Amend SB 627 as follows:
      (1)  In Section 1(a), Article 2372p-4, Revised Statutes, as
added by SECTION 1 of the bill (page 1, between lines 9 and 10,
house committee report printing), insert the following:
            (2)  "Corporation" means a corporation that holds a
certificate of authority issued under Article 8.20, Insurance Code.
      (2)  Renumber subsequent subdivisions of Section 1(a),
Article 2372p-4, Revised Statutes, as added by SECTION 1 of the
bill, appropriately.
      (3)  In Article 2372p-4, Revised Statutes, as added by
SECTION 1 of the bill (page 7, between lines 2 and 3, house
committee report printing), insert the following:
      Sec. 8.  CORPORATIONS.  (a)  A corporation that is licensed
by a majority of the bail bond boards in this state may not execute
a bail bond in any county of this state as a surety for
compensation unless the corporation holds a certificate of
registration issued by the Texas Department of Insurance as
provided by this section.
      (b)  A corporation may apply to the commissioner of insurance
for a certificate of registration.  On application and proof that
the corporation is licensed by a majority of the bail bond boards
in this state, the commissioner of insurance shall issue a
certificate of registration to and assume exclusive regulatory and
licensing authority over the corporation.
      (c)  A corporation that holds a certificate of registration
under this section may write bail bonds in any county in the state.
      (d)  A person may not write bail bonds as an agent for a
corporation that holds a certificate of registration unless the
person is licensed as a local recording agent under Article 21.14,
Insurance Code.
      (e)  The commissioner of insurance shall adopt rules and
charge fees to:
            (1)  administer this section; and
            (2)  provide for the licensing and continuing education
of local recording agents who write bail bonds.
      (f)  The commissioner of insurance shall require a
corporation that is issued a certificate of registration to
maintain a cash deposit with the county treasurer for each agent
that writes bail bonds for the corporation in the county.  The
deposit must be in the same amount and for the same purposes as the
deposit required for corporations writing bail bonds that do not
hold a certificate of registration under this section.
      (4)  In SECTION 2 of the bill (page 7, between lines 18 and
19, house committee report printing), insert the following:
      (e)  The Texas Department of Insurance shall issue a local
recording agent license under Article 21.14, Insurance Code, that
is limited to the writing of bail bonds to a person who, on
September 1, 1997, is an agent of a corporation that is qualified
to receive a certificate of registration under Section 8, Article
2372p-4, Revised Statutes, as added by this Act.