Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a)
Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in this section, shall
have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
(1) Current registration--A registration or
license that is:
(A) issued by another state,
the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States that has
registration requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements
for a Texas registration in the same capacity;
(B) in good standing; and
(C) in the same capacity as the application
for registration in Texas.
(2) Good standing--A registration or license
that is effective and unrestricted. A registration or license is considered to
be restricted and not in good standing if it is subject to:
(A) an undertaking, special stipulations or
agreements relating to payments, limitations on activity or other
restrictions;
(B) a pending
administrative or civil action; or
(C) an order or other written directive
issued pursuant to statutory authority and procedures, including orders of
denial, suspension, or revocation.
(3) Military spouse--A person who is married
to a military service member.
(4)
Military service member--A person who is on active duty.
(5) Military veteran--A person who has served
on active duty and who was discharged or released from active duty.
(6) Active duty--Current full-time military
service in the armed forces of the United States or active duty military
service as a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by Government
Code, §
RSA
437.001, or similar military service of
another state.
(7) Armed forces of
the United States--The Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, or
Marine Corps of the United States or a reserve unit of one of those branches of
the armed forces.
(8) Military
applicant--A military spouse, military service member, or military
veteran.
(b) Expedited
review of an application submitted by a military applicant as authorized by
Occupations Code, §§
55.004,
55.005, and
55.006.
(1) A military applicant may use the
procedure set out in this subsection if the military applicant:
(A) holds a current registration in another
jurisdiction; or
(B) has been
registered in Texas in the same capacity within the five years preceding the
date of the application for registration.
(2) If the military applicant is not
registered within five days of submitting an application, the military
applicant may request special consideration of his or her application for
registration by filing Form 133.4, Request for Consideration of a Registration
Application by a Military Applicant, with the Securities Commissioner. Within
five business days of receipt of the completed Form 133.4, the military
applicant will be notified in writing of the reason(s) for the pending or
deficient status assigned to the application.
(3) In addition to the waivers of examination
requirements set out in §
116.3 of this title (relating to
Examination), the Commissioner in his or her discretion is authorized by the
Board to grant full or partial waivers of the examination requirements of the
Texas Securities Act, §4004.151, on a showing of alternative
demonstrations of competency to meet the requirements for obtaining the
registration sought.
(4) A military
applicant proceeding under this subsection may be registered despite having
pending and/or deficient items ("deficiencies"). The deficiencies will be
communicated to the military applicant in writing or by electronic means within
five business days from approval of the registration.
(5) The deficiencies noted at the time the
registration is granted must be resolved by the military applicant within a 12
month period. Failure to resolve outstanding deficiencies will cause the
registration granted under this subsection or any renewal of such registration
to automatically terminate 12 months after the date the registration was
initially granted pursuant to this subsection.
(c) Waiver or refund of initial application
fee and Texas Securities Law Examination fee for a military applicant as
authorized by Occupations Code, §
RSA
55.009.
(1)
To qualify for a fee waiver or refund, the applicant must be:
(A) a military applicant who holds a current
registration in another jurisdiction; or
(B) a military service member or military
veteran whose military service, training, or education substantially meets all
the requirements for the registration sought who submits Form 133.4, Request
for Consideration of a Registration Application by a Military Applicant, with
the applicant's registration application.
(2) To request a waiver or refund of a fee
previously paid, the applicant must submit Form 133.19, Waiver or Refund
Request by a Military Applicant.
(A) If
requesting a waiver of the fee to take the Texas Securities Law Examination,
Form 133.19 must be submitted when filing the request to take the Texas
Securities Law Examination.
(B) If
requesting a waiver of the initial application fee, Form 133.19 must be
submitted with the initial application.
(C) If requesting a refund of the initial
application fee or Texas Securities Law Examination fee that was paid in error,
Form 133.19 must be submitted within four years from the date the fee was
collected or received.
(d) Registration of persons with military
experience as authorized by Occupations Code, §
55.007.
(1) An applicant who is a military service
member or military veteran may request special consideration of verified
military service, training, or education towards registration requirements,
other than an examination requirement, for the registration sought by
submitting Form 133.4, Request for Consideration of a Registration Application
by a Military Applicant, with the applicant's registration
application.
(2) The procedure
authorized by this subsection is not available to a military service member or
military veteran who:
(A) is registered in
another jurisdiction but such registration is not in good standing;
or
(B) has been convicted of a
crime that could be the basis for denial of the registration pursuant to the
Texas Securities Act, §4007.105.
(e) Renewals by military service members, as
authorized by Occupations Code, §
55.002 and §
55.003. If a
military service member's registration is not renewed in a timely manner, the
military service member may renew the registration pursuant to this subsection.
(1) Renewal of the registration may be
requested by the military service member, the military service member's spouse,
or an individual having power of attorney from the military service member. The
renewal application shall include a current address and telephone number for
the individual requesting the renewal.
(2) Renewal may be requested before or within
two years after expiration of the registration.
(3) A copy of the official orders or other
official military documentation showing that the military service member is or
was on active duty shall be submitted to the Securities Commissioner along with
the renewal application.
(4) A copy
of the power of attorney from the military service member, if any, shall be
filed with the Securities Commissioner along with the renewal application if
the individual having the power of attorney executes any of the documents
required in this subsection.
(5) A
renewal application submitted to the Securities Commissioner pursuant to this
subsection shall be accompanied by the applicable renewal fee set out in §
RSA 116.8 of
this title (relating to Fee Requirements).
