By:  Talton, Riddle                                               H.B. No. 824



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a requirement that appraisal review board members 
complete a training and education course biennially.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  Sections 5.041(b) and (c), Tax Code, are 
amended to read as follows:
	(b)  A member of the appraisal review board established for 
an appraisal district must biennially complete the course 
established under Subsection (a).  A member of the appraisal review 
board may not participate in a hearing conducted by the board unless 
the person has completed the course [established under Subsection 
(a)] and received a certificate of course completion.  In a tax year 
after the tax year in which a member of the appraisal review board 
initially completes the course and in which the member is required 
to complete the course, the member may not participate in a hearing 
conducted by the board after May 1 unless the member has completed 
the course and received a certificate of course completion in the 
current tax year.
	(c)  The comptroller may contract with service providers to 
assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (a), but the course 
required may not be provided by an appraisal district or a taxing 
unit.  The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion of the 
costs incurred for the training course, but the fee may not exceed 
$50 per person trained.  A service provider shall provide public 
notice of a training course in the manner required by the 
comptroller.  The notice must include the date, time, and location 
of the training course.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2006.