GEC H.B. 3202 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
H.B. 3202
By: Counts
3-28-97
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND 

There are out-dated references in Chapter 5, Subchapter D.  Workers'
Compensation Insurance, Insurance Code resulting from changes in
legislation over time that require updating. In 1989, in Senate Bill 1,
some subsection titles were either left out or misnamed.  In 1991, House
Bill 62, the State Board of Insurance was renamed the Texas Department of
Insurance. In 1995, the commissioner was allowed to designate a
statistical agent in one part of the code, but changes were not made to
another part of the code to reflect this. 

PURPOSE

This proposed legislation makes nonsubstantial changes to the Insurance
Code to correct outdated references and to eliminate conflicts in the
statute. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 5.58, Insurance Code, to:

  (1)  amend subsection (a) to retitle the subsection to "Rate
Administration for Workers' Compensation Insurance Policies; Claims
Reports"; correct out-dated references by substituting the word
"commissioner" for the word "board"; and to eliminate conflict with
Article 21.69,Insurance Code, by providing that commissioner may designate
a qualified organization to serve as statistical agency; 

 (2)  amend subsection (b) to title the subsection "Standards and
Procedures"; to substitute "commissioner" for out-dated references to the
"board"; and to update the name of the former research agency to the
"Research and Oversight Council on Workers' Compensation"; 

 (3)  amend subsection (c) to change the title to "Content of Detailed
Claim                                 Information Report"; 

 (4)  amend subsection (e) to update reference to the "board" by
substituting "commissioner"; 

 (5)  amend subsection (f) to change the title of reports that must be
filed with commissioner from "statistical" to "claims" reports; and to
update references to the "board" by substituting the word "commissioner";
and 

 (6)  amend subsections (g), (h), and (I) to substitute "commissioner" for
out-dated references to the "board". 

SECTION 2.  Suspends three day rule.  Makes Act effective after its
passage.