1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the fire insurance rates and fire suppression ratings

 1-3     of a municipality at or near the state's borders.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 5, Insurance Code, is

 1-6     amended by adding Article 5.25-3 to read as follows:

 1-7           Art. 5.25-3.  FIRE INSURANCE RATES AND FIRE SUPPRESSION

 1-8     RATINGS FOR BORDER MUNICIPALITY.  The commissioner, in adopting

 1-9     fire insurance rates or in assigning or evaluating a fire

1-10     suppression rating for a municipality at or near the border between

1-11     this state and another state or the United Mexican States, shall

1-12     take into account the existence and capabilities of a fire

1-13     department or volunteer fire department that serves an adjoining or

1-14     nearby municipality in the other state or the United Mexican States

1-15     and that by agreement or by long-standing practice provides fire

1-16     suppression services to the Texas municipality.

1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2438 was passed by the House on May

         2, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 2438 was passed by the Senate on May

         26, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor