The comptroller must review each appraisal district at least every two years and may use a limited-scope review in specified disaster situations.
Sec. 5.102. REVIEW OF APPRAISAL DISTRICTS. (a) At least once every two years, the comptroller shall review the governance of each appraisal district, the taxpayer assistance provided by each appraisal district, and the operating and appraisal standards, procedures, and methodology used by each appraisal district, to determine compliance with generally accepted standards, procedures, and methodology, including compliance with standards, procedures, and methodology prescribed by any appraisal manuals required by law to be prepared and issued by the comptroller. (a-1) The comptroller may conduct a limited-scope review in place of the review required by Subsection (a) if: (1) the appraisal district is established in a county located wholly or partly in an area declared by the governor to be a disaster area during the tax year in which the review is required; (2) the chief appraiser of the appraisal district requests that the review conducted be a limited-scope review; and (3) the comptroller determines that one of the following circumstances exists and was caused by the disaster: (A) a building used by the appraisal district to conduct business is destroyed or is inaccessible or damaged to the extent that it is unusable for at least 30 days; (B) the appraisal district's records are destroyed or are unusable for at least 30 days; (C) the appraisal district's computer system is destroyed or is unusable for at least 30 days; or (D) due to extraordinary circumstances, the appraisal district does not have the resources to undergo a review under this section unless the review is limited in scope. (a-2) After consultation with the property tax administration advisory board, the comptroller by rule may establish procedures and standards for conducting and scoring a review under this section. (b) In conducting the review, the comptroller is entitled to access to all records and reports of the appraisal district, to copy or print any record or report of the appraisal district, and to the assistance of the appraisal district's officers and employees. (c) At the conclusion of the review, the comptroller shall, in writing, notify the appraisal district concerning its performance in the review. If the review results in a finding that an appraisal district is not in compliance with generally accepted standards, procedures, and methodology, including compliance with standards, procedures, and methodology prescribed by any appraisal manuals required by law to be prepared and issued by the comptroller, the comptroller shall deliver a report that details the comptroller's findings and recommendations for improvement to: (1) the appraisal district's chief appraiser and board of directors; and (2) the superintendent and board of trustees of each school district participating in the appraisal district. (d) If the appraisal district fails to comply with the recommendations in the report and the comptroller finds that the board of directors of the appraisal district failed to take remedial action reasonably designed to ensure substantial compliance with each recommendation in the report before the first anniversary of the date the report was issued, the comptroller shall notify the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, or a successor to the department, which shall take action necessary to ensure that the recommendations in the report are implemented as soon as practicable. (e) Before February 1 of the year following the year in which the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, or its successor, takes action under Subsection (d), and with the assistance of the comptroller, the department shall determine whether the recommendations in the most recent report have been substantially implemented. The executive director of the department shall notify the chief appraiser and the board of directors of the appraisal district in writing of the department's determination. Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 843, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 46, eff. May 30, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1040, Sec. 65, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1183, Sec. 5, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 288 (H.B. 8), Sec. 7, eff. January 1, 2010. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 467 (H.B. 4170), Sec. 14.001, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 490 (H.B. 3384), Sec. 1, eff. June 7, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 13, eff. January 1, 2020. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 20.001(a), eff. September 1, 2023. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 768 (H.B. 4595), Sec. 20.001(b), eff. September 1, 2023.