1. (a) A person may not act as a motor transportation broker unless the person provides a bond to the Texas Department of Transportation.

2. (b) The bond must be in an amount of at least $10,000 and must be:

   1. (1) executed by a bonding company authorized to do business in this state;
   2. (2) payable to this state or a person to whom the motor transportation broker provides services; and
   3. (3) conditioned on the performance of the contract for transportation services between the broker and the person for whom services are provided.
3. (c) The department may charge the broker a bond review fee in an amount not to exceed the cost of reviewing the bond.

4. (d) The department may adopt rules regarding the method of payment of a fee under this chapter. The rules may:

   1. (1) authorize the use of electronic funds transfer or a credit card issued by a financial institution chartered by a state or the United States or by a nationally recognized credit organization approved by the department; and
   2. (2) require the payment of a discount or service charge for a credit card payment in addition to the fee.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.153(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1997.