Texas Occupations Code 201.557 – Options Following Decision: Pay or Appeal
(a) Not later than the 30th day after the date the board’s order becomes final, the person shall:
(1) pay the administrative penalty;
(2) pay the penalty and file a petition for judicial review contesting the fact of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both; or
(3) without paying the penalty, file a petition for judicial review contesting the fact of the violation, the amount of the penalty, or both.
(b) Within the 30-day period, a person who acts under Subsection (a)(3) may:
(1) stay enforcement of the penalty by:
(A) paying the penalty to the court for placement in an escrow account; or
(B) giving to the court a supersedeas bond that is approved by the court and that:
(i) is for the amount of the penalty; and
(ii) is effective until judicial review of the board’s order is final; or
(2) request the court to stay enforcement of the penalty by:
(A) filing with the court a sworn affidavit of the person stating that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and is financially unable to give the supersedeas bond; and
(B) giving a copy of the affidavit to the executive director by certified mail.
Terms Used In Texas Occupations Code 201.557
- Affidavit: means a statement in writing of a fact or facts signed by the party making it, sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths, and officially certified to by the officer under his seal of office. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
- Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- sworn: includes affirm or affirmed. See Texas Government Code 312.011
(c) If the executive director receives a copy of an affidavit under Subsection (b)(2), the director may, at the direction of the enforcement committee, file with the court a contest to the affidavit not later than the fifth day after the date the copy is received.
(d) The court shall hold a hearing on the facts alleged in the affidavit as soon as practicable and stay the enforcement of the penalty on finding that the alleged facts are true. The person who files the affidavit has the burden of proving that the person is financially unable to pay the penalty and to give a supersedeas bond.