SRC-SEW S.B. 445 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 445 2001S0295/1 01/26/01By: Lindsay Intergovernmental Relations 2/9/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, conflicts of interest pertaining to appraisal districts are not addressed. As proposed, S.B. 445 prohibits persons designated by a property owner to represent the owner before an appraisal district or board from being related to a member of the board or an employee of the district, in order to ensure that all property owners receive equitable consideration when protesting an appraisal. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1.111, Tax Code, by adding Subsection (j), to prohibit a property owner from designating a person who is related to a member of an appraisal district board of directors or an appraisal review board, to the chief appraiser, or to an employee of an appraisal district within the second degree by affinity or the third degree by consanguinity, as determined by Chapter 573 (Degrees of Relationship; Nepotism Prohibitions), Government Code, as an agent to represent the owner within that appraisal district. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.