1. (a) The commissioner shall enroll in a register the names of all persons granted permission under these sections to use the GO TEXAN and Design mark. The register shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture, 1700 North Congress Avenue, in Austin, Texas.

2. (b) The procedure for annual renewal of registration of persons authorized to use the GO TEXAN and Design mark is as follows:

   1. (1) Forty-five days before the expiration date of the registration, the department shall mail to each person previously registered or licensed to use the GO TEXAN and Design mark a statement setting forth the amount due as an annual registration fee.
   2. (2) All payments are due by the expiration date of the registration.
   3. (3) Within 30 days of receipt by the department of the renewal statement, together with the annual registration fee, the department will mail to the registrant a renewal certificate of registration.
   4. (4) Failure to remit the annual registration fee by the due date shall result in the registrant being designated as inactive. Failure to remit the annual registration fee within 366 days of the due date shall result in the expiration of the registration and a new application for membership will be required for re-instatement to the program.

3. (c) An annual fee for registration in the GO TEXAN, GO TEXAN Associate and/or GO TEXAN Restaurant program shall be paid to the department. Applicants may select from three different levels of membership. Annual fees and benefits for each level of membership are described in paragraphs (1) - (3) of this subsection. The department may, in its sole discretion, from time to time, revise or update the benefits for each level of membership. All benefits are subject to continued authorization and appropriation of the program by the Texas Legislature.

   1. (1) Tier 1 - $100. Benefits for this membership level include licensed use of the GO TEXAN certification mark and listing in a searchable database of GO TEXAN program members.
   2. (2) Tier 2 - $500. Benefits for this membership level include all the benefits provided for Tier 1 members, plus listing in applicable GO TEXAN electronic resources, smartphone applications or publications provided by the department; up to three hours of marketing or advertising consulting services by department staff; eligibility for participation in the department's GO TEXAN Partner Program; and discounts on GO TEXAN program merchandise.
   3. (3) Tier 3 - $1,000. Benefits for this membership level include all the benefits provided for Tier 2 members, plus increased discounts on GO TEXAN program merchandise, membership award/plaque to denote program participation and display of a company graphic on the GO TEXAN website.
4. (d) GO TEXAN program members may also participate as sponsors in the program. Sponsorship levels begin at $5,000 and include all benefits available to Tier 3 members, set out in subsection (c)(3) of this section, plus additional benefits that may be provided for in a sponsorship agreement between the GO TEXAN program member and applicant.

Source Note:The provisions of this §17.55 adopted to be effective January 1, 1981, 5 TexReg 4988; amended to be effective April 16, 1984, 9 TexReg 1881; amended to be effective December 11, 1989, 14 TexReg 6251; amended to be effective May 6, 1993, 18 TexReg 2623; amended to be effective September 2, 1996, 21 TexReg 7966; amended to be effective May 23, 1999, 24 TexReg 3844; amended to be effective November 18, 1999, 24 TexReg 10046; amended to be effective September 19, 2001, 26 TexReg 7119; amended to be effective July 7, 2004, 29 TexReg 6256; amended to be effective July 26, 2006, 31 TexReg 5799; amended to be effectiveJanuary 9, 2008, 33 TexReg 76; amended to be effective September 1, 2011, 36 TexReg 5353.