(a) The department shall accept an approved assurance organization's written certification as evidence that an applicant or license holder has met and continues to meet the criteria and obligations set forth in this chapter and the Code. The department retains the right to independently verify any information or certification provided by the assurance organization, including the ability to verify information contained in the assurance organization's databases.
(b) An applicant or licensee wishing to utilize the services of an assurance organization shall execute, and the assurance organization shall submit to the department, together with any fees, the appropriate application form prescribed by the executive director which includes a certification by the assurance organization that the license holder or applicant is in compliance with the assurance organization's standards which meet the requirements of the Code and the rules and a certification by the licensee or applicant that the applicant is in full compliance with all requirements of the Code and the rules, together with the license holder or applicant's authorization for the department to accept information provided by the assurance organization on behalf of the applicant or licensee.
(c) Two or more applicants or license holders using the services of an approved assurance organization and desiring to apply or renew as a group, may do so provided that the applicants or license holders apply or renew on a form prescribed by the executive director and demonstrate that they have at least two of the following criteria in common:
  (1) financial statement;
  (2) controlling person;
  (3) insurance coverage; or
  (4) ownership.
(d) Though qualified applicants may apply as a group, the department will issue licenses only to qualified applicants having unique federal employment identification numbers.
(e) An approved assurance organization shall notify the department in writing no later than 10 days after it receives a complaint, or becomes aware of information indicating that an applicant or license holder utilizing its services is not in compliance with its obligations under this chapter or the Code. The notification shall include the originals or a certified copy of all such information in the assurance organization's possession.
(f) An approved assurance organization shall notify the department in writing no later than 10 days after the assurance organization has made a determination that an accredited PEO has violated any of the standards of accreditation of the assurance organization.
(g) Should the department elect to take action against any bond made available to it by an assurance organization because of a license holder or applicant's violation of this chapter or the Code as determined by the department, the department shall provide the assurance organization thirty (30) days written notice prior to taking action against the bond. This notification requirement shall neither affect the department's enforcement procedures nor affect the department's ability to take appropriate disciplinary action against a licensee or applicant.

Source Note: The provisions of this §72.25 adopted to be effective September 1, 2010, 35 TexReg 7784; amended to be effective January 1, 2014, 38 TexReg 9512