AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The home addresses of statutory probate judges, associate judges, and municipal court judges are available in ad valorem tax records. These judges are the only judges whose addresses are available from county ad valorem tax appraisal records. These judges conduct mental health hearings in which they commit individuals whom they find dangerous and also place incapacitated people in guardianships who on occasion are angered by having certain rights removed. Recently, a statutory probate judge was threatened with death by a person placed under a guardianship upon the person finding out that his driver’s license was revoked. The threat was made to the home phone of this judge, and the person gave the judge’s address in his threat.
S.B. 1896 adds municipal court judges, statutory probate judges, associate judges, masters, magistrates, referees, hearing officers, and associate judges appointed under Chapter 54 (Masters; Magistrates; Referees; Associate Judges), Government Code, to the list of judges in the Tax Code who may have their home addresses made confidential.
As proposed, S.B. 1896 amends current law relating to the confidentiality of information in ad valorem tax appraisal records that identifies the home address of certain judges.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 25.025(a-1)(2), Tax Code, as follows:
(2) Provides that "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 (Associate Judge), Family Code, or Chapter 54A (Associate Judges), Government Code, or a retired associate judge or former associate judge appointed under either law;
(C) a justice of the peace;
(D) a master, magistrate, referee, hearing officer, or associate judge appointed under Chapter 54 (Masters; Magistrates, Referees; Associate Judges), Government Code; or
(E) a municipal court judge.
Makes nonsubstantive changes.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.