By Hunter of Nueces                                   H.B. No. 2225
       74R3180 PB-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to certain liquidated demands when property is destroyed
    1-3  by fire.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article 6.13, Insurance Code, is amended to read
    1-6  as follows:
    1-7        Art. 6.13.  POLICY A LIQUIDATED DEMAND.  (a)  A property
    1-8  <fire> insurance policy, in case of a total loss by fire of a
    1-9  structure <property> insured under the policy, shall be held and
   1-10  considered to be a liquidated demand against the company for the
   1-11  full amount of that <such> policy.  The provisions of this article
   1-12  shall not apply to personal property.
   1-13        (b)  The <On and after January 1, 1951, the> provisions of
   1-14  Subsection (a) <the preceding paragraph> of this article shall be
   1-15  incorporated verbatim in each property <and every fire> insurance
   1-16  policy that includes <hereafter issued as> coverage against damage
   1-17  by fire on any real property in this State.  The commissioner of
   1-18  insurance<; and it shall be the duty of the Board of Insurance
   1-19  Commissioners>, by proper order and procedure, shall <to> compel
   1-20  compliance with this article <statute>.
   1-21        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-22  applies only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued for
   1-23  delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 1996.  A policy that is
   1-24  delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 1996,
    2-1  is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
    2-2  effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
    2-3  that purpose.
    2-4        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-5  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-6  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-7  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-8  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.