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.