By:  Staples                                                      S.B. No. 1833
	(In the Senate - Filed March 14, 2003; March 24, 2003, read 
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental 
Relations; April 30, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable 
Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; 
April 30, 2003, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1833                                   By:  Gallegos

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of electronic means for certain interactions between taxpayers and appraisal districts, taxing units, or other tax officials. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1.085, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: (b) An agreement between a chief appraiser and a property owner must: (1) be in writing; (2) be signed by the chief appraiser and the property owner; and (3) specify: (A) the medium of communication; (B) the type of communication covered; and (C) the means for protecting the security of a communication and the e-mail address of the property owner and for confirming delivery of the communication. (e) The comptroller by rule shall prescribe acceptable media, formats, content, and methods for the exchange of electronic information for notices required by Section 25.19 and may prescribe acceptable media, formats, and methods for the exchange of electronic information for other notices, renditions, and applications. In an agreement entered into under this section, the chief appraiser may select the medium, format, and method to be used in the appraisal district from those prescribed by the comptroller. (f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection (a), if a property owner having 25 or more accounts requests an agreement for delivery of the notice required by Section 25.19 in an electronic format, the chief appraiser shall enter into the agreement and shall deliver the notice in the electronic medium, format, and method prescribed by Subsection (e). SECTION 2. Section 1.09, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 1.09. AVAILABILITY OF FORMS. When a property owner is required by this title to use a form, the office or agency with which the form is filed shall make printed and electronic versions of the forms readily and timely available and shall furnish a property owner a form without charge. SECTION 3. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2005, and applies to an agreement between a chief appraiser and a property owner entered into on or after that date. (b) In a county with a population of 500,000 or less, this Act takes effect January 1, 2006, and applies to an agreement between a chief appraiser and property owner entered into on or after that date.
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