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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on ex parte communications between a |
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member of the board of directors and the chief appraiser of an |
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appraisal district; providing a penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 6, Tax Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 6.15 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6.15. EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS; PENALTY. (a) A member |
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of the board of directors of an appraisal district commits an |
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offense if the member directly or indirectly communicates with the |
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chief appraiser on any matter relating to the appraisal of property |
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by the appraisal district, except in: |
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(1) an open meeting of the appraisal district board of |
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directors or another public forum; or |
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(2) a closed meeting of the board of directors held to |
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consult with the board's attorney about pending litigation, at |
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which the chief appraiser's presence is necessary for full |
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communication between the board and the board's attorney. |
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(b) A chief appraiser commits an offense if the chief |
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appraiser directly or indirectly communicates with a member of the |
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board of directors of the appraisal district on any matter relating |
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to the appraisal of property by the appraisal district, except in: |
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(1) an open meeting of the board of directors or |
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another public forum; or |
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(2) a closed meeting of the board of directors held to |
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consult with the board's attorney about pending litigation, at |
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which the chief appraiser's presence is necessary for full |
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communication between the board and the board's attorney. |
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(c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a routine |
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communication between the chief appraiser and the county |
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assessor-collector that relates to the administration of an |
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appraisal roll, including a communication made in connection with |
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the certification, correction, or collection of an account, |
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regardless of whether the county assessor-collector was appointed |
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to the board of directors of the appraisal district or serves as a |
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nonvoting director. |
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(d) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 402 was passed by the House on March |
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28, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 402 on May 10, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 0, 2 |
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present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 402 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 8, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |