By: Montford S.B. No. 1269
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the appraisal and ad valorem taxation of certain types
1-2 of personal property.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 23.12(f), Property Tax Code, is amended
1-5 to read as follows:
1-6 (f) The owner of an inventory other than a dealer's motor
1-7 vehicle <an applicable> inventory as that term is defined in
1-8 Section 23.12A of this code may elect to have the inventory
1-9 appraised at its market value as of September 1 of the year
1-10 preceding the tax year to which the appraisal applies by filing an
1-11 application with the chief appraiser requesting that the inventory
1-12 be appraised as of September 1. The application must clearly
1-13 describe the inventory to which it applies and be signed by the
1-14 owner of the inventory. The application applies to the appraisal
1-15 of the inventory in each tax year that begins after the next August
1-16 1 following the date the application is filed with the chief
1-17 appraiser unless the owner of the inventory by written notice filed
1-18 with the chief appraiser revokes the application or the ownership
1-19 of the inventory changes. A notice revoking the application is
1-20 effective for each tax year that begins after the next September 1
1-21 following the date the notice of revocation is filed with the chief
1-22 appraiser.
1-23 SECTION 2. Section 23.12A, Property Tax Code, is amended to
2-1 read as follows:
2-2 Sec. 23.12A. DEALER'S MOTOR VEHICLE <SPECIAL> INVENTORY;
2-3 VALUE.
2-4 (a) In this section:
2-5 (1) "Chief appraiser" means the chief appraiser for
2-6 the appraisal district in which a dealer's motor vehicle inventory
2-7 is located. <"Applicable inventory" means an inventory that is
2-8 held for resale and that consists of individual units of personal
2-9 property, each unit of which must, as a matter of law, be titled in
2-10 the name of the retail purchaser and be registered with the Texas
2-11 Department of Transportation through the office of the county tax
2-12 assessor-collector.>
2-13 (2) "Collector" means the county tax
2-14 assessor-collector in the county in which a dealer's motor vehicle
2-15 inventory is located.
2-16 (3) "Comptroller" means the Comptroller of Public
2-17 Accounts of Texas.
2-18 (4) <(2)> "Dealer" means a person who holds a dealer's
2-19 general distinguishing number issued by the Texas Department of
2-20 Transportation under the authority of Article 6686, Revised
2-21 Statutes, or is authorized by law or interstate reciprocity
2-22 agreement to purchase vehicles in Texas without paying the motor
2-23 vehicle sales tax. The term does not include:
2-24 (A) a person who holds a manufacturer's license
2-25 issued by the Motor Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of
3-1 Transportation;
3-2 (B) an entity that is owned or controlled by a
3-3 person who holds a manufacturer's license issued by the Motor
3-4 Vehicle Board of the Texas Department of Transportation; or
3-5 (C) a dealer whose general distinguishing number
3-6 issued by the Texas Department of Transportation under the
3-7 authority of Article 6686, Revised Statutes, prohibits the dealer
3-8 from selling a vehicle to any person except a dealer.
3-9 (5) "Dealer's motor vehicle inventory" means all motor
3-10 vehicles held for sale by a dealer.
3-11 (6) <(3)> <"Excluded inventory" means that part of an
3-12 applicable inventory that:>
3-13 <(A) is included in a transaction consisting of
3-14 five or more units sold to a single business entity that has a
3-15 manufacturer's or distributor's fleet identification number
3-16 authorizing the entity to make fleet purchases;>
3-17 <(B) is included in a transaction between
3-18 dealers; or>
3-19 <(C) consists of vehicles classified as medium
3-20 or heavy duty trucks of 16,000 pounds gross vehicular weight or
3-21 more>
3-22 "Declaration" means the dealer's motor vehicle
3-23 inventory declaration form promulgated by the comptroller as
3-24 required by this section.
