79R4409 SMH-D


By:  Talton                                                       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 annually.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 5.041, Tax Code, is amended by amending 
Subsections (b) and (c) to read as follows:
	(b)  A member of the appraisal review board established for 
an appraisal district must annually 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, 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.