86R1316 TJB-F

By: Burrows H.B. No. 2574

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration of the ad valorem tax system; authorizing a fee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1.085(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision in this title and except as provided by this section, any notice, rendition, application form, or completed application, or information requested under Section 41.461(a)(2), that is required or permitted by this title to be delivered between a chief appraiser, an appraisal district, an appraisal review board, or any combination of those persons and a property owner or [between a chief appraiser, an appraisal district, an appraisal review board, or any combination of those persons and] a person designated by a property owner under Section 1.111(f) may be delivered in an electronic format if the chief appraiser and the property owner or person designated by the owner agree under this section.

SECTION 2. Chapter 5, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 5.01 to read as follows:

Sec. 5.01. PROPERTY TAX ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The comptroller shall appoint the property tax administration advisory board to advise the comptroller with respect to the division or divisions within the office of the comptroller with primary responsibility for state administration of property taxation and state oversight of appraisal districts and local tax offices. The advisory board may make recommendations to the comptroller regarding improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the property tax system, best practices, and complaint resolution procedures.

(b) The advisory board is composed of at least six members appointed by the comptroller. The members of the board should include:

(1) representatives of property tax payers, appraisal districts, and school districts; and

(2) a person who has knowledge or experience in conducting ratio studies.

(c) The members of the advisory board serve at the pleasure of the comptroller.

(d) Any advice to the comptroller relating to a matter described by Subsection (a) that is provided by a member of the advisory board must be provided at a meeting called by the comptroller.

(e) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the advisory board.

SECTION 3. Sections 5.041(b), (c), (e-1), and (e-3), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) A member of the appraisal review board established for an appraisal district must complete the course established under Subsection (a). The course must provide at least eight hours of classroom training and education. A member of the appraisal review board may not participate in a hearing conducted by the board unless the person has completed the course established under Subsection (a) and received a certificate of course completion.

(c) The comptroller may contract with service providers to assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (a), but the course required may not be provided by an appraisal district, the chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion of the costs incurred for the training course, but the fee may not exceed $50 for each [per] person trained. If the training is provided to an individual other than a member of an appraisal review board, the comptroller may assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person trained.

(e-1) In addition to the course established under Subsection (a), the comptroller shall approve curricula and provide materials for use in a continuing education course for members of an appraisal review board. The course must provide at least four hours of classroom training and education. The curricula and materials must include information regarding:

(1) the cost, income, and market data comparison methods of appraising property;

(2) the appraisal of business personal property;

(3) the determination of capitalization rates for property appraisal purposes;

(4) the duties of an appraisal review board;

(5) the requirements regarding the independence of an appraisal review board from the board of directors and the chief appraiser and other employees of the appraisal district;

(6) the prohibitions against ex parte communications applicable to appraisal review board members;

(7) the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice;

(8) the duty of the appraisal district to substantiate the district's determination of the value of property;

(9) the requirements regarding the equal and uniform appraisal of property;

(10) the right of a property owner to protest the appraisal of the property as provided by Chapter 41; and

(11) a detailed explanation of each of the actions described by Sections 25.25, 41.41(a), 41.411, 41.412, 41.413, 41.42, and 41.43 so that members are fully aware of each of the grounds on which a property appraisal can be appealed.

(e-3) The comptroller may contract with service providers to assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (e-1), but the course required by that subsection may not be provided by an appraisal district, the chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion of the costs incurred for the continuing education course, but the fee may not exceed $50 for each person trained. If the training is provided to an individual other than a member of an appraisal review board, the comptroller may assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person trained.

SECTION 4. Chapter 5, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 5.043 to read as follows:

Sec. 5.043. TRAINING OF ARBITRATORS. (a) This section applies only to persons who have agreed to serve as arbitrators under Chapter 41A.

(b) The comptroller shall:

(1) approve curricula and provide an arbitration manual and other materials for use in training and educating arbitrators;

(2) make all materials for use in training and educating arbitrators freely available online; and

(3) establish and supervise a training program on property tax law for the training and education of arbitrators.

(c) The training program must:

(1) emphasize the requirements regarding the equal and uniform appraisal of property; and

(2) be at least four hours in length.

(d) The training program may be provided online. The comptroller by rule may prescribe the manner by which the comptroller may verify that a person taking the training program online has taken and completed the program.

