85R1343 NC-F
 
  By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 1738
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the registration and certification of county tax
  assessor-collectors and their employees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1151.151, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1151.151.  REGISTRATION REQUIRED; EXEMPTION. (a)
  Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] following persons
  must register with the department:
               (1)  the chief appraiser of an appraisal district, an
  appraisal supervisor or assistant, a property tax appraiser, an
  appraisal engineer, and any other person authorized to render
  judgment on, recommend, or certify an appraised value to the
  appraisal review board of an appraisal district;
               (2)  a person who engages in appraisal of property for
  ad valorem tax purposes for an appraisal district or a taxing unit;
               (3)  an assessor-collector, [other than a county
  assessor-collector;
               [(4)]  a collector, or another person designated by a
  governing body as the chief administrator of the taxing unit's
  assessment functions, collection functions, or both; and
               (4) [(5)]  a person who performs assessment or
  collection functions for a taxing unit and is required to register
  by the chief administrator of the unit's tax office.
         (b)  A county tax assessor-collector or an employee of the
  county tax assessor-collector is exempt from registration with the
  department.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1151.1515 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1151.1515.  VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION. (a) A person who
  is exempt from registration under Section 1151.151(b) may register
  if the person satisfies the registration requirements of this
  chapter.
         (b)  A person exempt from the registration requirements of
  this chapter who elects to register is subject to this chapter.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 1151.160(d) and (g), Occupations Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (d)  A person registered as an assessor or
  assessor-collector [other than a county assessor-collector] shall
  become certified as a registered Texas assessor not later than the
  fifth anniversary of the date of the person's original
  registration.
         (g)  A registrant who has not obtained the certification
  required by Subsection (c), (d), or (e) within the time required by
  the applicable subsection is entitled to a one-year extension to
  meet the certification requirements if:
               (1)  the applicant submits proof of active military
  status performed after the date of the applicant's original
  registration;
               (2)  the applicant submits proof of leave under the
  federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Section 2601
  et seq.) taken after the date of the applicant's original
  registration;
               (3)  the applicant submits proof of a death or illness
  in the family or an unforeseen emergency occurring after the date of
  the applicant's original registration that prevented the
  registrant from meeting certification requirements;
               (4)  a county tax assessor-collector, chief appraiser,
  chief administrative officer of a political subdivision, or other
  person authorized by the commission by rule requests the extension
  on behalf of an employee;
               (5)  the applicant requesting the extension is a county
  tax assessor-collector or chief appraiser; or
               (6)  the applicant meets another reasonable
  qualification for an extension established by the commission by
  rule.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1151.003, Occupations Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  (a)  The Texas Commission of Licensing and
  Regulation shall establish procedures and requirements for the
  expedited reinstatement of a certification under Section 1151.160,
  Occupations Code, held by a county tax assessor-collector or an
  employee of a county tax assessor-collector on June 13, 2013, and
  nullified by Chapter 429 (S.B. 546), Acts of the 83rd Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2013.
         (b)  A county tax assessor-collector or an employee of a
  county tax assessor-collector who was a registrant under Chapter
  1151, Occupations Code, on June 13, 2013, and had not obtained the
  certification under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, on or
  before that date is entitled to a five-year extension to be
  calculated from the fifth anniversary of the applicable anniversary
  date of the person's original registration described by Subsection
  (c), (d), or (e) of that section to meet the certification
  requirements.  This extension is in addition to the one-year
  extension authorized under Section 1151.160(g), Occupations Code,
  if the registrant qualifies for an extension under that section.
         (c)  The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation shall
  recognize and reinstate the highest pre-certification level
  achieved by a county tax assessor-collector or an employee of a
  county tax assessor-collector who was a registrant under Chapter
  1151, Occupations Code, on June 13, 2013, and had not obtained the
  certification under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, on or
  before that date.  The department shall recognize all certification
  courses successfully completed and all continuing education credit
  earned by the county tax assessor-collector or employee in the
  certification process.
         (d)  Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas Commission of
  Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to implement this
  section.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.