TITLE 43.TRANSPORTATION

Part 3. AUTOMOBILE THEFT PREVENTION AUTHORITY

Chapter 57. AUTOMOBILE THEFT PREVENTION AUTHORITY

43 TAC §57.51

The Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA) adopts amendments to 43 TAC §57.51, concerning refund determinations. The amendments are adopted without change to the proposed version, which was published in the Texas Register , on February 23, 2001, (26 TexReg 1691). The text of the adopted rules will not be republished.

The purpose of the amendments is to clarify the deadline for making a request for a determination of sufficiency and a refund of the ATPA fee imposed by Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4413(37), §10. Article 4413(37), §6A, authorizes the Authority to determine whether payments of the ATPA fee are sufficient. The Authority may issue a refund if an overpayment is found. Section 11 of Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 305, sets a deadline for requesting a determination or refund of six months after the payment is made. Under subsection (b) of §10, an insurer submits payment to the State, twice a year, each payment reflecting the amount assessed, based on insurance policies issued over the first and second six months of a calendar year. Subsection (a) of §57.51 is being amended to make it clearer that an insurer must request a refund within six months of each payment in order for the Authority to consider its request. In other words, a insurer must file a request within six months after its March 1 payment, for a determination or a refund for the March payment, and within six months after August 1, for a refund or determination for the August payment. The Authority cannot consider a request for refund or determination filed after the six month deadline for each payment.

No written comments were received regarding adoption of the amendments.

The amendments are adopted under Texas Civil Statutes, Article 4413(37), §6(a), which the Authority interprets as authorizing it to adopt rules implementing its statutory powers and duties, and §6A, which the Authority interprets as requiring it to adopt rules setting out the procedures for determination and refund requests. The following are the statutes, articles, or codes affected by the amendments: §57.51(a) - Article 4413(37), §§6(a), 6A

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on April 30, 2001.

TRD-200102437

Agustin DeLa Rosa

Director

Automobile Theft Prevention Authority

Effective date: May 20, 2001

Proposal publication date: February 23, 2001

For further information, please call: (512) 374-5107