SRC-JLB C.S.S.B. 1452 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1452
By: Harris
Intergovernmental Relations
4/28/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Ex parte communication between members of the appraisal review board and
the chief appraiser or the appraiser's staff is prohibited by the Texas
Tax Code, but there is no penalty for a violation of the Act.  C.S.S.B.
1452 makes ex parte communication between members of the appraisal review
board and the chief appraiser or the appraiser's staff a Class C
misdemeanor. 

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 Subchapter C, Chapter 6, Tax Code, by adding Section
6.411, as follows: 
 
Sec. 6.411.  EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS; PENALTY.  (a)  Provides that a
member of an appraisal review board commits an offense if the member
communicates with the chief appraiser or another employee of the appraisal
district for which the appraisal review board is established in violation
of Section 41.66(f). 
 
(b)  Provides that a chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal
district commits an offense if the chief appraiser or other employee
communicates with a member of the appraisal review board established for
the appraisal district in a circumstance in which the appraisal review
board member is prohibited by Section 41.66(f) from communicating with the
chief appraiser or other employee. 

(c)  Provides that this section does not apply to communications that do
not discuss the specific evidence, argument, facts, merits, or property
involved in a hearing currently pending before the appraisal review board
or to communications between the appraisal review board and its legal
counsel. 
 
  (d)  Provides that an offense under this section is a Class C
misdemeanor. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.