BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 776 By: Smithee 03-22-95 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND During the 73rd Legislative interim, then Insurance Commissioner J. Robert Hunter submitted the Texas Department of Insurance's legislative proposals to the House Committee on Insurance Legislative Oversight Subcommittee. The Commissioner briefed the Subcommittee on the process in which the Texas Department of Insurance obtains federal funds for active Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Programs (HICAPS) through the Texas Department of Aging. Based on the presented testimony, the Subcommittee forwarded the proposal to the Texas Legislative Council for bill drafting. PURPOSE As proposed, House Bill 776 would add a new Article 1.35E to the Insurance Code authorizing the Texas Department of Insurance to accept federal funds allocated for consumer education programs related to insurance issues. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does expressly grant additional rulemaking authority to the Insurance Commissioner under SECTION 1 of the bill, by adding Article 1.35E, Insurance Code. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 1, Insurance Code, by adding Article 1.35E allowing the Texas Department of Insurance to accept federal funds allocated for consumer education programs related to insurance issues. SECTION 2. Emergency Clause and Effective Date SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION In accordance with House rules, H.B. 776 was heard in a public hearing on March 22, 1995. The Chair laid out H.B. 776 and recognized Audrey Selden with the Texas Department of Insurance to testify neutrally on H.B. 776. No one testified in support of or in opposition to H.B. 776. The Chair recognized Representative Averitt who moved the Committee report H.B. 776 as filed to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass, be printed, and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars. Representative Glenn Lewis seconded the motion and the motion prevailed by the following vote: AYES (7); NAYS (0); PNV (0); ABSENT (2).