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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2408

By: Naishtat

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties observe that the home addresses of certain judges and their associate judges are available in property tax appraisal records, unlike the addresses of other judges. These judges conduct business that can and has resulted in parties that feel aggrieved, leaving the judges vulnerable to threats and worse at their homes. Interested parties contend that this problem could be ameliorated by adding certain judges and related associate judges to the class of individuals who may elect to have their home addresses made confidential in property tax appraisal records. C.S.H.B. 2408 seeks to improve the safety of certain judges and related associate judges.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 2408 amends the Tax Code to expand the definition of "state judge," for purposes of confidentiality of information in property tax appraisal records that identifies a state judge's home address, to include a judge, former judge, retired judge, associate judge, former associate judge, or retired associate judge of a statutory probate court or a constitutional county court; a master, magistrate, referee, hearing officer, or associate judge appointed under related Government Code provisions; and a municipal court judge.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2408 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1. Section 25.025(a-1)(2), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2) "State judge" means:

(A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of an appellate court, a district court, a statutory probate court, or a county court at law of this state;

 

(B) an associate judge appointed under Chapter 201, Family Code, or Subchapter C, Chapter 54A, Government Code, or a retired associate judge or former associate judge appointed under either law [that chapter]; or

(C) a justice of the peace.

 

SECTION 1. Section 25.025(a-1)(2), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(2) "State judge" means:

(A) a judge, former judge, or retired judge of an appellate court, a district court, a statutory probate court, a constitutional county court, or a county court at law of this state;

(B) an associate judge appointed under Chapter 201, Family Code, or Chapter 54A, Government Code, or a retired associate judge or former associate judge appointed under either law [that chapter]; [or]

 

(C) a justice of the peace;

(D) a master, magistrate, referee, hearing officer, or associate judge appointed under Chapter 54, Government Code; or

(E) a municipal court judge.

SECTION 2. 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, 2013.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.