This section makes certain ex parte communications involving appraisal review boards an offense and sets the penalty as a Class A misdemeanor.
Sec. 6.411. EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS; PENALTY. (a) A member of an appraisal review board commits an offense if the member communicates with the chief appraiser or another employee or a member of the board of directors of the appraisal district for which the appraisal review board is established in violation of Section 41.66(f). (b) A chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal district, a member of a board of directors of an appraisal district, or a property tax consultant or attorney representing a party to a proceeding before the appraisal review board commits an offense if the person communicates with a member of the appraisal review board established for the appraisal district with the intent to influence a decision by the member in the member's capacity as a member of the appraisal review board. (c) This section does not apply to communications between the board and its legal counsel. (c-1) This section does not apply to communications with a member of an appraisal review board by the chief appraiser or another employee or a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district or a property tax consultant or attorney representing a party to a proceeding before the appraisal review board: (1) during a hearing on a protest or other proceeding before the appraisal review board; (2) that constitute social conversation; (3) that are specifically limited to and involve administrative, clerical, or logistical matters related to the scheduling and operation of hearings, the processing of documents, the issuance of orders, notices, and subpoenas, and the operation, appointment, composition, or attendance at training of the appraisal review board; or (4) that are necessary and appropriate to enable the board of directors of the appraisal district to determine whether to appoint, reappoint, or remove a person as a member or the chairman or secretary of the appraisal review board. (d) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 950, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1211 (S.B. 771), Sec. 12, eff. January 1, 2010. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 771 (H.B. 1887), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1259 (H.B. 585), Sec. 9, eff. June 14, 2013.