84R575 NC-F
By: Bonnen of Galveston H.B. No. 639
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the registration and certification of county tax
assessor-collectors and their employees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1151.151, Occupations Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 1151.151. REGISTRATION REQUIRED; EXEMPTION. (a)
Except as provided by Subsection (b), the [The] following persons
must register with the department:
(1) the chief appraiser of an appraisal district, an
appraisal supervisor or assistant, a property tax appraiser, an
appraisal engineer, and any other person authorized to render
judgment on, recommend, or certify an appraised value to the
appraisal review board of an appraisal district;
(2) a person who engages in appraisal of property for
ad valorem tax purposes for an appraisal district or a taxing unit;
(3) an assessor-collector, [other than a county
assessor-collector;
[(4)] a collector, or another person designated by a
governing body as the chief administrator of the taxing unit's
assessment functions, collection functions, or both; and
(4) [(5)] a person who performs assessment or
collection functions for a taxing unit and is required to register
by the chief administrator of the unit's tax office.
(b) A county tax assessor-collector or an employee of the
county tax assessor-collector is exempt from registration with the
department.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1151.1515 to read as follows:
Sec. 1151.1515. VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION. (a) A person who
is exempt from registration under Section 1151.151(b) may register
if the person satisfies the registration requirements of this
chapter.
(b) A person exempt from the registration requirements of
this chapter who elects to register is subject to this chapter.
SECTION 3. Sections 1151.160(d) and (g), Occupations Code,
are amended to read as follows:
(d) A person registered as an assessor or
assessor-collector [other than a county assessor-collector] shall
become certified as a registered Texas assessor not later than the
fifth anniversary of the date of the person's original
registration.
(g) A registrant who has not obtained the certification
required by Subsection (c), (d), or (e) within the time required by
the applicable subsection is entitled to a one-year extension to
meet the certification requirements if:
(1) the applicant submits proof of active military
status performed after the date of the applicant's original
registration;
(2) the applicant submits proof of leave under the
federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Section 2601
et seq.) taken after the date of the applicant's original
registration;
(3) the applicant submits proof of a death or illness
in the family or an unforeseen emergency occurring after the date of
the applicant's original registration that prevented the
registrant from meeting certification requirements;
(4) a county tax assessor-collector, chief appraiser,
chief administrative officer of a political subdivision, or other
person authorized by the commission by rule requests the extension
on behalf of an employee;
(5) the applicant requesting the extension is a county
tax assessor-collector or chief appraiser; or
(6) the applicant meets another reasonable
qualification for an extension established by the commission by
rule.
SECTION 4. Section 1151.003, Occupations Code, is repealed.
SECTION 5. (a) The Texas Commission of Licensing and
Regulation shall establish procedures and requirements for the
expedited reinstatement of a certification under Section 1151.160,
Occupations Code, held by a county tax assessor-collector or an
employee of a county tax assessor-collector on June 13, 2013, and
nullified by Chapter 429 (S.B. 546), Acts of the 83rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2013.
(b) A county tax assessor-collector or an employee of a
county tax assessor-collector who was a registrant under Chapter
1151, Occupations Code, on June 13, 2013, and had not obtained the
certification under Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, on or
before that date is entitled to a three-year extension of the
applicable anniversary date of the person's original registration
described by Subsection (c), (d), or (e) of that section to meet the
certification requirements. This extension is in addition to the
one-year extension authorized under Section 1151.160(g),
Occupations Code, if the registrant qualifies for an extension
under that section.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2015, the Texas Commission of
Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.