3-25 (7) "Fleet transaction" means the sale of five or more
4-1 motor vehicles from a dealer's motor vehicle inventory to the same
4-2 business entity within one calendar year.
4-3 (8) "Motor vehicle" means a fully self-propelled
4-4 vehicle with at least two wheels which has as its primary purpose
4-5 the transport of a person or persons, or property, whether or not
4-6 intended for use on a public street, road, or highway.
4-7 (9) <(4)> "Owner" means a dealer who owes current year
4-8 vehicle inventory taxes <the person responsible for the payment of
4-9 property taxes> levied against a dealer's motor vehicle <special>
4-10 inventory.
4-11 (10) "Person" means a natural person, corporation,
4-12 partnership, or other legal entity.
4-13 (11) <5> "Sales price" means the total amount of money
4-14 paid or to be paid for the purchase of a motor vehicle as set forth
4-15 as "sales price" in the form entitled "Application for Texas
4-16 Certificate of Title" promulgated by the Texas Department of
4-17 Transportation. In a transaction that does not involve the use of
4-18 that form, the term means an amount of money that is equivalent, or
4-19 substantially equivalent, to the amount that would appear as "sales
4-20 price" on the Application for Texas Certificate of Title if that
4-21 form were involved.
4-22 <(6) "Special inventory" means that part of an
4-23 applicable inventory that remains after subtracting units included
4-24 in excluded inventory.>
4-25 (12) "Dealer-financed sale" means the sale of a motor
5-1 vehicle in which the seller finances the purchase of the vehicle,
5-2 is the sole lender in the transaction, and retains exclusively the
5-3 right to enforce the terms of the agreement evidencing the sale.
5-4 (13) "Subsequent sale" means a dealer-financed sale of
5-5 a motor vehicle that, at the time of the sale, has been the subject
5-6 of a dealer-financed sale from the same dealer's motor vehicle
5-7 inventory in the same calendar year.
5-8 (14) <(7)> "Total annual sales" means the total of the
5-9 sales price from every sale of units from a dealer's motor vehicle
5-10 <special> inventory for a 12-month period <or for that portion of a
5-11 12-month period for which the owner of a special inventory is
5-12 responsible for the payment of property taxes levied against the
5-13 special inventory>.
5-14 (b) Except as provided by <Subsection (c)of> this section,
5-15 for the purpose of the computation of property tax, the market
5-16 value of a dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory on January 1
5-17 is the total annual sales from the dealer's motor vehicle <special>
5-18 inventory for the 12-month period corresponding to the prior tax
5-19 year, divided by 12.
5-20 (c) For the purpose of the computation of property tax, the
5-21 market value of <a> the dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory
5-22 of an owner who was not a dealer on January 1 of <with respect to
5-23 which sales were not made for the entire 12-month period
5-24 corresponding to> the prior tax year, the chief appraiser shall
5-25 <may> estimate the market value of the dealer's motor vehicle
6-1 <special> inventory. In making the estimate required <allowed> by
6-2 this subsection the chief appraiser shall extrapolate using sales
6-3 data, if any, generated by sales from the dealer's motor vehicle
6-4 <special> inventory in the prior tax year.
6-5 (d) Except for dealer's motor vehicle inventory, personal
6-6 property held by a dealer <Excluded inventory described in
6-7 Subsection (a)(3)(C) of this section> is appraised as provided by
6-8 Section 23.12(a) of this code. In the case of a dealer whose sales
6-9 from dealer's motor vehicle inventory are made predominately to
6-10 dealers, the chief appraiser may appraise the dealer's motor
6-11 vehicle inventory as provided by Section 23.12 of this code.
6-12 (e) In calculating the market value of a dealer's motor
6-13 vehicle inventory, the owner shall subtract from total annual
6-14 sales:
6-15 (1) sales to dealers;
6-16 (2) fleet transactions; and
6-17 (3) subsequent sales.
