HBA-SEP S.B. 1737 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1737
By: Cain
Ways & Means
5/2/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 


Current law authorizes a property owner to inspect appraisal records of the
owner's property.  However, property owners have been denied access to
appraisal records because current law does not require the chief appraiser
to provide such access.  Senate Bill 1737 entitles a property owner to
inspect appraisal records of the owner's property.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 1737 amends the Tax Code to specify that a property owner or
the owner's designated agent (owner) is entitled to inspect and copy the
appraisal records relating to the owner's property.  An owner whose
property is appraised by a private appraisal firm under a contract for
appraisal services with an appraisal district is entitled to inspect and
copy all information pertaining to the property that the firm considered in
appraising the property, including information showing each method of
appraisal used to determine the value of the property and all calculations,
personal notes, correspondence, and working papers.  The appraisal firm is
required to make the information available for inspection and copying not
later than the 15th day after the date the owner delivers a written request
to inspect the information unless the owner agrees in writing to a later
date.  If an owner states in a document filed with an appraisal review
board in connection with a proceeding initiated for the review or
correction of an appraisal roll that an appraisal firm has not complied
with such a request, the board is prohibited from conducting a hearing on
the merits of any related claim and from approving the appraisal records
relating to the property until it has determined in a hearing that the
appraisal firm has allowed inspection and copying or the owner has
withdrawn the protest or motion.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.