The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board proposes an amendment to §153.17, concerning Renewal or Extension of Certification and License or Renewal of Trainee Approval, that permits continuing education required for renewals to be deferred for 180 days for licensed or certified appraisers on active duty in the United States armed forces. A new subsection (e) relating to identity theft is being proposed to provide a procedure for the issuance of a new license when the Board has determined that a licensee has been a victim of identity theft.

Wayne Thorburn, Commissioner, Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, has determined that for the first five-year period the amendment is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended rule.

Mr. Thorburn also has determined that for each year of the first five years the amendment is in effect, the anticipated public benefit as a result of the amendment is that it establishes continuing education criteria that is consistent with the Appraiser Qualifications Board for renewals. Additionally, the anticipated public benefit regarding identity theft is that is provides licensees who are victims of theft a mechanism for reporting such an incident to the Board and a procedure whereby the licensee can seek to obtain a new license. There will be no effect on small businesses. There is no anticipated cost to persons who are required to comply with the amendment as proposed.

Comments on the proposed amendment may be submitted to Wayne Thorburn, Commissioner, Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, P.O. Box 12188, Austin, Texas 78711-2188.

The amendment is proposed under the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act, Subchapter D, concerning Board Powers and Duties (Occupations Code, Chapter 1103), which provides the board with authority to adopt rules under §1103.151, concerning Rules Relating to Certification and Licenses.

No other code, article, or statute is affected by this proposal.