Section 2 – Assessor to be state qualified — Vacancy — Filling vacancy.

• (1) As used in this section:
  • (a) “State-certified appraiser” means a state-certified general appraiser or state-certified residential appraiser as those terms are defined in Section 61-2g-102.
  • (b) “State-licensed appraiser” means the same as that term is defined in Section 61-2g-102.

• (2) An individual elected to the office of county assessor shall:
  • (a) meet the requirements described in Section 17-16-1; and
  • (b)
    • (i) except as provided in Subsection (2)(b)(ii), if elected on or after November 1, 1993, become a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser no later than 36 months after the day on which the individual’s term of office begins; or
    • (ii) if elected on or after January 1, 2010, in a county of the first, second, or third class, be a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser before filing a declaration of candidacy for the office of county assessor.

• (3) The county assessor’s office is vacant if:
  • (a) an assessor fails to meet the requirements described in Subsection (2); or
  • (b) no individual who meets the requirements described in Subsection (2) timely files a declaration of candidacy for the office of county assessor.

• (4)
  • (a) If a vacancy described in Subsection (3) occurs, the county legislative body shall fill the vacancy in accordance with Sections 17-53-104 and 20A-1-508.
  • (b) The individual who the county legislative body selects to fill the vacancy shall be a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser before the individual assumes the office of county assessor.

• (5) If the county legislative body cannot find an individual who meets the requirements described in Subsection (2) to fill a vacancy described in Subsection (3), the county legislative body may contract with a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser from outside the county to fill the remainder of the county assessor’s term of office.

Repealed and Re-enacted by Chapter 285, 2016 General Session