Section 6.05(b)
Sec. 6.05. APPRAISAL OFFICE. (a) Except as authorized by Subsection (b) of this section, each appraisal district shall establish an appraisal office. The appraisal office must be located in the county for which the district is established. An appraisal district may establish branch appraisal offices outside the county for which the district is established.
(b) The board of directors of an appraisal district may contract with an appraisal office in another district or with a taxing unit in the district to perform the duties of the appraisal office for the district.
(c) The chief appraiser is the chief administrator of the appraisal office. Except as provided by Section 6.0501, the chief appraiser is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the appraisal district board of directors. If a taxing unit performs the duties of the appraisal office pursuant to a contract, the assessor for the unit is the chief appraiser. To be eligible to be appointed or serve as a chief appraiser, a person must be certified as a registered professional appraiser under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, possess an MAI professional designation from the Appraisal Institute, or possess an Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS), Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE), or Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES) professional designation from the International Association of Assessing Officers. A person who is eligible to be appointed or serve as a chief appraiser by having a professional designation described by this subsection must become certified as a registered professional appraiser under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, not later than the fifth anniversary of the date the person is appointed or begins to serve as chief appraiser. A chief appraiser who is not eligible to be appointed or serve as chief appraiser may not perform an action authorized or required by law to be performed by a chief appraiser, including the preparation, certification, or submission of any part of the appraisal roll. Not later than January 1 of each year, a chief appraiser shall notify the comptroller in writing that the chief appraiser is either eligible to be appointed or serve as the chief appraiser or not eligible to be appointed or serve as the chief appraiser.
(d) Except as provided by Section 6.0501, the chief appraiser is entitled to compensation as provided by the budget adopted by the board of directors. The chief appraiser’s compensation may not be directly or indirectly linked to an increase in the total market, appraised, or taxable value of property in the appraisal district. Except as provided by Section 6.0501, the chief appraiser may employ and compensate professional, clerical, and other personnel as provided by the budget, with the exception of a general counsel to the appraisal district.
(e) The chief appraiser may delegate authority to his employees.
(f) The chief appraiser may not employ any individual related to a member of the board of directors within the second degree by affinity or within the third degree by consanguinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code. A person commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly violates this subsection. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000.
(g) The chief appraiser is an officer of the appraisal district for purposes of the nepotism law, Chapter 573, Government Code. An appraisal district may not employ or contract with an individual or the spouse of an individual who is related to the chief appraiser within the first degree by consanguinity or affinity, as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code.
(h) The board of directors of an appraisal district by resolution may prescribe that specified actions of the chief appraiser relating to the finances or administration of the appraisal district are subject to the approval of the board.
(i) To ensure adherence with generally accepted appraisal practices, the board of directors of an appraisal district shall develop biennially a written plan for the periodic reappraisal of all property within the boundaries of the district according to the requirements of Section 25.18 and shall hold a public hearing to consider the proposed plan. Not later than the 10th day before the date of the hearing, the secretary of the board shall deliver to the presiding officer of the governing body of each taxing unit participating in the district a written notice of the date, time, and place for the hearing. Not later than September 15 of each even-numbered year, the board shall complete its hearings, make any amendments, and by resolution finally approve the plan. Copies of the approved plan shall be distributed to the presiding officer of the governing body of each taxing unit participating in the district and to the comptroller within 60 days of the approval date.
(j) The board of directors of an appraisal district may employ a general counsel to the district to serve at the will of the board. The general counsel shall provide counsel directly to the board and perform other duties and responsibilities as determined by the board. The general counsel is entitled to compensation as provided by the budget adopted by the board.
Acts 1979, 66th Leg., p. 2224, ch. 841, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1980. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 55, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1988; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 384, Sec. 15, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1990, 71st Leg., 6th C.S., ch. 12, Sec. 2(29), eff. Sept. 6, 1990; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 561, Sec. 44, eff. Aug. 26, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 5.95(25), (27), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 412 (S.B. 1652), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2005.
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 205 (H.B. 35), Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 2007.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 528 (H.B. 2387), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 5, eff. January 1, 2014.
Sec. 6.0501. APPOINTMENT OF ELIGIBLE CHIEF APPRAISER BY COMPTROLLER. (a) The comptroller shall appoint a person eligible to be a chief appraiser under Section 6.05(c) or a person who has previously been appointed or served as a chief appraiser to perform the duties of chief appraiser for an appraisal district whose chief appraiser is ineligible to serve.
(b) A chief appraiser appointed under this section serves until the earlier of:
(1) the first anniversary of the date the comptroller appoints the chief appraiser; or
(2) the date the board of directors of the appraisal district:
(A) appoints a chief appraiser under Section 6.05(c); or
(B) contracts with an appraisal district or a taxing unit to perform the duties of the appraisal office for the district under Section 6.05(b).
(c) The comptroller shall determine the compensation of a chief appraiser appointed under this section. A chief appraiser appointed under this section shall determine the budget necessary for the adequate operation of the appraisal office, subject to the approval of the comptroller. The board of directors of the appraisal district shall amend the budget as necessary to compensate the appointed chief appraiser and fund the appraisal office as determined under this subsection.