6-18 (f) Unless a chief appraiser determines otherwise as
6-19 provided by Subsection (d) of this section, a dealer is presumed to
6-20 be an owner of a dealer's motor vehicle inventory on January 1 if,
6-21 in the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the immediately
6-22 preceding year, the dealer sold a motor vehicle to a person other
6-23 than a dealer. The presumption created by this subsection is not
6-24 rebutted by the fact that a dealer has no motor vehicles physically
6-25 on hand for sale from dealer's motor vehicle inventory on January
7-1 1.
7-2 (g) The comptroller shall promulgate a form entitled
7-3 Dealer's Motor Vehicle Inventory Declaration. Not later than
7-4 February 1 of each year, or, in the case of a dealer who was not in
7-5 business on January 1, not later than 30 days after commencement of
7-6 business, each dealer shall file a declaration with the chief
7-7 appraiser and file a copy with the collector. The declaration is
7-8 sufficient to comply with this subsection if it sets forth the
7-9 following information:
7-10 (1) the name and business address of each location at
7-11 which the dealer owner conducts business;
7-12 (2) each of the dealer's general distinguishing
7-13 numbers issued by the Texas Department of Transportation;
7-14 (3) a statement that the dealer owner is the owner of
7-15 a dealer's motor vehicle inventory; and
7-16 (4) the market value of the dealer's motor vehicle
7-17 inventory for the current tax year as computed under Section
7-18 23.12A(b) of this code.
7-19 (h) When requested to do so by the chief appraiser, the
7-20 holder of a general distinguishing number issued by the Texas
7-21 Department of Transportation shall produce for inspection by the
7-22 chief appraiser:
7-23 (1) the document issued by the Texas Department of
7-24 Transportation showing the person's general distinguishing number;
7-25 (2) documentation appropriate to allow the chief
8-1 appraiser to ascertain the applicability of this section and
8-2 Section 23.12B of this code to the person;
8-3 (3) documentation necessary to substantiate
8-4 information set forth in the dealer's declaration filed by the
8-5 person.
8-6 (i) If on the declaration required by this section a dealer
8-7 reports the sale of fewer than five motor vehicles in the prior
8-8 year the chief appraiser shall report that fact to the Texas
8-9 Department of Transportation.
8-10 (j) A dealer who fails to file a declaration required by
8-11 this section commits an offense. An offense under this subsection
8-12 is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Each day
8-13 during which a dealer fails to comply with the terms of this
8-14 subsection is a separate violation.
8-15 (k) A person who violates Subsection (h) of this section
8-16 commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is a
8-17 misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500. Each day
8-18 during which a person fails to comply with the terms of Subsection
8-19 (h) of this section is a separate violation.
8-20 (l) In addition to other penalties provided by law, a dealer
8-21 who fails to file a declaration required by this section shall
8-22 forfeit a penalty. A tax lien attaches to the dealer's business
8-23 personal property to secure payment of the penalty. The
8-24 appropriate district attorney, criminal district attorney, or
8-25 county attorney shall collect the penalty established by this
9-1 section in the name of the chief appraiser or collector. Venue of
9-2 an action brought under this subsection is in the county in which
9-3 the violation occurred or in the county in which the owner
9-4 maintains his principal place of business or residence. A penalty
9-5 forfeited under this subsection is $1000 for each month or part of
9-6 a month in which a declaration is not filed after it is due.
9-7 SECTION 3. Section 23.12B, Property Tax Code, is amended to
9-8 read as follows:
9-9 Sec. 23.12B. Prepayment of Taxes by Certain Taxpayers
9-10 (a) In this section:
9-11 (1) "Aggregate tax rate" means the combined tax rates
9-12 of all relevant taxing units authorized by law to levy property
9-13 taxes against a dealer's motor vehicle inventory.
9-14 (2) <(1)> "Chief appraiser" has the meaning given it
9-15 in Section 23.12A of this code <means the chief appraiser for the
9-16 appraisal district in which is located an applicable inventory>.
