Sec. 6.15. EX PARTE COMMUNICATIONS; PENALTY. (a) A member of the board of directors of an appraisal district commits an offense if the member directly or indirectly communicates with the chief appraiser on any matter relating to the appraisal of property by the appraisal district, except in:
(1) an open meeting of the appraisal district board of directors or another public forum; or
(2) a closed meeting of the board of directors held to consult with the board's attorney about pending litigation, at which the chief appraiser's presence is necessary for full communication between the board and the board's attorney.
(b) A chief appraiser commits an offense if the chief appraiser directly or indirectly communicates with a member of the board of directors of the appraisal district on any matter relating to the appraisal of property by the appraisal district, except in:
(1) an open meeting of the board of directors or another public forum; or
(2) a closed meeting of the board of directors held to consult with the board's attorney about pending litigation, at which the chief appraiser's presence is necessary for full communication between the board and the board's attorney.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply to a routine communication between the chief appraiser and the county assessor-collector that relates to the administration of an appraisal roll, including a communication made in connection with the certification, correction, or collection of an account, regardless of whether the county assessor-collector was appointed to the board of directors of the appraisal district or serves as a nonvoting director.
(c-1) Subsections (a) and (b) do not prohibit a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district from transmitting to the chief appraiser without comment a complaint by a property owner or taxing unit about the appraisal of a specific property, provided that the transmission is in writing.
(d) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 208 (H.B. 402), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 944 (S.B. 2), Sec. 18, eff. January 1, 2020.
Structure Texas Statutes
Subtitle B - Property Tax Administration
Chapter 6 - Local Administration
Subchapter A. Appraisal Districts
Section 6.01. Appraisal Districts Established
Section 6.02. District Boundaries
Section 6.03. Board of Directors
Section 6.031. Changes in Board Membership or Selection
Section 6.033. Recall of Director
Section 6.034. Optional Staggered Terms for Board of Directors
Section 6.036. Interest in Certain Contracts Prohibited
Section 6.037. Participation of Conservation and Reclamation Districts in Appraisal District Matters
Section 6.04. Organization, Meetings, and Compensation
Section 6.05. Appraisal Office
Section 6.0501. Appointment of Eligible Chief Appraiser by Comptroller
Section 6.051. Ownership or Lease of Real Property
Section 6.052. Taxpayer Liaison Officer
Section 6.053. Assistance to Emergency Management Authorities
Section 6.054. Restriction on Employment by Appraisal District
Section 6.06. Appraisal District Budget and Financing
Section 6.061. Changes in Method of Financing
Section 6.062. Publication of Budget
Section 6.063. Financial Audit
Section 6.07. Taxing Unit Boundaries
Section 6.08. Notice of Optional Exemptions
Section 6.09. Designation of District Depository
Section 6.10. Disapproval of Board Actions
Section 6.11. Purchasing and Contracting Authority
Section 6.12. Agricultural Appraisal Advisory Board
Section 6.13. District Records
Section 6.14. Information Provided to Texas Legislative Council
Section 6.15. Ex Parte Communications; Penalty
Section 6.155. Certain Communications by Taxing Units Prohibited; Penalty