Sec. 111.0044. SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR THIRD-PARTY ORDERS AND SUBPOENAS. (a) (1) If any order or subpoena described in Section 111.0043 of this code is served on any person who is a third-party recordkeeper, and the order or subpoena requires the production of any portion of records made or kept of the business transactions or affairs of any person (other than the person ordered or subpoenaed) who is identified in the description of the record contained in the order or subpoena, then notice of the order or subpoena shall be given to any person so identified within three days of the day on which the service on the third-party recordkeeper is made but no later than the 14th day before the day fixed in the order or subpoena as the day upon which the records are to be examined. The notice shall be accompanied by a copy of the order or subpoena which has been served and shall contain directions for staying compliance with the order or subpoena under Subsection (b)(2) of this section.

(2) The notice shall be sufficient if, on or before the third day, the notice is delivered in hand to the person entitled to notice or is mailed by certified or registered mail to the last mailing address of the person or, in the absence of a last known address, is left with the person ordered or subpoenaed. If the notice is mailed, it shall be sufficient if mailed to the last known address of the person entitled to notice.

(3) For purposes of this section, the term "third-party recordkeeper" means:

(A) a mutual savings bank, cooperative bank, domestic building and loan association, or other savings institution chartered and supervised as a savings and loan or similar association under federal or state law, a bank as defined in Section 581 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (26 U.S.C. 581), or any credit union within the meaning of Section 501(c)(14)(A), Internal Revenue Code;

(B) any consumer reporting agency as defined under Section 603(f) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(f));

(C) any person extending credit through the use of credit cards or similar devices; and

(D) any broker as defined in Section 3(a)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78c(a)(4)).

(4) Subsection (a)(1) of this section may not apply to an order or subpoena served on the person with respect to whose liability the order or subpoena is issued or an officer or employee of the person; or any order or subpoena to determine whether or not records of the business transactions or affairs of an identified person have been made or kept; or any order or subpoena described in Subsection (e) of this section.

(5) An order or subpoena to which this subsection applies shall identify the taxpayer to whom the order or subpoena relates and to whom the records pertain and shall provide other information to enable the person ordered or subpoenaed to locate the records required under the order or subpoena.

(b)(1) Notwithstanding any other law or rule of law, a person who is entitled to notice of an order or subpoena under Subsection (a) of this section shall have the right to intervene in any proceeding with respect to the enforcement of the order or subpoena under Subsection (e) of Section 111.0043 of this code.

(2) Notwithstanding any other law or rule of law, a person who is entitled to notice of an order or subpoena under Subsection (a) of this section shall have the right to stay compliance with the order or subpoena if, not later than the 14th day after the day the notice is given in the manner provided in Subsection (a)(2) of this section:

(A) notice in writing is given to the person ordered or subpoenaed not to comply with the order or subpoena;

(B) a copy of the notice not to comply with the order or subpoena is mailed by registered or certified mail to the person and to the office the comptroller directs in the notice referred to in Subsection (a)(1) of this section; and

(C) suit is filed against the comptroller in a district court of Travis County to stay compliance with the order or subpoena.

(c) No examination of any records required to be produced under an order or subpoena as to which notice is required under Subsection (a) of this section may be made:

(1) before the expiration of the 14-day period allowed for the notice not to comply under Subsection (b)(2) of this section; or

(2) when the requirements of Subsection (b)(2) of this section have been met, except in accordance with an order issued by a district court of Travis County authorizing examination of the records or with the consent of the person staying compliance.

(d) If any person takes any action as provided in Subsection (b) of this section and such person is the person with respect to whose liability the order or subpoena is issued under Section 111.0043 of this code (or is the agent, nominee, or other person acting under the direction or control of such person), then the running of any period of limitations under Subchapter D of this chapter with respect to the person shall be suspended for the period during which a proceeding and appeals of the proceeding with respect to the enforcement of such order are pending.

(e) Any order or subpoena issued under Section 111.0043 of this code that does not identify the person with respect to whose liability the order is issued may be served only after a court proceeding in which the comptroller establishes that:

(1) the order relates to the investigation of a particular person or ascertainable group or class of persons;

(2) there is a reasonable basis for believing that the person or group or class of persons may fail or may have failed to comply with any provision of state law; and

(3) the information sought to be obtained from the examination of the records (and the identity of the person or persons with respect to whose liability the order is issued) is not readily available from other sources.

(f) In the case of an order or subpoena issued under Section 111.0043 of this code, the provisions of Subsections (a)(1) and (b) of this section may not apply if, upon petition by the comptroller, the court determines, on the basis of the facts and circumstances alleged, that there is reasonable cause to believe the giving of notice may lead to attempts to conceal, destroy, or alter records relevant to the examination, to prevent the communication of information from other persons through intimidation, bribery, or collusion, or to flee to avoid prosecution, testifying, or production of records.

(g)(1) A district court of Travis County has jurisdiction to hear and determine proceedings brought under Subsection (e) or (f) of this section. The determinations required to be made under Subsections (e) and (f) of this section shall be ex parte and shall be made solely upon the petition and supporting affidavits. An order denying the petition shall be deemed a final order that may be appealed.

(2) Except for cases the court considers of greater importance, a proceeding brought for the enforcement of any order, or a proceeding under this section, and appeals, take precedence on the docket over all cases and shall be assigned for hearing and decided at the earliest practicable date.

(h) The comptroller shall by rule establish the rates and conditions for payments to reimburse reasonably necessary costs directly incurred by third-party recordkeepers in searching for, reproducing, or transporting books, papers, records, or other data required to be produced by order or subpoena upon request of the comptroller. The reimbursement shall be in addition to mileage and fees paid under Subsections (d)(1) and (d)(2) of Section 111.0043 of this code.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1499, ch. 389, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1982.