Sec. 550.001.  SOLICITATION OR COLLECTION OF CERTAIN PAYMENTS.  (a)  An insurer or an insurer's agent or sponsoring organization may not solicit or collect, in connection with an application for insurance or the issuance of a policy, a payment other than:
(1)  a premium;
(2)  a tax;
(3)  a finance charge;
(4)  a policy fee;
(5)  an agent fee;
(6)  a service fee, including a charge for costs described by Section 4005.003;
(7)  an inspection fee;  or
(8)  membership dues in a sponsoring organization.
(b)  The commissioner by rule shall permit a sponsoring organization to solicit a voluntary contribution with a membership renewal solicitation if the membership renewal solicitation is separate from an insurance billing.
(c)  Except as otherwise provided by statute, an insurer may require that membership dues in its sponsoring organization be paid as a condition for issuance or renewal of an insurance policy.
(d)  Criminal penalties for a violation of this section are the same as criminal penalties provided for a violation under Subchapter K, Chapter 823.
Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.