| (a) For purposes of meeting the security requirements
of §1201.105 of the Standards Act, "other security" means a deposit
in a state or federally chartered bank or savings and loan association.
If other security is posted, the other security must be maintained
in or by a banking institution located in this state subject to a
control agreement in the promulgated form set forth on the Department's
website. Such deposits are hereinafter referred to as security. If
such security is reduced by a claim, the license holder shall, within
twenty (20) calendar days, make up the deficit as required by §1201.109(c)
of the Standards Act. No advance notice is required by the Department
to the license holder, but the Department shall verify the deposit.
(b) Any other security provided for compliance with
§1201.105 of the Standards Act, shall remain in place and subject
to a control agreement in favor of the Department for two (2) years
after the person ceases doing business as a manufacturer, retailer,
broker, or installer, or until such later time as the director may
determine that no claims exist against the other security. The Director
may consent to the substitution of a bond or a different qualifying
deposit for other security provided that in the event a bond is filed
to replace the assigned security, the initial effective date of the
bond is the same or prior to the date of the assignment of security.
(c) If a required bond is canceled during the license
period, the license shall be automatically suspended on the date bond
coverage ceases.
(d) To be exempt from the additional security as required
by §1201.106(b) of the Standards Act, a manufacturer who does
not have a manufacturing plant in this state must have a bona fide
service facility.
(1) The manufacturer shall provide the Department with
the name, address and phone number of the service facility, conspicuous
notice of which shall be provided to each Texas retailer who purchases
homes from the manufacturer.
(2) The service facility shall be capable of compliance
with the provisions of Sub-part I of the Manufactured Housing Improvement
Act (latest edition) and capable of providing warranty service within
the reasonable time requirements set by the Department in §80.73
of this chapter (relating to Procedures for Handling Consumer Complaints),
and shall be subject to periodic review and inspection by Department
personnel.
(3) If the Department determines that the requirements
of paragraph (2) of this subsection have not been met, notice must
be sent of that determination and of the requirement of an additional
bond amount.
(4) Unless additional security is provided as required
by the Standards Act, all out of state manufacturers must disclose
their in-state service facility on each renewal of their license.
(e) In order for the Board to direct the Director to
stop accepting bonds issued by a surety for reasons outlined in §1201.105(c)
of the Standards Act, the Department experiences significant problems
if:
(1) the surety fails on three (3) or more occasions
to make the required reimbursement payment within thirty (30) calendar
days from the date of notice from the director that a consumer claim
has been paid; or
(2) is more than sixty (60) calendar days late in making
a required reimbursement payment.
(f) If the director stops accepting bonds issued by
a surety for reasons set forth in subsection (e) of this section,
all licensees who are bonded by the affected surety will be notified
immediately so they can supply the Department with a new valid bond
when they renew their license. If a licensee fails to supply the Department
with a new valid bond when they renew their license, their license
is automatically suspended until the licensee provides a new valid
bond.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §80.40 adopted to be effective March 25, 2012, 37 TexReg 1307; amended to be effective November 23, 2014, 39 TexReg 8386; amended to be effective January 7, 2018, 42 TexReg 6921 |
