| 1 | 1 | | 81R7324 SMH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Parker H.B. No. 3596 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a prohibition on the public disclosure of information |
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| 8 | 8 | | in appraisal records that identifies a property owner. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 25, Tax Code, is amended by adding |
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| 11 | 11 | | Section 25.028 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 25.028. CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION IDENTIFYING |
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| 13 | 13 | | PROPERTY OWNER. (a) Information in appraisal records under |
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| 14 | 14 | | Section 25.02 is confidential and available only for the official |
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| 15 | 15 | | use of the appraisal district, this state, the comptroller, and |
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| 16 | 16 | | taxing units and political subdivisions of this state if: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) the information identifies a property owner; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) the property owner chooses to restrict public |
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| 19 | 19 | | access to the information on the form prescribed for that purpose by |
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| 20 | 20 | | the comptroller under Section 5.07. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) A choice made under Subsection (a) remains valid until |
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| 22 | 22 | | rescinded in writing by the property owner. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (c) An appraisal district, taxing unit, assessor, or |
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| 24 | 24 | | collector that posts appraisal record information on the Internet |
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| 25 | 25 | | must provide notice, on the main Internet website that provides an |
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| 26 | 26 | | Internet user with the means to search or access the information, of |
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| 27 | 27 | | a property owner's right to prohibit public disclosure of |
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| 28 | 28 | | information that identifies the owner in connection with property |
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| 29 | 29 | | included in the appraisal records and the procedure for prohibiting |
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| 30 | 30 | | disclosure of that information. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (d) This section does not prohibit the public disclosure of |
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| 32 | 32 | | information in appraisal records that identifies property |
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| 33 | 33 | | according to an address, if the information does not identify an |
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| 34 | 34 | | owner who has chosen to prohibit disclosure of information that |
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| 35 | 35 | | identifies the owner under Subsection (a) in connection with the |
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| 36 | 36 | | property. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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