(a) A notice of protest must be:      
        (1) received by the department not later than 5:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) on the date 15 days from the date of mailing of the department's notification to the license holder of the filing of the application;       
        (2) filed with the department by United States mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or through the department's designated electronic filing system when available; however, a notice of protest may not be filed by email; and       
        (3) accompanied by the required filing fee. If the filing fee does not accompany the notice of protest, the fee must be received by the department not later than 5:00 p.m. CST on the date 20 days from the date of mailing of the department's notification to the license holder of the filing of the application.       
      (b) The department will reject a notice of protest if:      
        (1) the complete notice of protest is not filed within 15 days from the date of mailing of the department's notification to the license holder of the filing of the application; or       
        (2) the required filing fee is not remitted within 20 days from the date of mailing of the department's notification to the license holder of the filing of the application.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §215.106 adopted to be effective February 11, 2010, 35 TexReg 883; amended to be effective August 2, 2012, 37 TexReg 5637; amended to be effective February 13, 2017, 42 TexReg 571