82R4884 SLB-F
	By: Deuell	S.B. No. 1335

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to certification requirements for certain property tax
	professionals.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 1151.160, Occupations
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1151.160.  CERTIFICATION LEVELS AND REQUIREMENTS;
	RULES.
	SECTION 2.  Section 1151.160, Occupations Code, is amended
	by amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (d),
	(e), (f), (g), and (h) to read as follows:
	(a)  The commission by rule shall adopt minimum requirements
	for the certification of registrants.  The requirements for
	certification of a registrant [an employee of a taxing unit's tax
	office] must emphasize the areas of responsibility of the
	registrant in performing the registrant's duties for the taxing
	unit.
	(c)  A [The rules establishing minimum requirements must
	require that:
	[(1)  a] person registered as an appraiser shall become
	certified as a registered professional appraiser not later than the
	fifth anniversary of the date of the person's original
	registration.  The person shall obtain certification by:
	(1)  successfully completing the certification
	requirements established by commission rule; or
	(2)  if the person is certified or licensed under
	Chapter 1103 as an appraiser by the Texas Appraiser Licensing and
	Certification Board, passing the appropriate examination required
	under Section 1151.161.
	(d)  A [(2)  a] person registered as an assessor or
	assessor-collector shall become certified as a registered Texas
	assessor not later than the fifth anniversary of the date of the
	person's original registration. [; and]
	(e)  A [(3)  a] person registered as a collector shall become
	certified as a registered Texas collector not later than the third
	anniversary of the date of the person's original registration.
	(f)  A registrant who has not obtained the certification
	required by Subsection (c), (d), or (e) within the time required by
	the applicable subsection is entitled to a one-year extension to
	meet the certification requirements if:
	(1)  the applicant submits proof of active military
	status performed after the date of the applicant's original
	registration;
	(2)  the applicant submits proof of leave under the
	federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. Section 2601
	et seq.) taken after the date of the applicant's original
	registration;
	(3)  the applicant submits proof of a death or illness
	in the family or an unforeseen emergency occurring after the date of
	the applicant's original registration that prevented the
	registrant from meeting certification requirements;
	(4)  a county tax assessor-collector, chief appraiser,
	chief administrative officer of a political subdivision, or other
	person authorized by the commission by rule requests the extension
	on behalf of an employee;
	(5)  the applicant requesting the extension is a county
	tax assessor-collector or chief appraiser; or
	(6)  the applicant meets another reasonable
	qualification for an extension established by the commission by
	rule.
	(g)  The commission shall establish reasonable
	qualifications for reapplication for a registration by an applicant
	who does not meet any of the requirements of Subsection (f) or
	Section 1151.1605.
	(h)  The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to
	implement this section.
	SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1151.1605 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1151.1605.  REINSTATEMENT OF REGISTRATION. (a)  A
	person who has not satisfied the requirements for certification
	within the time required by Section 1151.160(c) or rules adopted
	under that section may apply for reinstatement of a registration
	under this section if that person obtained registration before
	December 31, 2010, as a Class II collector, a Class III appraiser,
	or a Class III assessor-collector as defined by a rule adopted by
	the commission under Section 1151.160.
	(b)  A qualified person may apply for reinstatement of a
	registration if, before December 31, 2011, that person:
	(1)  pays a fee in an amount determined by the
	department; and
	(2)  files a completed reinstatement application on a
	form prescribed by the department.
	(c)  A registration reinstated under this section expires on
	December 31, 2013, and may not be renewed unless the applicant
	satisfies all registration and certification requirements,
	including any education and examination requirements, before
	December 31, 2013.
	(d)  If a person completes the registration and
	certification requirements in order to renew a registration under
	Subsection (c), the date of registration shall be the same as the
	date of completion of the requirements.
	(e)  This section expires December 31, 2013.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 1151, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1151.165 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1151.165.  INACTIVE STATUS. The commission may adopt
	rules to allow a registrant to place a registration issued by the
	department on inactive status in the same manner as a license is
	placed on inactive status under Section 51.4011.
	SECTION 5.  (a)  The Texas Commission of Licensing and
	Regulation shall adopt rules under Section 1151.160, Occupations
	Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 1151.165, Occupations
	Code, as added by this Act, not later than February 1, 2012.
	(b)  The Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall
	adopt rules under Section 1151.1605, Occupations Code, as added by
	this Act, not later than October 1, 2011.
	SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2011.