CERTIFICATION LEVELS AND REQUIREMENTS; RULES.

(a) The commission by rule shall adopt minimum requirements for the certification of registrants. The requirements for certification of a registrant must emphasize the areas of responsibility of the registrant in performing the registrant's duties for the taxing unit.

(b) "Registered professional appraiser" is the highest level of certification established by the commission for a person engaged in appraisal. "Registered Texas assessor" is the highest level of certification established by the commission for a person engaged in assessment. "Registered Texas collector" is the highest level of certification established by the commission for a person engaged in collection.

(c) 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 person registered as an assessor or assessor-collector other than a county 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.

(e) 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) In this subsection, "break in service" means time during which a person is not employed in the type of employment for which the person is registered, other than a period resulting from termination for cause. A registrant who has a break in service is entitled to an adjustment of the applicable anniversary date described by Subsection (c), (d), or (e) equal to the length of the break in service, as determined by commission rule. A person who has a break in service that exceeds five years must submit a new application and proof of completion of current course requirements, unless otherwise excepted under commission rule.

(g) 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 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 chief appraiser; or

(6) the applicant meets another reasonable qualification for an extension established by the commission by rule.

(h) The commission shall establish reasonable qualifications for reapplication for a registration by an applicant who does not meet any of the requirements of Subsection (g) or Section 1151.1605.

(i) The commission shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.