Tax Code § 5.12

Sec. 5.12. PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF APPRAISAL DISTRICT. (a) The comptroller shall audit the performance of an appraisal district if one or more of the following conditions exist according to each of two consecutive studies conducted by the comptroller under Section 5.10, regardless of whether the prescribed condition or conditions that exist are the same for each of those studies: (1) the overall median level of appraisal for all property in the district for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal is less than 0.75; (2) the coefficient of dispersion around the overall median level of appraisal of the properties used to determine the overall median level of appraisal for all property in the district for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal exceeds 0.30; or (3) the difference between the median levels of appraisal for any two classes of property in the district for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal is more than 0.45. (b) At the written request of the governing bodies of a majority of the taxing units participating in an appraisal district or of a majority of the taxing units entitled to vote on the appointment of appraisal district directors, the comptroller shall audit the performance of the appraisal district. The governing bodies may request a general audit of the performance of the appraisal district or may request an audit of only one or more particular duties, practices, functions, departments, or other appraisal district matters. (c) At the written request of the owners of not less than 10 percent of the number of accounts or parcels of property in an appraisal district belonging to a single class of property, if the class constitutes at least five percent of the appraised value of taxable property within the district in the preceding year, or at the written request of the owners of property representing not less than 10 percent of the appraised value of all property in the district belonging to a single class of property, if the class constitutes at least five percent of the appraised value of taxable property in the district in the preceding year, the comptroller shall audit the performance of the appraisal district. The property owners may request a general audit of the performance of the appraisal district or may request an audit of only one or more particular duties, practices, functions, departments, or other appraisal district matters. A property owner may authorize an agent to sign a request for an audit under this subsection on the property owner's behalf. The comptroller may require a person signing a request for an audit to provide proof that the person is entitled to sign the request as a property owner or as the agent of a property owner. (d) A request for a performance audit of an appraisal district may not be made under Subsection (b) or (c) if according to each of the two most recently published studies conducted by the comptroller under Section 5.10: (1) the overall median level of appraisal for all property in the district for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal is more than 0.90 and less than 1.10; (2) the coefficient of dispersion around the overall median level of appraisal of the properties used to determine the overall median level of appraisal for all property in the district for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal is less than 0.15; and (3) the difference between the highest and lowest median levels of appraisal in the district for the classes of property for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal is less than 0.20. (e) A request for a performance audit of an appraisal district may not be made under Subsection (b) or (c): (1) during the two years immediately following the publication of the second of two consecutive studies according to which the comptroller is required to conduct an audit of the district under Subsection (a); (2) during the year immediately following the date the results of an audit of the district conducted by the comptroller under Subsection (a) are reported to the chief appraiser of the district; or (3) during a year in which the comptroller is conducting a review of the district under Section 5.102. (f) For purposes of this section, "class of property" means a major kind of property for which the comptroller determines a median level of appraisal under Section 5.10 of this code. (g) Repealed by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 288, Sec. 11, eff. January 1, 2010. (h) In addition to the performance audits required by Subsections (a), (b), and (c) and the review of appraisal standards required by Section 5.102, the comptroller may audit an appraisal district to analyze the effectiveness and efficiency of the policies, management, and operations of the appraisal district. The results of the audit shall be delivered in a report that details the comptroller's findings and recommendations for improvement to the appraisal district's chief appraiser and board of directors and the governing body of each taxing unit participating in the appraisal district. The comptroller may require reimbursement by the appraisal district for some or all of the costs of the audit, not to exceed the actual costs associated with conducting the audit. Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 860, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990. Amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 384, Sec. 12, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 843, Sec. 10, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1183, Sec. 6, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 288 (H.B. 8), Sec. 8, eff. January 1, 2010. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 288 (H.B. 8), Sec. 11, eff. January 1, 2010.