9-17 (3) <(2)> "Collector" has the meaning given it in
9-18 Section 23.12A of this code <means the county tax
9-19 assessor-collector in the county in which is located a special
9-20 inventory>.
9-21 <(3) "County aggregate tax rate" means the combined
9-22 tax rate of all relevant taxing units in a county.>
9-23 (4) "Comptroller" has the meaning given it in Section
9-24 23.12A of this code.
9-25 (5) "Dealer's motor vehicle inventory" has the meaning
10-1 given it in Section 23.12A of this code.
10-2 (6) "Declaration" has the meaning given it in Section
10-3 23.12A of this code.
10-4 (7) <(4)> "Owner" has the meaning given it in Section
10-5 23.12A of this code.
10-6 <(7) "Special inventory" has the meaning given it in
10-7 Section 23.12A of this code.>
10-8 (8) <(5)> "Relevant taxing unit" means a taxing unit,
10-9 including the county, authorized by law to levy property taxes
10-10 against a dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory.
10-11 (9) <(6)> "Sales price" has the meaning given it in
10-12 Section 23.12A of this code.
10-13 (10) <(8)> "Statement" <Special inventory tax
10-14 statement> means the dealer's motor vehicle inventory tax statement
10-15 filed on a form promulgated by the comptroller <of public accounts>
10-16 as required by this section.
10-17 (11) "Subsequent sale" has the meaning given it in
10-18 Section 23.12A of this code.
10-19 (12) <(9)> "Total annual sales" has the meaning given
10-20 it in Section 23.12A of this code.
10-21 (13) <(10)> "Unit property tax value factor" means a
10-22 number equal to <is> one-twelfth of the prior year <most recent
10-23 county> aggregate tax rate <for the county in which a special
10-24 inventory> at the location where a dealer's motor vehicle inventory
10-25 is located on January 1 of the current year <is located>.
11-1 (b) Except for a vehicle sold to a dealer, a vehicle
11-2 included in a fleet transaction, or a vehicle that is the subject
11-3 of a subsequent sale, an owner or a person who has agreed by
11-4 contract to pay the owner's current year property taxes levied
11-5 against the owner's motor vehicle inventory, <An owner> shall
11-6 assign a unit property tax value to each motor vehicle <unit> sold
11-7 from a dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory. The unit
11-8 property tax value of each motor vehicle <unit> is determined by
11-9 multiplying the sales price of the motor vehicle <unit> by the unit
11-10 property tax value factor. On or before the 10th day of each month
11-11 the owner shall, together with the statement filed by the owner as
11-12 provided by this section, deposit with the collector a sum equal to
11-13 the total of unit property tax value assigned to all motor vehicles
11-14 <units> sold from the dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory in
11-15 the prior month to which a unit property tax value was assigned.
11-16 The money shall be deposited by the collector in or otherwise
11-17 credited by the collector to the owner's escrow account for
11-18 prepayment of property taxes as provided by this section. An
11-19 escrow account required by this section is used to pay property
11-20 taxes levied against the dealer's motor vehicle <special>
11-21 inventory, and the owner shall fund the escrow account as provided
11-22 by this subsection.
11-23 (c) The collector shall maintain the escrow account for each
11-24 owner in the county depository. The collector is not required to
11-25 maintain a separate account in the depository for each escrow
12-1 account created as provided by this section but shall maintain
12-2 separate records for each owner. The collector shall retain any
12-3 interest generated by the escrow account to defray the cost of
12-4 administration of the prepayment procedure established by this
12-5 section. Interest generated by an escrow account created as
12-6 provided by this section is the sole property of the collector, and
12-7 that interest may be used by no entity other than the collector.
12-8 Interest generated by an escrow account may not be used to reduce
12-9 or otherwise affect the annual appropriation to the collector that
12-10 would otherwise be made.
