Title IN, Insurance Code

Sec. 2602.005. APPLICABILITY; CONFLICT WITH OTHER LAWS. (a) This chapter applies to: (1) a title insurance company engaging in business under this title; (2) all title insurance, direct or reinsurance, written by a title insurance company engaging in business under this title; an…

Sec. 2602.006. CONSTRUCTION. (a) This chapter shall be liberally construed to implement the purposes of this chapter described by Section 2602.002, which shall be used to aid and guide interpretation of this chapter. (b) This chapter does not: (1) expand or diminish a right or ob…

Sec. 2602.007. PROHIBITED USE OF PROTECTION PROVIDED BY CHAPTER. (a) A title insurance company or agent may not advertise or refer to this chapter as an inducement to the purchase of title insurance. (b) The use by a person of the protection provided by this chapter in the sale o…

Sec. 2602.008. IMMUNITY. (a) Liability does not exist and a cause of action does not arise against any of the following persons for a good faith action or omission of the person in exercising the person's powers and performing the person's duties under this chapter: (1) the commi…

Sec. 2602.009. ASSOCIATION AND TITLE INSURANCE COMPANIES AS INTERESTED PARTIES. The association and each title insurance company assessed under this chapter are interested parties under Sections 3(h) and 12(b), Article 21.28. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. …

Sec. 2602.010. RULES. The commissioner shall adopt reasonable rules as necessary to implement and supplement this chapter and its purposes. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 2602.011. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY AND TO COMMISSIONER. (a) The commissioner shall notify the association of the existence of an impaired title insurance company or impaired agent not later than the third day after the date on which the commissioner gives notice of the design…

Sec. 2602.012. APPEALS. (a) A title insurance company may appeal to the commissioner an action or ruling of the association relating to an assessment. (b) An action or ruling of the commissioner under this chapter may be appealed as provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 36. (c) A tit…

Sec. 2602.013. VENUE. An action against the association or an action against the association's board member, agent, representative, or employee that arises from the exercise of the person's powers or performance of the person's duties under this chapter must be brought in a distr…

Sec. 2602.051. ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL ENTITY; SUPERVISION; MEMBERSHIP. (a) The Texas Title Insurance Guaranty Association is a nonprofit legal entity. (b) The association is subject to the applicable insurance laws of this state and the immediate supervision of the commissioner. (c…

Sec. 2602.052. BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a) The association's powers are exercised through a board of directors consisting of nine individuals appointed by the commissioner. (b) Three board members must be officers or employees of title insurance companies. Two board members must be o…

Sec. 2602.053. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVE. (a) In this section, "immediate family" includes parents, a spouse, children, brothers, and sisters residing in the same household. (b) To be eligible to serve as a public representative on the board, an individual mus…

Sec. 2602.054. TERM; VACANCY. (a) Board members serve staggered six-year terms, with the terms of three members expiring each odd-numbered year. A member may serve more than one term. (b) A member shall serve until a successor is appointed. (c) If a member other than a public rep…

Sec. 2602.055. COMPENSATION OF BOARD MEMBERS. A board member may not receive compensation for the member's services but is entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in performing the member's duties. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005…

Sec. 2602.057. RIGHTS OF TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY WITH REPRESENTATIVE ON BOARD. (a) A title insurance company is not prohibited, because the company has an officer, director, or employee serving as a board member, from negotiating for or entering into a contract of reinsurance or …

Sec. 2602.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) In addition to the other powers and duties provided by this chapter, the association may: (1) borrow money as necessary to implement this chapter according to the plan of operation; (2) lend money to the receiver, supervisor, or conse…

Sec. 2602.102. PLAN OF OPERATION. (a) The association shall perform its functions under a plan of operation. The plan of operation must contain provisions necessary or proper for the execution of the association's powers and duties. The plan of operation must, in addition to the …

Sec. 2602.103. EMPLOYEES AND EXPERTS. (a) The association may employ or retain persons to perform the functions necessary or proper under this chapter, including persons necessary to handle the association's financial transactions. (b) On the commissioner's approval, the associat…

Sec. 2602.104. ASSOCIATION RECORDS. (a) The association shall maintain a record of its activities in exercising its powers and performing its duties under this chapter. (b) A record under Subsection (a) may be made public only on: (1) termination of a liquidation, rehabilitation,…

Sec. 2602.105. MEETING BY CONFERENCE CALL. Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the board may hold an open meeting by telephone conference call if immediate action is required and convening of a quorum of the board at a single location is not reasonable or practical. The…

Sec. 2602.106. ACCOUNTS. For purposes of administration and assessment, the board shall establish: (1) an administrative account; (2) a title account; and (3) a guaranty fee account. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 2602.107. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. (a) The association may use money in the administrative account to pay administrative costs and other general expenses of the association. (b) The association may transfer income from investment of the association's money in any account to …

Sec. 2602.108. DEPOSIT OF FEES AND ASSESSMENTS. The association may deposit fees and assessments it collects into the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company in accordance with procedures established by the comptroller. The comptroller shall account to the association for the de…

Sec. 2602.109. USE OF EXCESS MONEY IN ACCOUNTS. (a) The association shall reserve in the title account the amount of money the association determines reasonably necessary for efficient future administration under this chapter. The association shall return the excess money pro rat…