(6) The State Securities Board will not
assess any increased fee or other penalty against the military service member
for failure to timely renew the registration if it is established to the
satisfaction of the Securities Commissioner that all requirements of this
subsection have been met.
(f) Other provisions in this chapter.
(1) Unless specifically allowed in this
section, an applicant must meet the requirements for registration or renewal
specified in this chapter. This includes the requirement that certain filings
be made electronically through the IARD.
(2) A one-year period, instead of the 90-day
period contained in §
RSA
116.2 of this title (relating to Application
Requirements), will apply to the automatic withdrawal of an application for
which a Form 133.4 is properly filed.
(g) Additional information. An applicant
receiving special consideration pursuant to this section in connection with a
registration application or renewal shall provide any other information deemed
necessary by the Commissioner. Such information may include, but is not limited
to documentation:
(1) demonstrating status as
a military spouse, service member, or military veteran;
(2) to determine whether the applicant meets
licensing requirements through some alternative method;
(3) relating to prior military service,
training, or education that may be credited towards a registration requirement;
or
(4) to determine an investment
adviser's financial responsibility or an investment adviser's or investment
adviser representative's business repute or qualifications.
(h) Recognition of out-of-state
license or registration of an individual who is either a military service
member or a military spouse as authorized by Occupations Code, §
55.0041.
(1) An individual who is a resident of Texas
and who is either a military service member or a military spouse may use the
procedure set out in this subsection if the individual holds a current
registration in another jurisdiction;
(2) The period covered by this subsection is
only for the time during which the military service member is stationed at a
military installation in Texas. Notwithstanding, if the individual is a
military spouse, in the event of a divorce or other event that affects the
individual's status as a military spouse, the recognition period covered by
this subsection may continue, but for all individuals using the procedure set
out in this subsection, this recognition period may not exceed three years from
the date the individual:
(A) first becomes
registered, or makes a notice filing pursuant to §
RSA
116.1(b)(2) of this chapter
(relating to general provisions), in Texas under Option 1, set out in paragraph
(3) of this subsection; or
(B)
first receives the confirmation from the Registration Division under Option 2,
set out in paragraph (4)(C)(ii) of this subsection.
(3) Option 1: registration in Texas, or a
notice filing made pursuant to §
116.1(b)(2) of
this chapter, with waiver or refund of the initial filing fee and renewal fees.
If the individual is registered or notice filed in Texas, for all or part of
the period set out in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the individual may
request a waiver or refund of a fee previously paid.
(A) The initial filing fee may be waived or
refunded by following the procedure set out in subsection (c) of this section,
including filing Form 133.19, Waiver or Refund Request by a Military
Applicant.
(B) A renewal fee may be
waived by submitting Form 133.22, Waiver or Refund Request by a Military
Service Member or Military Spouse for a Renewal Fee, at the time the renewal is
submitted. A refund of a renewal fee that was paid in error, is requested by
submitting Form 133.22 within four years from the date the fee was collected or
received.
(4) Option 2:
notification and authorization of activity without registration, or notice
filing pursuant to §
116.1(b)(2) of
this chapter. Upon confirmation under subparagraph (C) or (D) of this
paragraph, the individual will be considered to be notice filed in Texas. Such
notice filing expires at the end of the calendar year.
(A) An individual may engage in activity
without a license or registration under the authority of Occupations Code,
§
55.0041, and this
paragraph, only for the period specified in paragraph (2) of this
subsection.
(B) An individual who
becomes ineligible under Occupations Code, §
55.0041, or
paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection prior to the three year period
identified in paragraph (2) of this subsection, must notify the Securities
Commissioner of such ineligibility within 30 days and immediately cease
activity until such time as the individual is registered in Texas, or makes a
notice filing pursuant to §
116.1(b)(2) of
this chapter, in the appropriate capacity to conduct activity in
Texas.
(C) Before engaging in an
activity in Texas requiring registration, or a notice filing pursuant to §
116.1(b)(2) of
this chapter, the individual must initially:
(i) provide notice of the individual's intent
to engage in activity in Texas and specify the type of activity by filing with
the Securities Commissioner:
(I) Form 133.23,
Request for Recognition of Out-Of-State License or Registration Pursuant to
Occupations Code §
55.0041;
(II) proof of the individual's residency in
Texas (a permanent change of station (PCS) order may serve as proof of
residency); and
(III) a copy of the
individual's military identification card.
(ii) receive confirmation that the
Registration Division:
(I) has verified the
individual's license in another jurisdiction, which the Registration Division
shall complete such verification no later than the 30th day after the date the
individual provides the notice and submits the information required by
subparagraph (C)(i) of this paragraph; and
(II) authorizes the individual to engage in
the specified activity.
(D) To continue to conduct business in Texas
without registration, or a notice filing pursuant to §
116.1(b)(2) of
this chapter, under Option 2, after the expiration of the initial confirmation
under subparagraph (C)(ii) of this paragraph, the individual must renew
annually on the same schedule as renewals of registration. This enables the
Registration Division to determine that the individual remains eligible under
Occupations Code, §
55.0041, to continue
to conduct securities activities in Texas without being registered.
(i) A renewal is made by submitting the same
documents identified in subparagraph (C)(i) of this paragraph.
(ii) A renewal is not effective until the
individual receives confirmation that the Registration Division:
(I) has verified the individual's license in
another jurisdiction; and
(II)
authorizes the individual to engage in specified activity.
(i)
The purpose of this section is to establish procedures authorized by Texas
Occupations Code, Chapter 55, and is not intended to modify or alter rights
that may be provided under federal law.