12-11 (d) The owner may not withdraw funds <the money> in an <the>
12-12 escrow account created pursuant to this section.
12-13 (e) The comptroller <of public accounts> shall promulgate a
12-14 form entitled a Dealer's Motor Vehicle <Special> Inventory Tax
12-15 Statement. A dealer <The owner of a special inventory> shall
12-16 complete the form with respect to each motor vehicle <unit> sold.
12-17 <from the owner's applicable inventory and> A dealer may use no
12-18 other form for that purpose. The statement <form> may include the
12-19 information the comptroller deems appropriate but shall include at
12-20 least the following:
12-21 (1) a description of the motor vehicle <unit> sold;
12-22 (2) <a statement as to whether or not the unit was
12-23 sold from the owner's special inventory;>
12-24 <(3)> the sales price of the motor vehicle <unit>;
12-25 (3) <(4)> the unit property tax value of the motor
13-1 vehicle <unit> if any <the unit was sold from the owner's special
13-2 inventory>; and
13-3 (4) <(5)> the reason no unit property tax value is
13-4 assigned <the unit was excluded from the owner's special
13-5 inventory,> if no unit property tax value is assigned.
13-6 (f) On or before the 10th day of each month <the owner of> a
13-7 dealer <special inventory> shall file with the collector <chief
13-8 appraiser> the <special inventory tax> statement covering sales of
13-9 all motor vehicles sold by the dealer <for each unit sold by the
13-10 owner from the owner's applicable inventory> in the prior month. A
13-11 dealer <An owner> shall file a copy of the statement with the chief
13-12 appraiser, retain documentation relating to the disposition of each
13-13 motor vehicle <unit> sold <from an applicable inventory, including
13-14 documentation relating to the exclusion of a unit from special
13-15 inventory> and shall make that documentation available to the
13-16 collector and chief appraiser upon request.
13-17 (g) Except as provided by this subsection, the requirements
13-18 of Subsection (f) of this section apply to all dealers, without
13-19 regard to whether or not the dealer owes vehicle inventory tax for
13-20 the current year. A dealer who owes no vehicle inventory tax for
13-21 the current year because he was not in business on January 1:
13-22 (1) shall file the statement required by this section
13-23 showing the information required by this section for each month
13-24 during which the dealer is in business; and
13-25 (2) may neither assign a unit property tax value to a
14-1 motor vehicle sold by the dealer nor remit money with the statement
14-2 unless pursuant to the terms of a contract as provided by
14-3 Subsection (l) of this section.
14-4 (h) A collector may establish a procedure, voluntary or
14-5 mandatory, by which the unit property tax value of a vehicle is
14-6 paid and deposited into an owner's escrow account at the time of
14-7 processing the transfer of title to the motor vehicle.
14-8 (i) <(g)> A relevant taxing unit shall, on its tax bill
14-9 prepared for the owner of a dealer's motor vehicle <special>
14-10 inventory, separately itemize the taxes levied against the dealer's
14-11 motor vehicle <special> inventory. When the tax bill is prepared
14-12 by a relevant taxing unit for a dealer's motor vehicle <special>
14-13 inventory, the assessor for the taxing unit, or an entity, if any,
14-14 other than the collector, that collects taxes on behalf of the
14-15 taxing unit, shall provide the collector a true and correct copy of
14-16 the tax bill sent to the owner, including taxes levied against <the
14-17 owner's> dealer's motor vehicle <special> inventory. The collector
14-18 shall apply the money in the owner's escrow account to the taxes
14-19 imposed and deliver a tax receipt to the owner. The collector
14-20 shall apply the amount to each relevant taxing unit in proportion
14-21 to the amount of taxes levied, and the assessor of each relevant
14-22 taxing unit shall apply the funds received from the collector to
14-23 the taxes owed by the owner.
