SRC-SEW S.B. 1737 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1737
By: Cain
Intergovernmental Relations
5/21/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Tax Code states that property owners or their agents can view and
inspect appraisal records relating to their properties.  However, some
appraisal firms operating under contract for appraisal districts have taken
this language as permissive and not allowed full inspection or copying of
appraisal documents.  S.B. 1737 clarifies and affirms that property owners
or their agents are entitled to inspect and copy all information pertaining
to the property that the firm considers in appraising the property and
prohibits action by an appraisal review board until the requested
information has been provided. 

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 25.195, Tax Code, by amending Subsection (a) and
adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e), as follows: 

(a) Provides that after the chief appraiser has submitted the appraisal
records to the appraisal review board as provided by Section 25.22(a), a
property owner or the owner's designated agent is entitled to (rather than
is authorized to) inspect and copy certain stated materials. 

(c) Provides that a property owner or the designated agent of an owner
whose property is appraised by a private appraisal firm under a contract
for appraisal services with an appraisal district is entitled to inspect
and copy, at the office of that firm, certain information.  Provides that
this subsection does not apply to information made confidential by Section
22.27, except that the property owner or agent is entitled to inspect and
copy any information relating to the owner's property, including otherwise
confidential information.   

(d) Requires the appraisal firm to make the information covered by
Subsection (c) available for inspection and copying by the owner or agent
within a certain time frame.   

(e) Prohibits an appraisal review board, if a property owner or agent
performs certain functions, from conducting a hearing concerning the merits
of any claim relating to the property and from approving the appraisal
records relating to the property until certain requirements are met. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.