Affiliated business arrangements.

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  • (1) An affiliated business arrangement between a person and a title entity violates Section 8 of RESPA for purposes of state law if:
    • (a) the title entity does not have sufficient capital and net worth in a reserve account in the title entity's name; or
    • (b) more than 70% of the title entity's annual title insurance business is affiliated business on or after the later of:
      • (i) two years after the title entity begins an affiliated business arrangement; or
      • (ii) June 1, 2021.
  • (2) In addition to Subsection (1), the division may find that an affiliated business arrangement between a person and a title entity violates Section 8 of RESPA after evaluating and weighing the following factors in light of the specific facts before the division:
    • (a) whether the title entity:
      • (i) is staffed with the title entity's own employees to conduct title insurance business;
      • (ii) manages the title entity's own business affairs;
      • (iii) has a physical office for business that is separate from any producer's or associate's office and pays market rent;
      • (iv) provides the essential functions of title insurance business for a fee, including incurring the risks and receiving the rewards of any comparable title entity; and
      • (v) performs the essential functions of title insurance business itself;
    • (b) if the title entity contracts with another person to perform a portion of the title entity's title insurance business, whether the contract:
      • (i) is with an independent third party; and
      • (ii) provides payment for the services that bears a reasonable relationship to the value of the services or goods received; and
    • (c) whether the person from whom the title entity receives referrals under the affiliated business arrangement also sends title insurance business to other title entities.




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