(a) The comptroller may prepare and issue publications relating to the appraisal of property and the administration of taxes, or may approve other publications relating to those matters, including materials published by The Appraisal Foundation, the International Association of Assessing Officers, or other professionally recognized organizations, for use in the administration of property taxes, including:
(1) a general appraisal manual;
(2) special appraisal manuals as authorized by law;
(3) cost, price, and depreciation schedules as authorized by law;
(4) news and reference bulletins;
(5) an annotated version of this title and Title 3 ; and
(6) a handbook containing selected laws and all rules promulgated by the comptroller relating to the property tax and its administration.
(b) The comptroller shall revise or supplement all materials issued by the comptroller or approve other publications periodically as necessary to keep them current.
(c) The comptroller shall provide without charge one copy of all materials to officials of local government who are responsible for administering the property tax system. If a local government official requests more than one copy, the comptroller may charge a reasonable fee to offset the costs of printing and distributing the materials. The comptroller shall make the materials available to members of the public but may charge a reasonable fee to offset the costs of printing and distributing the materials.
(d) If the appraised value of property is at issue in a lawsuit involving property taxation, a court may not admit in evidence appraisal manuals or cost, price, and depreciation schedules, or portions thereof, that are prepared and issued pursuant to this section. The manuals or schedules may only be used for the limited purpose of impeachment in the same manner and pursuant to the same evidentiary rules as applicable to books and treatises.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2222, ch. 841, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1980. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 119, ch. 13, § 8, eff. Aug. 14, 1981; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 384, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 2nd C.S., ch. 6, § 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 412, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.
Cross References:
Materials received at course or training program, see Sec. 5.04(c).
Explanation of taxpayer remedies, see Sec. 5.06.
