The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board adopts on an emergency basis amendments to §153.17, concerning Renewal or Extension of Certification and License or Renewal of Trainee Approval by adding new subsections (f) - (i).

The amendments concern satisfaction of Appraiser Continuing Education (ACE); payment of renewal fees, including national registry fees, and other renewal requirements for licensed and certified appraisers and appraiser trainees (licensees) who reside or whose principal place of business is in Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and Washington Counties and who were significantly affected by Hurricane Ike.

The amendments outline the conditions under which the board will defer the renewal requirements for licensees who are unable to timely renew and otherwise meet all renewal requirements for an active license because of Hurricane Ike. The amendments permit affected licensees to take up to four months to complete all of the renewal requirements under Chapter 1103 of the Texas Occupations Code. The extension option will be available only for licensees who satisfy the criteria in the rule and whose licenses expire between September 30, 2008 and February 28, 2009. For licenses that expire after that period, the license renewal is subject to the Act and existing Rules. If a licensee fails to pay the renewal fees within the four month period, the license will expire at the end of the four month period. If a licensee fails to complete ACE requirements, the license will go inactive at the end of the four month period until such time that the licensee meets all renewal requirements.

As a result of the proclamations by the Governor of the State of Texas dated September 7, and 12, 2008, declaring a state of emergency due to Hurricane Ike, the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board has determined that the conditions outlined in §2001.034 of the Texas Government Code concerning emergency rulemaking have been satisfied to adopt on an emergency basis amendments to §153.17, concerning Renewal or Extension of Certification and License or Renewal of Trainee Approval for licensees residing in or whose principal place of business is in any of the Texas counties detailed above who were significantly affected by Hurricane Ike.

The amendments are adopted on an emergency basis under Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act (the Act), Texas Occupations Code, §11033.151, which authorizes the Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board to make and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for the performance of its duties and to establish standards of conduct and ethics for its licensees in keeping with the purpose and intent of the Act to insure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

The statute affected by this emergency adoption is Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1103. No other statute, code or article is affected by the adopted amendments.