 1995.  Without objection, H.B. 674
was left pending before the committee.

On February 21, the committee approved C.S.H.B. 674 by
Representative Craddick without objection.  By a record vote of 9
ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 2 absent, the committee
voted to report H.B. 674 to the House as substituted with the
recommendation that it be sent to the Local and Consent Calendar
and that it do pass.


Testimony received in favor of the bill:
     Kirk Swinney, representing himself
     Ron Stegall (Chief Appraiser, Midland Cty.), representing
himself
     George Moff (Chief Appraiser, Nueces Cty.), representing
himself
     Charles Gray, representing himself