The Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board adopts amendments to §153.17, Renewal of Certification, License, or Trainee Approval, without changes to the proposed text as published in the September 27, 2002, issue of theTexas Register (27 TexReg 9083). The text will not be republished.

These adopted amendments help facilitate on-line renewals through TexasOnline. Adopted amendments to §153.17(d) will clarify that renewals are acceptable for processing when received by the board, with proper fees, though the U.S. Postal Service, an overnight delivery service, or through TexasOnline. New subsection (e) provides that appraiser continuing education (ACE) may be submitted on an ACE Report form, provides for penalties for furnishing false or misleading information, requires licensee to keep copies of ACE transcripts or course completion certificates for five years, provides for verification audits of claimed education, and provides for penalties for non-compliance. Current subsections (e)-(g) were renumbered (f)-(h).

The Foundation Appraiser Coalition of Texas, Inc. (FACT) provided written comments at the November 8, 2002, Board meeting. FACT's comments were supportive of the amendments. No other comments were received.

The amendments are adopted under the Powers and Duties of the Board, Texas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Act, §5 (Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, Article 6573a.2), which provides the board with authority to adopt rules.