If you're following this, this is getting very interesting, for a variety of reasons.

Latest info:
http://princetonautobody.com/Docs/PDF/ASA_US5th.pdf

interesting, with verticle integration, the "customer becomes irrelevant" and elimination of "independent shop" removes the customer's advocate "the independent shop".

in other words the people not signing network contracts are not living up to their obligations, they are to act as an advocate for the true customer, to ensure the customer (vehicle owner) is not getting short changed. it appears as the government expects us to stand up to the networks and make sure the customer does not get short changed. it seems to me the entire network system is in direct conflict with this portion, and that just signing the network contract is almost akin to being owned by the insurance companies. that would be especially true if you are not acting as an advocate for the customer.

these texans legislators actually make sense, for instance, the only reason an insurance company would want to own a body shop is to make an extra buck from their customers, and another wrote "we do not want the insurance companies to be able to steer work so insurance companies can earn the premium twice".

very interesting. to bad those laws are not nation wide, i think people who signed contracts should do a small bit of self examination and see if they are truly fulfilling the role described in this document.