(a) After the manufacture of or the conversion to a CNG system on any vehicle to be used in Texas as a school bus, mass transit, public transportation, or special transit vehicle, the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall notify AFS in writing on CNG Form 1503 that the applicable CNG‑powered vehicles are ready for a complete inspection to determine compliance with the rules in this chapter.     
      (b) AFS shall conduct the inspection within a reasonable time to ensure the vehicles are operating in compliance with the rules in this chapter.      
        (1) If AFS' initial complete inspection finds the vehicle in compliance with the rules in this chapter and the statutes, the vehicle may be placed into CNG service. For fleet installations of identical design, an initial inspection shall be conducted prior to the operation of the first vehicle, and subsequent vehicles of the same design may be placed into service without prior inspections.       
        (2) If violations exist at the time of the initial complete inspection, the vehicle shall not be placed into CNG service and the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall correct the violations. The manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer shall file with AFS documentation demonstrating compliance with the rules in this chapter, or AFS shall conduct another complete inspection before the vehicle may be placed into CNG service.       
        (3) For public transportation vehicles only, if AFS does not conduct the initial inspection within 30 business days of receipt of CNG Form 1503, the vehicle may be operated in CNG service if it complies with the rules in this chapter.       
      (c) The manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer making the installation or conversion shall be responsible for compliance with the rules in this chapter, statutes, and any other local, state, or federal requirements.     
      (d) If the requested AFS inspection identifies violations requiring modifications by the manufacturer, licensee, or ultimate consumer, AFS shall consider the assessment of an inspection fee to cover the costs associated with any additional inspection, including mileage and per diem rates set by the legislature.     
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §13.24 adopted to be effective November 15, 1990, 15 TexReg 5936; amended to be effective October 15, 1993, 18 TexReg 6456; amended to be effective October 22, 2001, 26 TexReg 8342; amended to be effective December 24, 2012, 37 TexReg 9917; amended to be effective February 15, 2021, 46 TexReg 1035