BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1896

By: Garcia

Ways & Means

Committee Report (Unamended)

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. The 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. S.B. 1896 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

S.B. 1896 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.