By: Solomons, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Seliger) H.B. No. 35

(In the Senate - Received from the House March 19, 2007; April 3, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental Relations; May 3, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 3, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a prohibition on linking the compensation of the chief appraiser of an appraisal district to an increase in the total value of property in the district.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 6.05(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) The chief appraiser is entitled to compensation as provided by the budget adopted by the board of directors. The chief appraiser's compensation may not be directly or indirectly linked to an increase in the total market, appraised, or taxable value of property in the appraisal district. The chief appraiser [He] may employ and compensate professional, clerical, and other personnel as provided by the budget.

SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to a budget adopted by the board of directors of an appraisal district on or after the effective date of this Act.

(b) A budget adopted by the board of directors of an appraisal district before the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the budget was adopted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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