(e) The comptroller may contract with service providers to assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (b), but the training program may not be provided by an appraisal district, the chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion of the costs incurred for the training program, but the fee may not exceed $50 for each person trained. If the training is provided to an individual other than a person who has agreed to serve as an arbitrator under Chapter 41A, the comptroller may assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person trained.

(f) The comptroller shall prepare an arbitration manual for use in the training program. The manual shall be updated regularly and may be revised on request, in writing, to the comptroller. The revised language must be approved by the unanimous agreement of a committee selected by the comptroller and representing, equally, taxpayers and chief appraisers. The person requesting the revision must pay the costs of mediation if the comptroller determines that mediation is required.

SECTION 5. Section 5.102(a), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) At least once every two years, the comptroller shall review the governance of each appraisal district, taxpayer assistance provided, and the operating and appraisal standards, procedures, and methodology used by each appraisal district, to determine compliance with generally accepted standards, procedures, and methodology. After consultation with the property tax administration advisory board [committee created under Section 403.302, Government Code], the comptroller by rule may establish procedures and standards for conducting and scoring the review.

SECTION 6. Chapter 5, Tax Code, is amended by adding Section 5.104 to read as follows:

Sec. 5.104. APPRAISAL REVIEW BOARD SURVEY; REPORT. (a) The comptroller shall:

(1) prepare an appraisal review board survey form that allows an individual described by Subsection (b) to submit comments and suggestions to the comptroller regarding an appraisal review board;

(2) prepare instructions for completing and submitting the form; and

(3) establish and maintain a web page on the comptroller's Internet website that allows an individual described by Subsection (b) to electronically complete and submit the form.

(b) The following individuals who attend a hearing in person or by telephone conference call on a motion filed under Section 25.25 to correct the appraisal roll or a protest under Chapter 41 may complete and submit a survey form under this section:

(1) a property owner whose property is the subject of the motion or protest;

(2) the designated agent of the owner; or

(3) a designated representative of the appraisal district in which the motion or protest is filed.

(c) The survey form must allow an individual to submit comments and suggestions regarding:

(1) the matters listed in Section 5.103(b); and

(2) any other matter related to the fairness and efficiency of the appraisal review board.

(d) An appraisal district must provide to each property owner or designated agent of the owner who is authorized to submit a survey form under this section a document that states that the owner or agent:

(1) is entitled to complete and submit the survey form;

(2) may submit the form to the comptroller:

(A) in person;

(B) by mail;

(C) by electronic mail; or

(D) through the web page required to be established by the comptroller under Subsection (a)(3); and

(3) may obtain a paper copy of the form and instructions for completing the form at the appraisal office.

(e) The document described by Subsection (d) must include the uniform resource locator (URL) address of the web page required to be established by the comptroller under Subsection (a)(3).

(f) An appraisal district must provide the document described by Subsection (d) to a property owner or the designated agent of the owner at or before the first hearing on the motion or protest described by Subsection (b) for which the owner or agent is authorized to complete and submit the survey form.

(g) An individual who elects to submit the survey form must submit the form to the comptroller as provided by this section. An individual may submit only one survey form for each motion or protest.

(h) The comptroller shall allow an individual to submit a survey form to the comptroller in the following manner:

(1) in person;

(2) by mail;

(3) by electronic mail; or

(4) through the web page required to be established by the comptroller under Subsection (a)(3).

(i) An appraisal district may not require a property owner or the designated agent of the owner to complete a survey form at the appraisal office in order to be permitted to submit the form to the comptroller.

(j) The comptroller shall issue an annual report that summarizes the information included in the survey forms submitted during the preceding tax year. The report may not disclose the identity of an individual who submitted a survey form.

(k) The comptroller may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 7. Sections 6.412(a) and (d), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) An individual is ineligible to serve on an appraisal review board if the individual:

(1) is related within the second degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, to an individual who is engaged in the business of appraising property for compensation for use in proceedings under this title or of representing property owners for compensation in proceedings under this title in the appraisal district for which the appraisal review board is established;

(2) owns property on which delinquent taxes have been owed to a taxing unit for more than 60 days after the date the individual knew or should have known of the delinquency unless:

(A) the delinquent taxes and any penalties and interest are being paid under an installment payment agreement under Section 33.02; or

(B) a suit to collect the delinquent taxes is deferred or abated under Section 33.06 or 33.065; or

(3) is related within the third degree by consanguinity or within the second degree by affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, to a member of:

(A) the appraisal district's board of directors; or

(B) the appraisal review board.

(d) A person is ineligible to serve on the appraisal review board of an appraisal district established for a county described by Section 6.41(d-1) [having a population of more than 100,000] if the person:

(1) is a former member of the board of directors, former officer, or former employee of the appraisal district;

(2) served as a member of the governing body or officer of a taxing unit for which the appraisal district appraises property, until the fourth anniversary of the date the person ceased to be a member or officer; [or]

(3) appeared before the appraisal review board for compensation during the two-year period preceding the date the person is appointed; or

(4) served for all or part of three previous terms as a board member or auxiliary board member on the appraisal review board.

SECTION 8. Section 6.42, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(a) A majority of the appraisal review board constitutes a quorum. The local administrative district judge under Subchapter D, Chapter 74, Government Code, in the county in which [board of directors of] the appraisal district is established [by resolution] shall select a chairman and a secretary from among the members of the appraisal review board. The judge [board of directors of the appraisal district] is encouraged to select as chairman [of the appraisal review board] a member of the appraisal review board, if any, who has a background in law and property appraisal.

(d) The concurrence of a majority of the members of the appraisal review board present at a meeting of the board is sufficient for a recommendation, determination, decision, or other action by the board. The concurrence of a majority of the members of a panel of the board present at a meeting of the panel is sufficient for a recommendation or other action by the panel. The concurrence of more than a majority of the members of the board or panel may not be required.

SECTION 9. Section 41.46, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:

(a) The appraisal review board before which a protest hearing is scheduled shall deliver written notice to the property owner initiating a protest of the date, time, [and] place, and subject matter of [fixed for] the hearing on the protest and of the property owner's entitlement to a postponement of the hearing as provided by Section 41.45 unless the property owner waives in writing notice of the hearing. The board shall deliver the notice not later than the 15th day before the date of the hearing.

(d) The board shall deliver to the property owner initiating the protest notice of a protest hearing under this section by certified mail if the owner requests delivery by that method in the owner's notice of protest under Section 41.44. The board may require the owner to pay the cost to deliver the notice by certified mail.

SECTION 10. Section 41.461, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 41.461. NOTICE OF CERTAIN MATTERS BEFORE HEARING; DELIVERY OF REQUESTED INFORMATION. (a) At least 14 days before the first scheduled [a] hearing on a protest, the chief appraiser shall:

(1) deliver a copy of the pamphlet prepared by the comptroller under Section 5.06 [5.06(a)] to the property owner initiating the protest if the owner is representing himself, or to an agent representing the owner if requested by the agent;

(2) inform the property owner that the owner or the agent of the owner is entitled on request to [may inspect and may obtain] a copy of the data, schedules, formulas, and all other information the chief appraiser will [plans to] introduce at the hearing to establish any matter at issue; and

(3) deliver a copy of the hearing procedures established by the appraisal review board under Section 41.66 to the property owner.

(b) The chief appraiser may not charge a property owner or the designated agent of the owner for copies provided to the [an] owner or designated agent under this section, regardless of the manner in which the copies are prepared or delivered [may not exceed the charge for copies of public information as provided under Subchapter F, Chapter 552, Government Code, except:

[(1) the total charge for copies provided in connection with a protest of the appraisal of residential property may not exceed $15 for each residence; and

[(2) the total charge for copies provided in connection with a protest of the appraisal of a single unit of property subject to appraisal, other than residential property, may not exceed $25].

(c) A chief appraiser shall deliver information requested by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner under Subsection (a)(2):

(1) by regular first-class mail;

(2) in an electronic format as provided by an agreement under Section 1.085; or

(3) subject to Subsection (d), by referring the owner or agent to the uniform resource locator (URL) address on an Internet website maintained by the appraisal district on which the requested information is identifiable and readily available.

(d) If a chief appraiser delivers information requested by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner under Subsection (a)(2) by referring the owner or agent to a uniform resource locator (URL) address on an Internet website as authorized by Subsection (c)(3), the referral must contain a statement in a conspicuous font that clearly indicates that the owner or agent may on request receive the information by regular first-class mail. On request by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner, the chief appraiser must provide the information by regular first-class mail.

SECTION 11. Section 41.47, Tax Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (f) and amending Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(a-1) The board may not determine the appraised value of the property that is the subject of a protest to be an amount greater than the appraised value of the property as shown in the appraisal records submitted to the board by the chief appraiser under Section 25.22 or 25.23.

