2022 Texas Statutes
Occupations Code
Title 8 - Regulation of Environmental and Industrial Trades
Chapter 1304 - Service Contract Providers and Administrators
Subchapter D. Practice by Service Contract Providers,
Section 1304.157. Residential Service Contracts
Sec. 1304.157. RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONTRACTS. (a) A person may not sell, offer to sell, arrange or solicit the sale of, or receive an application for a residential service contract unless the person is:
(1) employed by a provider or administrator of a residential service contract who is licensed under this chapter; or
(2) licensed as a real estate sales agent, real estate broker, mobile home dealer, or insurance agent in this state.
(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person compensated by a provider or administrator, but who is not employed by that provider or administrator, may sell, offer to sell, arrange or solicit the sale of, or receive an application for a residential service contract if the contract contains the following statement in at least 10-point boldface type: "NOTICE: THIS COMPANY PAYS PERSONS NOT EMPLOYED BY THE PROVIDER FOR THE SALE, ADVERTISING, INSPECTION, OR PROCESSING OF A RESIDENTIAL SERVICE CONTRACT UNDER CHAPTER 1304, OCCUPATIONS CODE." For purposes of Subsection (a) and this subsection, a person is employed by a provider or administrator if, in connection with the person selling, offering to sell, arranging or soliciting the sale of, or receiving applications for residential service contracts, the provider or administrator:
(1) directs and controls the person's performance; and
(2) is responsible for representations made by the person when acting within the scope of the person's employment.
(c) Notwithstanding Section 1304.151(a)(1), a provider of a residential service contract may use a reimbursement insurance policy issued by a captive insurance company as defined by Section 964.001, Insurance Code, to insure the provider's residential service contracts if the provider maintains a funded reserve equal to not less than 25 percent of the gross consideration the provider received from consumers from the sale of all the provider's service contracts issued and outstanding in this state, minus any claims paid. A reimbursement insurance policy issued to a residential service contract provider in accordance with this subsection:
(1) is not subject to Section 1304.152; and
(2) is considered to satisfy the requirements of Sections 1304.1025 and 1304.151(a)(1) for purposes of this chapter.
Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 663 (H.B. 1560), Sec. 4.09, eff. September 1, 2021.
