(a) This section applies only to persons who have agreed to serve as arbitrators under Chapter 41A.
(b) The comptroller shall:
(1) approve curricula and provide an arbitration manual and other materials for use in training and educating arbitrators;
(2) make all materials for use in training and educating arbitrators freely available online; and
(3) establish and supervise a training program on property tax law for the training and education of arbitrators.

Terms Used In Texas Tax Code 5.043

  • Appraisal: A determination of property value.
  • Comptroller: means the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas. See Texas Tax Code 1.04
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
  • Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Property: means real and personal property. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
  • Taxing unit: means a county, an incorporated city or town (including a home-rule city), a school district, a special district or authority (including a junior college district, a hospital district, a district created by or pursuant to the Water Code, a mosquito control district, a fire prevention district, or a noxious weed control district), or any other political unit of this state, whether created by or pursuant to the constitution or a local, special, or general law, that is authorized to impose and is imposing ad valorem taxes on property even if the governing body of another political unit determines the tax rate for the unit or otherwise governs its affairs. See Texas Tax Code 1.04

(c) The training program must:
(1) emphasize the requirements regarding the equal and uniform appraisal of property; and
(2) be at least four hours in length.
(d) The training program may be provided online. The comptroller by rule may prescribe the manner by which the comptroller may verify that a person taking the training program online has taken and completed the program.
(e) The comptroller may contract with service providers to assist with the duties imposed under Subsection (b), but the training program may not be provided by an appraisal district, the chief appraiser or another employee of an appraisal district, a member of the board of directors of an appraisal district, a member of an appraisal review board, or a taxing unit. The comptroller may assess a fee to recover a portion of the costs incurred for the training program, but the fee may not exceed $50 for each person trained. If the training is provided to a person other than a person who has agreed to serve as an arbitrator under Chapter 41A, the comptroller may assess a fee not to exceed $50 for each person trained.
(f) The comptroller shall prepare an arbitration manual for use in the training program. The manual shall be updated regularly and may be revised on request, in writing, to the comptroller. The revised language must be approved by the unanimous agreement of a committee selected by the comptroller and representing, equally, taxpayers and chief appraisers. The person requesting the revision must pay the costs of mediation if the comptroller determines that mediation is required.

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