Sec. 2602.110. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTERING IMPAIRED INSURER OR IMPAIRED AGENT. (a) The association may spend or advance money necessary to pay the expenses of administering the supervision, rehabilitation, receivership, conservatorship, or, as determined by a court of competent jur…

Sec. 2602.111. DELEGATION OF POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The plan of operation may provide that, on approval of the board, a power or duty of the association may be delegated to a corporation or other organization that: (1) performs or will perform in two or more states functions simi…

Sec. 2602.112. EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION. The association is exempt from payment of all fees and all taxes levied by this state or a subdivision of this state, except taxes levied on real or personal property. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 2602.113. DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF IMPAIRMENT. (a) The board may make recommendations to the commissioner for detecting and preventing title insurance company or agent impairments. The board shall advise and counsel with the commissioner on matters relating to the solvenc…

Sec. 2602.114. MEETING OF BOARD ON IMPAIRED TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY OR AGENT. (a) The commissioner: (1) shall call a meeting of the board when the commissioner determines that a title insurance company or agent is insolvent or impaired; and (2) may call a meeting of the board whe…

Sec. 2602.115. ASSOCIATION AND BOARD ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE. (a) On the commissioner's request, the board shall attend hearings before the commissioner and meet with and advise the commissioner or the receiver or the conservator appointed by the commissioner on matters relating to…

Sec. 2602.116. BOARD ACCESS TO RECORDS. The receiver, supervisor, conservator, or other statutory successor of an impaired title insurance company or agent shall give the board or its representative: (1) access to the company's or agent's records as necessary for the board to per…

Sec. 2602.117. BOARD REPORT AT CONCLUSION OF IMPAIRMENT. At the conclusion of a title insurance company or agent impairment in which the association exercised its powers or performed its duties under this chapter, the board shall prepare, from information available to the associa…

Sec. 2602.151. PAYMENT OF FEE. (a) An agent or, if there is no agent, the title insurance company shall pay the association a quarterly guaranty fee for each owner or mortgagee title insurance policy that the agent or company is required to report on its statistical report to the…

Sec. 2602.152. AMOUNT OF FEE. Annually or more frequently, the board shall determine the amount of the guaranty fee, considering the amount of money to be maintained in the guaranty fee account that is reasonably necessary for efficient future operation under this chapter. Added …

Sec. 2602.153. USE OF FEE. (a) The association shall collect, receive, retain, disburse, and advance the guaranty fees only as specifically provided by this chapter. (b) The following claims shall be paid from guaranty fees only and may not be paid from assessments: (1) covered c…

Sec. 2602.154. ENFORCEMENT OF FEE. (a) After notice and opportunity for hearing, the commissioner may suspend or revoke the certificate of authority or license to engage in business in this state of a title insurance company or agent that does not comply with this subchapter. (b)…

Sec. 2602.201. MAKING OF ASSESSMENT. (a) If the commissioner determines that a title insurance company has become impaired, the association shall promptly estimate the amount of additional money needed to supplement the assets of the impaired title insurance company to pay all co…

Sec. 2602.202. AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENT; PRORATION OF PAYMENT. (a) The association shall assess title insurance companies the amount necessary to pay: (1) the association's obligations under this chapter and the expenses of handling covered claims subsequent to an impairment; and (2)…

Sec. 2602.203. NOTICE AND PAYMENT. The association shall give each title insurance company to be assessed at least 90 days' written notice of the due date of the assessment. Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 6, eff. April 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S…

Sec. 2602.204. EXEMPTION FOR IMPAIRED TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY. A title insurance company is exempt from assessment during the period beginning on the date the commissioner designates the company as an impaired title insurance company and ending on the date the commissioner determ…

Sec. 2602.205. DEFERMENT. (a) The association may defer in whole or in part an assessment of a title insurance company that would cause the company's financial statement to show amounts of capital or surplus less than the minimum amount required for a certificate of authority in …

Sec. 2602.206. PARTICIPATION RECEIPTS. (a) On receipt from a title insurance company of payment of an assessment or partial assessment, the association shall provide the company with a participation receipt. A participation receipt creates liability against the impaired title ins…

Sec. 2602.207. ACCOUNTING; REPORTS; REFUND. (a) The association shall adopt accounting procedures to show how money received from assessments or partial assessments is used. (b) The association shall make interim accounting reports as the commissioner requires. (c) The associatio…

Sec. 2602.208. USE OF ASSESSMENTS. (a) Money from assessments is considered to supplement the marshalling of an impaired title insurance company's assets to make payments of covered claims on the impaired title insurance company's behalf and to pay administrative expenses related…

Sec. 2602.209. FAILURE TO PAY; COLLECTION BY COMMISSIONER. (a) The association shall promptly report to the commissioner a failure of a title insurance company to pay an assessment when due. (b) On failure of a title insurance company to pay an assessment when due, the commission…

Sec. 2602.210. RECOVERY OF ASSESSMENT IN RATES; TAX CREDIT. (a) A title insurance company is entitled to recover in its rates for the succeeding 12 months amounts paid in assessments not to exceed one percent of the company's net direct written premiums. In promulgating or establ…