(e) The notice of the issuance of the order must contain a prominently printed statement in upper-case bold lettering informing the property owner in clear and concise language of the property owner's right to appeal the order of the board [board's decision] to district court. The statement must describe the deadline prescribed by Section 42.06(a) [of this code] for filing a written notice of appeal[,] and the deadline prescribed by Section 42.21(a) [of this code] for filing the petition for review with the district court.

(f) The appraisal review board shall take the actions required by Subsections (a) and (d) not later than the 15th day after the date the hearing on the protest is concluded.

SECTION 12. Section 41.66, Tax Code, is amended by amending Subsections (h), (i), and (j) and adding Subsections (j-1) and (p) to read as follows:

(h) The appraisal review board shall postpone a hearing on a protest if the property owner or the designated agent of the owner requests additional time to prepare for the hearing and establishes to the board that the chief appraiser failed to comply with Section 41.461. The board is not required to postpone a hearing more than one time under this subsection.

(i) A hearing on a protest filed by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner [who is not represented by an agent designated under Section 1.111] shall be set for a time and date certain. If the hearing is not commenced within two hours of the time set for the hearing, the appraisal review board shall postpone the hearing on the request of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner.

(j) On the request of a property owner or the [a] designated agent of the owner, an appraisal review board shall schedule hearings on protests concerning up to 20 designated properties to be held consecutively on the same day. The designated properties must be identified in the same notice of protest, and the notice must contain in boldfaced type the statement "request for same-day protest hearings." A property owner or the designated agent of the owner may [not] file more than one request under this subsection with the appraisal review board in the same tax year. The appraisal review board may schedule hearings on protests concerning more than 20 properties filed by the same property owner or the designated agent of the owner and may use different panels to conduct the hearings based on the board's customary scheduling. The appraisal review board may follow the practices customarily used by the board in the scheduling of hearings under this subsection.

(j-1) An appraisal review board may schedule the hearings on all protests filed by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner to be held consecutively. The notice of the hearings must state the date and time that the first hearing will begin, state the date the last hearing will end, and list the order in which the hearings will be held. The order of the hearings listed in the notice may not be changed without the agreement of the property owner or the designated agent of the owner, the chief appraiser, and the appraisal review board. The board may not reschedule a hearing for which notice is given under this subsection to a date earlier than the seventh day after the date the last hearing was scheduled to end unless agreed to by the property owner or the designated agent of the owner, the chief appraiser, and the appraisal review board. Unless agreed to by the parties, the board must provide written notice of the date and time of the rescheduled hearing to the property owner or the designated agent of the owner not later than the seventh day before the date of the hearing.

(p) At the end of a hearing on a protest, the appraisal review board shall provide the property owner or the designated agent of the owner one or more documents indicating that the members of the board hearing the protest signed the affidavit required by Subsection (g).

SECTION 13. Section 41.67(d), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(d) Information that was previously requested under Section 41.461 by the protesting party that was not delivered [made available] to the protesting party at least 14 days before the first scheduled [or postponed] hearing may not be used or offered in any form as evidence in the hearing, including as a document or through argument or testimony.

SECTION 14. Section 41.71, Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 41.71. EVENING AND WEEKEND HEARINGS. (a) An appraisal review board by rule shall provide for hearings on protests [in the evening or] on a Saturday or after 5 p.m. on a weekday [Sunday].

(b) The board may not schedule:

(1) the first hearing on a protest held on a weekday evening to begin after 7 p.m.; or

(2) a hearing on a protest on a Sunday.

SECTION 15. Section 41A.06(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) To initially qualify to serve as an arbitrator under this chapter, a person must:

(1) meet the following requirements, as applicable:

(A) be licensed as an attorney in this state; or

(B) have:

(i) completed at least 30 hours of training in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures from a university, college, or legal or real estate trade association; and

(ii) been licensed or certified continuously during the five years preceding the date the person agrees to serve as an arbitrator as:

(a) a real estate broker or sales agent under Chapter 1101, Occupations Code;

(b) a real estate appraiser under Chapter 1103, Occupations Code; or

(c) a certified public accountant under Chapter 901, Occupations Code; [and]

(2) complete the courses for training and education of appraisal review board members established under Sections 5.041(a) and (e-1) and be issued a certificate for each course indicating course completion;

(3) complete the training program on property tax law for the training and education of arbitrators established under Section 5.043; and

(4) agree to conduct an arbitration for a fee that is not more than:

(A) $400, if the property qualifies as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is $500,000 or less, as determined by the order;

(B) $450, if the property qualifies as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than $500,000, as determined by the order;

(C) $450, if the property does not qualify as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is $1 million or less, as determined by the order;

(D) $750, if the property does not qualify as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than $1 million but not more than $2 million, as determined by the order;

(E) $1,000, if the property does not qualify as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than $2 million but not more than $3 million, as determined by the order; or

(F) $1,500, if the property does not qualify as the owner's residence homestead under Section 11.13 and the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property is more than $3 million but not more than $5 million, as determined by the order.

