The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board (Board) adopts amendments to §157.9, concerning Notice of Hearing; §157.11, concerning Contested Cases; Entry of Appearance; Continuance; §157.12, concerning Failure to Attend Hearing; Default Judgment; §157.13, concerning Ex Parte Consultations; and §157.14, concerning Informal Disposition, without changes to the proposed text as published in the March 14, 2014, issue of the Texas Register (39 TexReg 1817).

The amendments are made following a comprehensive rule review of this chapter to better reflect current Board procedures and to simplify and clarify where needed.

The reasoned justification for the amendments is to align the rules with current Board practices and simplify and clarify Board rules for improved consistency and readability.

No comments were received on the amendments as proposed.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Occupations Code, §1103.151, which authorizes the Board to adopt rules relating to certificates and licenses, and §1103.152, which authorizes the Board to prescribe qualifications for appraisers that are consistent with the qualifications established by the Appraiser Qualifications Board.

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