14-24 (j) <(h)> If the amount in the escrow account is not
14-25 sufficient to pay the taxes in full, the collector shall apply the
15-1 money to the taxes and deliver to the owner a tax receipt for the
15-2 partial payment and a tax bill for the unpaid amount together with
15-3 a statement that the owner must remit to the collector the balance
15-4 of the total tax due.
15-5 (k) <(i)> The collector shall remit to each relevant taxing
15-6 unit the total amount collected by the collector in deficiency
15-7 payments. The assessor of each relevant taxing unit shall apply
15-8 those funds to the taxes owed by the owner. Taxes that are due but
15-9 not received by the collector <and remitted by the collector to
15-10 each relevant taxing unit> on or before January 31 are delinquent.
15-11 Not later than February 15 the collector shall distribute to
15-12 relevant taxing units in the manner set forth in this section all
15-13 funds collected pursuant to the authority of this section and held
15-14 in escrow by the collector as provided by this section.
15-15 <(j)) The collector shall annually distribute among the
15-16 relevant taxing units, in proportion to the taxes levied by each
15-17 against the special inventory, funds, if any, that remain in the
15-18 escrow account after the payment of all property taxes due.>
15-19 <(k) Not later than February 1 of each year or, in the case
15-20 of an owner who was not in business on January 1, not later than 30
15-21 days after commencement of business, each owner shall file a
15-22 special inventory declaration with the chief appraiser and file a
15-23 copy with the county tax assessor-collector. The declaration is
15-24 sufficient to comply with this subsection if it sets forth the
15-25 following information:>
16-1 <(1) the name and business address of each location at
16-2 which the owner conducts business;>
16-3 <(2) each of the owner's general distinguishing
16-4 numbers, if the owner has a general distinguishing number issued by
16-5 the Texas Department of Transportation;>
16-6 <(3) a statement that the owner is the owner of a
16-7 special inventory; and>
16-8 <(4) the market value of the inventory for the current
16-9 tax year as computed under Section 23.12A(b) of this code.>
16-10 (l) A person who acquires the business or assets of an owner
16-11 may, by contract, agree to pay the current year vehicle inventory
16-12 taxes owed by the owner. The owner who owes the current year tax
16-13 and the person who acquires the business or assets of the owner
16-14 shall jointly notify the chief appraiser and the collector of the
16-15 terms of the agreement and of the fact that the other person has
16-16 agreed to pay the current year vehicle inventory taxes owed by the
16-17 dealer. The chief appraiser and the collector shall adjust their
16-18 records accordingly. Notwithstanding the terms of Section 23.12A
16-19 of this code, a person who agrees to pay current year vehicle
16-20 inventory taxes as provided by this subsection is not required to
16-21 file a declaration until the year following the acquisition. This
16-22 subsection does not relieve the selling owner of the tax liability.
16-23 <An owner who fails to file a special inventory declaration
16-24 required by this section commits an offense. An offense under this
16-25 subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed
17-1 $500. A fine collected under this subsection may be used only by
17-2 the collector to defray the cost of enforcing this section. Each
17-3 day during which an owner fails to comply with the terms of this
17-4 subsection is a separate violation.>
17-5 (m) A dealer <An owner> who fails to file a <special
17-6 inventory tax> statement as required by this section commits an
17-7 offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor
17-8 punishable by a fine not to exceed $100. <A fine collected under
17-9 this subsection may be used only by the collector to defray the
17-10 cost of enforcing this section.> Each day during which a dealer
17-11 <an owner> fails to comply with the terms of this subsection is a
17-12 separate violation.
17-13 (n) In addition to other penalties provided by law, a dealer
17-14 who fails to file a statement as required by this section shall
17-15 forfeit a penalty. A tax lien attaches to the owner's business
17-16 personal property to secure payment of the penalty. The
17-17 appropriate district attorney, criminal district attorney, or
17-18 county attorney shall collect the penalty established by this
17-19 section in the name of the chief appraiser or collector. Venue of
17-20 an action brought under this subsection is in the county in which
17-21 the violation occurred or in the county in which the owner
17-22 maintains his principal place of business or residence. A penalty
17-23 forfeited under this subsection is $500 for each month or part of a
17-24 month in which a statement is not filed after it is due.