SECTION 16. Sections 41A.061(b) and (c), Tax Code, are amended to read as follows:

(b) To renew the person's agreement to serve as an arbitrator, the person must:

(1) file a renewal application with the comptroller at the time and in the manner prescribed by the comptroller;

(2) continue to meet the requirements provided by Sections 41A.06(b)(1) and (4) [Section 41A.06(b)]; and

(3) during the preceding two years have completed at least eight hours of continuing education in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution procedures offered by a university, college, real estate trade association, or legal association.

(c) The comptroller shall remove a person from the registry if:

(1) the person fails or declines to renew the person's agreement to serve as an arbitrator in the manner required by this section; [or]

(2) the comptroller determines by clear and convincing evidence that there is good cause to remove the person from the registry, including evidence of repeated bias or misconduct by the person while acting as an arbitrator; or

(3) the person fails to complete a revised training program on property tax law for the training and education of arbitrators established under Section 5.043 not later than the 120th day after the date the program is available to be taken if the comptroller:

(A) revises the program after the person is included in the registry; and

(B) certifies that the program is substantially revised.

SECTION 17. Section 41A.09(b), Tax Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) An award under this section:

(1) must include a determination of the appraised or market value, as applicable, of the property that is the subject of the appeal;

(2) may include any remedy or relief a court may order under Chapter 42 in an appeal relating to the appraised or market value of property;

(3) shall specify the arbitrator's fee, which may not exceed the amount provided by Section 41A.06(b)(4) [41A.06(b)(2)];

(4) is final and may not be appealed except as permitted under Section 171.088, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, for an award subject to that section; and

(5) may be enforced in the manner provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 171, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

SECTION 18. Section 403.302(o), Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

(o) The comptroller shall adopt rules governing the conduct of the study after consultation with the comptroller's property tax administration advisory board [Comptroller's Property Value Study Advisory Committee].

SECTION 19. The following provisions are repealed:

(1) Sections 403.302(m-1) and (n), Government Code;

(2) Sections 5.103(e) and (f), Tax Code;

(3) Section 6.412(e), Tax Code; and

(4) Section 41A.06(c), Tax Code.

SECTION 20. Section 5.041, Tax Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an appraisal review board member appointed to serve a term of office that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 21. The comptroller shall implement Section 5.043, Tax Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 22. The comptroller shall establish the web page and prepare and make available the survey form and instructions for completing and submitting the form required by Section 5.104, Tax Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. An appraisal district is not required to provide the document described by Subsection (d) of that section to a property owner or the designated agent of the owner and is not required to provide the survey form or instructions under a requirement of that section until the web page is established and the form and instructions are prepared and made available by the comptroller.

SECTION 23. Section 6.412, Tax Code, as amended by this Act, does not affect the eligibility of a person serving on an appraisal review board immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to serve on the board for the term to which the member was appointed.

SECTION 24. Section 6.42(d), Tax Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a recommendation, determination, decision, or other action by an appraisal review board or a panel of such a board on or after the effective date of this Act. A recommendation, determination, decision, or other action by an appraisal review board or a panel of such a board before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 25. The changes in law made by this Act to Chapter 41, Tax Code, apply only to a protest for which the notice of protest was filed by a property owner or the designated agent of the owner with the appraisal review board established for an appraisal district on or after the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 26. The changes in law made by this Act in the qualifications of persons serving as arbitrators in binding arbitrations of appeals of appraisal review board orders do not affect the entitlement of a person serving as an arbitrator immediately before the effective date of this Act to continue to serve as an arbitrator and to conduct hearings on arbitrations until the person is required to renew the person's agreement with the comptroller to serve as an arbitrator. The changes in law apply only to a person who initially qualifies to serve as an arbitrator or who renews the person's agreement with the comptroller to serve as an arbitrator on or after the effective date of this Act. This Act does not prohibit a person who is serving as an arbitrator on the effective date of this Act from renewing the person's agreement with the comptroller to serve as an arbitrator if the person has the qualifications required for an arbitrator under the Tax Code as amended by this Act.

SECTION 27. This Act takes effect January 1, 2020.