(d) An appraisal district that does not appoint a chief appraiser or contract with an appraisal district or a taxing unit to perform the duties of the appraisal office by the first anniversary of the date the comptroller appoints a chief appraiser shall contract with an appraisal district or a taxing unit to perform the duties of the appraisal office or with a qualified public or private entity to perform the duties of the chief appraiser, subject to the approval of the comptroller.
Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 6, eff. January 1, 2014.
Sec. 6.051. OWNERSHIP OR LEASE OF REAL PROPERTY. (a) The board of directors of an appraisal district may purchase or lease real property and may construct improvements as necessary to establish and operate the appraisal office or a branch appraisal office.
(b) The acquisition or conveyance of real property or the construction or renovation of a building or other improvement by an appraisal district must be approved by the governing bodies of three-fourths of the taxing units entitled to vote on the appointment of board members. The board of directors by resolution may propose a property transaction or other action for which this subsection requires approval of the taxing units. The chief appraiser shall notify the presiding officer of each governing body entitled to vote on the approval of the proposal by delivering a copy of the board’s resolution, together with information showing the costs of other available alternatives to the proposal. On or before the 30th day after the date the presiding officer receives notice of the proposal, the governing body of a taxing unit by resolution may approve or disapprove the proposal. If a governing body fails to act on or before that 30th day or fails to file its resolution with the chief appraiser on or before the 10th day after that 30th day, the proposal is treated as if it were disapproved by the governing body.
(c) The board of directors may convey real property owned by the district, and the proceeds shall be credited to each taxing unit that participates in the district in proportion to the unit’s allocation of the appraisal district budget in the year in which the transaction occurs. A conveyance must be approved as provided by Subsection (b) of this section, and any proceeds shall be apportioned by an amendment to the annual budget made as provided by Subsection (c) of Section 6.06 of this code.
(d) An acquisition of real property by an appraisal district before January 1, 1988, may be validated before March 1, 1988, in the manner provided by Subsection (b) of this section for the acquisition of real property.
Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 55, Sec. 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1988.
Sec. 6.052. TAXPAYER LIAISON OFFICER. (a) The board of directors for an appraisal district created for a county with a population of more than 120,000 shall appoint a taxpayer liaison officer who shall serve at the pleasure of the board. The taxpayer liaison officer shall administer the public access functions required by Sections 6.04(d), (e), and (f), and is responsible for resolving disputes not involving matters that may be protested under Section 41.41. In addition, the taxpayer liaison officer is responsible for receiving, and compiling a list of, comments, complaints, and suggestions filed by the chief appraiser, a property owner, or a property owner’s agent concerning the matters listed in Section 5.103(b) or any other matter related to the fairness and efficiency of the appraisal review board established for the appraisal district. The taxpayer liaison officer shall forward to the comptroller comments, complaints, and suggestions filed under this subsection in the form and manner prescribed by the comptroller not later than December 31 of each year.
(b) The taxpayer liaison officer shall provide to the public information and materials designed to assist property owners in understanding the appraisal process, protest procedures, the procedure for filing comments, complaints, and suggestions under Subsection (a) of this section or a complaint under Section 6.04(g), and other matters. Information concerning the process for submitting comments, complaints, and suggestions to the comptroller concerning an appraisal review board shall be provided at each protest hearing.
(c) The taxpayer liaison officer shall report to the board at each meeting on the status of all comments, complaints, and suggestions filed with the officer under Subsection (a) of this section and all complaints filed with the board under Section 6.04(g).
(d) The taxpayer liaison officer is entitled to compensation as provided by the budget adopted by the board of directors.
(e) The chief appraiser or any other person who performs appraisal or legal services for the appraisal district for compensation is not eligible to be the taxpayer liaison officer.
(f) The taxpayer liaison officer is responsible for providing clerical assistance to the local administrative district judge in the selection of appraisal review board members. The officer shall deliver to the local administrative district judge any applications to serve on the board that are submitted to the officer and shall perform other duties as requested by the local administrative district judge. The officer may not influence the process for selecting appraisal review board members.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a taxpayer liaison officer does not commit an offense under this chapter if the officer communicates with the chief appraiser or another employee or agent of the appraisal district, a member of the appraisal review board established for the appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of the appraisal district, a property tax consultant, a property owner, an agent of a property owner, or another person if the communication is made in the good faith exercise of the officer’s statutory duties.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 796, Sec. 8, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 371, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1991.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1086 (H.B. 3038), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 7, eff. January 1, 2014.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 354 (H.B. 2941), Sec. 1, eff. June 7, 2021.
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 644 (H.B. 988), Sec. 4, eff. June 15, 2021.
Sec. 6.053. ASSISTANCE TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES. The chief appraiser shall, if requested by the emergency management authorities of a federal, state, or local government agency, provide information and assistance pertinent to disaster mitigation or recovery, including assisting in the estimation of damage from an actual or potential disaster event.
Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 844 (S.B. 2148), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2009.
Sec. 6.054. RESTRICTION ON EMPLOYMENT BY APPRAISAL DISTRICT. An individual may not be employed by an appraisal district if the individual:
(1) is an officer of a taxing unit that participates in the appraisal district;
(2) is an employee of a taxing unit that participates in the appraisal district; or
(3) has served as a member of the appraisal review board for the appraisal district at any time during the preceding two years.
Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 17, eff. January 1, 2020.
Amended by:
Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 533 (S.B. 63), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2021.