Sec. 2651.009. MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS

(a) A licensed title insurance agent may be appointed to represent additional title insurance companies.

(b) Any additional title insurance company must notify the department of the appointment in the manner prescribed by the department. The agent must include with the notice a nonrefundable fee for each additional appointment. The department shall prescribe the fee in an amount not to exceed $16.

(c) Not later than the 20th business day after the date the department receives a notice under Subsection (b), the department shall notify the title insurance agent and appointing title insurance company in writing of any deficiencies in the notice that render the notice incomplete. A notice under Subsection (b) is considered complete on the date the department receives the notice, unless the department provides notice of the deficiencies under this section.

(c-1) Not later than the fifth business day after the date the notice under Subsection (b) is complete, the department shall notify the title insurance agent and appointing title insurance company in writing of the date that the notice under Subsection (b) is complete.

(c-2) The appointment is effective on the eighth business day following the date the notice of appointment is complete and the department receives the fee, unless the department proposes to reject the appointment. If the department proposes to reject the appointment, the department shall notify the title insurance agent and the appointing title insurance company in writing of the factual grounds on which the department proposes to reject the appointment not later than the seventh business day after the date on which the notice of appointment is complete.

(c-3) The department may provide a notice required under this section by e-mail.

(d) A title insurance company may not permit an agent appointed by the company to write, sign, or deliver title insurance until the agent's appointment is effective.

(e) The appointment remains effective, without the necessity of renewal, until the appointment:

(1) is terminated by the title insurance company as provided by this section; or

(2) is otherwise terminated under this subchapter.

(f) A renewal license issued to an agent authorizes the agent to represent and act for the title insurance companies for which the agent holds appointments until the appointments are terminated, and the agent is considered to be the agent of the appointing companies for purposes of this subchapter.

(g) When a title insurance company terminates the appointment of an agent, the company shall immediately file with the department a statement that contains:

(1) the facts relating to the termination of the appointment; and

(2) the effective date and reason for the termination.

(h) On receipt of the statement, the department shall terminate the appointment of the agent to represent that title insurance company in this state.

Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1011 , Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2011.