17-25 (o) <(n)> An owner who fails to remit taxes <the amounts>
18-1 due as required by this section <Subsection (b) of this section>
18-2 shall pay a penalty of five percent of the amount due. If the
18-3 amount is not paid within 10 days after the due date, the owner
18-4 shall pay an additional penalty of five percent of the amount due.
18-5 The collector, the collector's designated agent, or the county or
18-6 district attorney shall enforce the terms of this subsection<, and
18-7 a penalty collected under this subsection may be used only by the
18-8 collector to defray the cost of enforcing this section>. A penalty
18-9 under this subsection is in addition to any other penalty provided
18-10 by law <that may be due> if the owner's taxes are delinquent <not
18-11 paid in full by January 31>.
18-12 (p) Fines and penalties collected pursuant to the authority
18-13 of this section shall be deposited in the county depository to the
18-14 credit of the general fund.
18-15 SECTION 4. Chapter 23, Subchapter B, Property Tax Code, is
18-16 amended by adding Section 23.12C to read as follows:
18-17 Sec. 23.12C. DECLARATIONS AND STATEMENTS CONFIDENTIAL.
18-18 (a) In this section:
18-19 (1) "Collector" has the meaning given it in Section
18-20 23.12B of this code.
18-21 (2) "Comptroller" means the Comptroller of Public
18-22 Accounts of Texas.
18-23 (3) "Chief appraiser" has the meaning given it in
18-24 Section 23.12B of this code.
18-25 (4) "Dealer" has the meaning given it in Section
19-1 23.12A of this code.
19-2 (5) "Declaration" has the meaning given it in Section
19-3 23.12B of this code.
19-4 (6) "Owner" has the meaning given it in Section 23.12A
19-5 of this code.
19-6 (7) "Statement" has the meaning given it in Section
19-7 12.12B of this code.
19-8 (b) Except as provided by this section, a declaration or
19-9 statement filed with a chief appraiser or collector as required by
19-10 Section 23.12A or Section 23.12B of this code is confidential and
19-11 not open to public inspection. A declaration or statement and the
19-12 information contained in either may not be disclosed to anyone
19-13 except an employee of the appraisal office who appraises the
19-14 property or to an employee of the county tax assessor-collector
19-15 involved in the maintenance of the owner's escrow account.
19-16 (c) Information made confidential by this section may be
19-17 disclosed:
19-18 (1) in a judicial or administrative proceeding
19-19 pursuant to a lawful subpoena;
19-20 (2) to the person who filed the declaration or
19-21 statement or to that person's representative authorized by the
19-22 person in writing to receive the information;
19-23 (3) to the comptroller or an employee of the
19-24 comptroller authorized by the comptroller to receive the
19-25 information;
20-1 (4) to a collector or chief appraiser;
20-2 (5) to a district attorney, criminal district attorney
20-3 or county attorney involved in the enforcement of a penalty imposed
20-4 pursuant to Section 23.12 A or Section 23.12B of this code;
20-5 (6) for statistical purposes if in a form that does
20-6 not identify specific property or a specific property owner; or
20-7 (7) if and to the extent that the information is
20-8 required for inclusion in a public document or record that the
20-9 appraisal or collection office is required by law to prepare or
20-10 maintain.
20-11 (d) A person who knowingly permits inspection of a
20-12 declaration or statement by a person not authorized to inspect the
20-13 declaration or statement or who discloses confidential information
20-14 contained in the declaration or statement to a person not
20-15 authorized to receive the information commits an offense. An
20-16 offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
20-17 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 1996.
20-18 SECTION 6. The importance of this legislation and the
20-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
20-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
20-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.