TITLE: Relating to the confidentiality of certain property tax appraisal photographs.

SUMMARY: Relating to the confidentiality of certain property tax appraisal photographs.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the confidentiality of certain property tax appraisal photographs. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 552, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 552.155 to read as follows: Sec. 552.155. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN PROPERTY TAX APPRAISAL PHOTOGRAPHS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) or (c), a photograph that is taken by the chief appraiser of an appraisal district or the chief appraiser's authorized representative for property tax appraisal purposes and that shows the interior of an improvement to property is confidential and excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021. (b) A governmental body shall disclose a photograph described by Subsection (a) to a requestor who had an ownership interest in the improvement to property shown in the photograph on the date the photograph was taken. (c) A photograph described by Subsection (a) may be used as evidence in and provided to the parties to a protest under Chapter 41, Tax Code, or an appeal of a determination by the appraisal review board under Chapter 42, Tax Code, if it is relevant to the determination of a matter protested or appealed. A photograph that is used as evidence: (1) remains confidential in the possession of the person to whom it is disclosed; and (2) may not be disclosed or used for any other purpose. (c-1) Notwithstanding any other law, a photograph described by Subsection (a) may be used to ascertain the location of equipment used to produce or transmit oil and gas for purposes of taxation if that equipment is located on January 1 in the appraisal district that appraises property for the equipment for the preceding 365 consecutive days. SECTION 2. Section 552.222, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: (a) The officer for public information and the officer's agent may not make an inquiry of a requestor except to establish proper identification or except as provided by Subsection (b),[or] (c),or (c-1).(c-1) If the information requested includes a photograph described by Section 552.155(a), the officer for public information or the officer's agent may require the requestor to provide additional information sufficient for the officer or the officer's agent to determine whether the requestor is eligible to receive the information under Section 552.155(b). SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.