Section 55-18-105 - Certificate of authority required - Form and contents of application - Expiration and renewal of license(a) Every automobile club or association organized or operating in this state shall file with the commissioner an application for a certificate of authority prior to the commencement of its operations. No certificate of authority shall be issued until the automobile club or association has paid to the commissioner one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175) as an initial license fee. Licenses shall be issued for the period beginning July 1 of each year and expire on the following June 30.(b) The following documents and information shall be filed with the application of all automobile clubs and associations:(1) An application for certificate of authority in a form prescribed by the commissioner;(2) The sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in cash or securities as approved by the commissioner, or, in lieu thereof, a surety bond payable to the commissioner in the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000), executed by the applicant with surety approved by the commissioner, conditioned upon full compliance with this chapter, and the performance of the obligations of the applicant to its members. Upon receipt of notice of the intended dissolution of the automobile club or association, and upon receipt of evidence satisfactory to the commissioner that all obligations of the club or association to its members have been satisfied, the commissioner shall refund the money or securities and the obligations of the bond shall terminate;(3) Appointment of an agent for service of process who shall be a resident of the state or, in lieu thereof, the commissioner;(4) A copy of the proposed form of membership application, membership certificate, bylaws, contracts for service, advertising material and any other data requested by the commissioner; and(5) References as to the character, ability and integrity of the organizers, manager, agent and any other person through whom the applicant proposes to issue contracts, membership certificates, membership cards, or other documents in return for membership fees or dues.(c) If the commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is qualified and meets all the requirements of this chapter, the commissioner shall issue to the applicant a certificate of authority to conduct the business of the automobile club or association within this state.(d) Licenses expire on June 30 of each year unless the automobile club or association has filed with the commissioner an application of renewal and paid a renewal fee of one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175). If any of the documents or information required by subsection (b) have changed since previously filed, the automobile club or association shall file the updated documents or information with its renewal application to the commissioner.Amended by 2021 Tenn. Acts, ch. 61, Secs.s 1, s 2, s 3eff. 3/29/2021.Acts 1957, ch. 157, § 5; T.C.A., § 59-1805; Acts 2001, ch. 333, §8; 2010 , ch. 1038, § 6.