By Shields                                            H.B. No. 2257
       74R7623 E
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the authority of the Board of Insurance to make
    1-3  inquiries.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article 1.24, Insurance Code, is amended to read
    1-6  as follows:
    1-7        Art. 1.24.  To Make Inquiries.  The Board is authorized to
    1-8  address any reasonable inquiries to any insurance company or
    1-9  insurance agent, or to the holder of any permit, certificate of
   1-10  registration, or other authorization issued or existing under the
   1-11  authority or authorization of this code, in relation to the
   1-12  company's, agent's, or holder's business condition, or any matter
   1-13  connected with its transactions which the Board may deem necessary
   1-14  for the public good or for a proper discharge of its duties.  An
   1-15  inquiry made pursuant to this article must be signed by the
   1-16  Commissioner.  This duty is nondelegable.  It shall be the duty of
   1-17  the addressee to answer such inquiries in writing not later than
   1-18  the 30th <10th> day after the date the request is received.  A
   1-19  response made under this article that is otherwise privileged or
   1-20  confidential by law remains privileged or confidential unless and
   1-21  until introduced into evidence at an administrative hearing or in a
   1-22  court of competent jurisdiction.  Information obtained pursuant to
   1-23  this article shall be for the use of the Texas Department of
   1-24  Insurance only and for no other purpose.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-6  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-7  passage, and it is so enacted.