August 22, 2007
News from the Texas Title Industry
This issue of DOWNDATE is brought to you by
COMMERCE TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY
RATE HEARING REFERRED TO SOAH
The Ratemaking Phase of the 2006 Texas Title Insurance Biennial Hearing has been referred to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) to be conducted by administrative law judge Craig Bennett. The hearing is set for 9:00 a.m. on March 31, 2008, at the SOAH hearing facility, 300 West 15th St., 4th floor, Austin, Texas.
REMINDER - 2006 TITLE INSURANCE RULE HEARING SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 5
The Rulemaking Phase of the hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. on September 5, 2007 in Room 100 of the William P. Hobby, Jr. State Office Building, 333 Guadalupe Street in Austin. You can view the Commissioner's Notice here.
A list of agenda items as well as electronic versions of each item can be found on the Regulatory page of the TLTA Web site. Agenda items continue to be amended, so please check the website regularly for the most updated version.
Order Your Basic Manual UPDATE Today
Changes and additions to Title 11 Insurance Code of the
Basic Manual are effective Sept. 1, 2007.
If you have signed up for the
Update SUBSCRIPTION Service
you will receive your update automatically by Aug. 29, 2007.
DETAILS...
THE END OF THE ARBITRATION ERA
by John H. McFarland
The title of this article would suggest that the End to the Arbitration Era is imminent. Let me hasten to advise that it is not, but far otherwise. The state and federal courts have, if anything, expanded the right to enforce arbitration and declared it virtually unassailable. More story
TEXAS LEGISLATURE WRAPS UP 80TH SESSION: NEW LAWS EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW
by James Kizziar, Bracewell & Giuliani, LLP
The 80th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature passed a number of new statutes affecting Texas employers. It also rejected a notable piece of legislation designed to provide employment protections for volunteer emergency responders. More story
THC/TLTA PARTNERSHIP BENEFITS FROM FUNDING APPROVED BY 80th LEGISLATURE
TLTA has entered the second year of its partnership with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and is pleased to report that the 80th Texas Legislature included $63 million in funding for THC's nationally recognized Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program. The funding will enable THC to restore more courthouses and expand its programs. TLTA's grant supports THC's Stewardship Program which provides training on the maintenance and preservation of restored courthouses. The second Stewardship Workshop is being scheduled for spring 2008. More story
CHECK OUT TLTA'S NEW FALL LINE-UP OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS
TLTA's Professional Development Series will kick-off on September 15 in Midland and has been approved for both escrow and legal credit. The Seminars Committee has developed a new schedule and format for this series, expanded other programs and designed a new seminar focused on construction challenges. You should have received several e-mails promoting these exciting options and the Continuing Education Catalog with more details is in the mail – so keep an eye out! Check out the upcoming seminars and register online by clicking here.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS
We would like to welcome our newest members to TLTA. View a list of new members approved by the Board of Directors in June and July 2007.
TLTA BOARD AND COMMITTEES PLAN FOR 2007-08
The TLTA Board of Directors and Committee Chairs met in July for their annual planning and orientation meeting. In addition to the quarterly board meeting and attending to association business, they discussed goals for the year, reviewed the Association's strategic plan and received leadership training.
Committee work is in full swing at TLTA. Many committees have already met this year, including the Member Services, Seminars, Centennial, School and Institute committees. Thanks to the TLTA volunteers who have taken time out from your summer schedules to help us plan the coming year's programs and events. View photos
TLTA CENTENNIAL PLANS ARE IN HIGH GEAR
Our Centennial Committee has been hard at work over the past year planning the fun and festivities for celebrating TLTA's 100th Anniversary. Please check the TLTA Web site each month as we add more detailed information about our Centennial celebrations. View the Centennial Schedule on the TLTA Web site.
GET 50% OFF ANY JOB POSTING ON TLTA'S JOB BANK
Post your open positions on TLTA's job bank and target qualified job seekers in the title industry. Our job bank costs 70% less than other online job banks and newspaper advertising. And for a limited time, receive a 50% discount on any job posting on the TLTA job bank! VIEW THE TLTA JOB BANK
SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE
We know many of you serve as instructors and trainers for your company, or have written articles about the title industry. We welcome your articles and information for publication in Downdate, Dateline, and on the TLTA website. Contact
[email protected] for more information.