The comptroller may audit a county tax assessor-collector’s office, and that audit changes when a civil action can be filed.
Sec. 113.009. CIVIL LIABILITY OF COUNTY TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR; AUDIT BY COMPTROLLER. (a) Unless an audit of a county tax assessor-collector's office is conducted under Subsection (b), a civil cause of action may not be commenced against a county tax assessor-collector later than four (4) years after the term of the tax assessor-collector ends as provided by Subsection (d). (b) The comptroller may conduct an audit of the books, records, and accounts of a county tax assessor-collector's office that relate to the assessor-collector's administration of public funds during a term of office. The comptroller shall provide an assessor-collector with notice of an audit under this subsection not later than the first anniversary of the date the term of office that is the subject of the audit ends. An audit must be completed not later than the second anniversary of the date the term of office that is the subject of the audit ends. (c) If an audit is conducted under Subsection (b), a civil action described by Subsection (a) may not be commenced later than four (4) years after the date the audit conducted under Subsection (b) is completed. (d) For purposes of this section, a term of office of an assessor-collector ends on: (1) the date the term expires under law, whether or not the assessor-collector serves during the succeeding term, for an assessor-collector who is serving at the time the term expires; or (2) the date a successor takes office for an assessor-collector who does not continue serving until the time the term expires under law. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 661, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. SUBCHAPTER B. DEPOSIT OF MONEY