By Brimer, Junell, Counts H.B. No. 3575
75R11393 PB-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the conversion or transfer of the Texas workers'
1-3 compensation insurance facility.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 PART 1. PRIVATIZATION OF FACILITY
1-6 SECTION 1.01. PURPOSE. The purpose of this part is to
1-7 provide a means to:
1-8 (1) convert the Texas workers' compensation insurance
1-9 facility into a stock insurance company and facilitate the transfer
1-10 of control to a third party as provided by this part; and
1-11 (2) ensure that the converted facility has full
1-12 authority to enforce the rights of the facility existing
1-13 immediately before the effective date of the conversion without
1-14 impairment or limitation, except as expressly provided by this
1-15 part.
1-16 SECTION 1.02. DEFINITIONS. In this part:
1-17 (1) "Closing date" means the effective date of the
1-18 closing of the transactions contemplated by a conversion agreement,
1-19 as provided by that agreement, and is the effective date of the
1-20 conversion.
1-21 (2) "Commission" means the Texas Workers' Compensation
1-22 Commission.
1-23 (3) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of
1-24 insurance.
2-1 (4) "Converted facility" means the entity that exists
2-2 after the facility is converted under this part.
2-3 (5) "Facility" means the Texas workers' compensation
2-4 insurance facility that was established under Article 5.76-2,
2-5 Insurance Code.
2-6 (6) "Fund" means the employers' rejected risk fund for
2-7 providing workers' compensation coverages for rejected risks, as
2-8 provided by Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article existed
2-9 before its repeal.
2-10 (7) "Insurer" means a stock company, mutual company,
2-11 reciprocal, or interinsurance exchange, the Texas Workers'
2-12 Compensation Insurance Fund, or a Lloyd's association authorized to
2-13 write workers' compensation insurance in this state.
2-14 (8) "Servicing company" means a member of the facility
2-15 or other eligible entity that is designated by the commissioner to
2-16 issue a policy that evidences the insurance coverages provided by
2-17 the fund to a rejected risk and to service the risk as provided by
2-18 Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article existed before its
2-19 repeal.
2-20 SECTION 1.03. CONVERSION; CONVERSION EFFECTIVE DATE;
2-21 CONTINGENT TRANSFER. (a) If a conversion agreement receives the
2-22 approvals described by Sections 1.04 and 1.05 of this part, the
2-23 facility shall convert from a nonprofit unincorporated association
2-24 to a Texas stock property and casualty insurance company
2-25 incorporated under Chapter 2, Insurance Code, effective on the
2-26 consummation of the transactions contemplated by the agreement.
2-27 (b) If the required approvals are not obtained or the
3-1 transactions are not consummated on or before August 31, 1997, the
3-2 facility may not be converted, and instead, the operation of the
3-3 facility shall be transferred to the Texas Property and Casualty
3-4 Insurance Guaranty Association in accordance with Part 2 of this
3-5 Act.
3-6 SECTION 1.04. CONVERSION AGREEMENT. The facility may enter
3-7 into an agreement to issue and sell shares of the capital stock
3-8 created as a result of the conversion described by Section 1.03 of
3-9 this part. To take effect, the agreement must be approved by a
3-10 majority of the voting members of the governing committee of the
3-11 facility at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
3-12 SECTION 1.05. COMMISSIONER APPROVAL. (a) On approval under
3-13 Section 1.04 of this part, an agreement shall be submitted to the
3-14 commissioner for approval. The agreement must be submitted to the
3-15 commissioner not later than June 30, 1997. The commissioner shall
3-16 review the agreement in the manner provided for review of a filing
3-17 under Article 21.49-1, Insurance Code.
3-18 (b) If the commissioner approves the agreement, the
3-19 commissioner shall order that the facility be converted.
3-20 SECTION 1.06. EFFECT OF CONVERSION. (a) The converted
3-21 facility may exercise all the rights, privileges, powers, and
3-22 authority of any other stock corporation organized to transact
3-23 property and casualty insurance business in this state, subject to
3-24 the requirements of this part. On the closing date:
3-25 (1) the converted facility is considered to be a
3-26 continuation of the facility; and
3-27 (2) subject to Section 1.07 of this part, the
4-1 converted facility is vested with all property of the facility.
4-2 (b) The converted facility may enforce all contract and
4-3 statutory rights of the facility under any servicing company
4-4 arrangements, and this part may not be construed as an assignment
4-5 of the facility's rights or obligations under those agreements.
4-6 (c) Each debt, claim, and cause of action of the facility,
4-7 and all property rights, privileges, franchises, and other
4-8 interests of the facility, remain the property of the converted
4-9 facility.
4-10 (d) The rights of all policyholders and creditors and the
4-11 standing of all claims under the facility shall be preserved
4-12 unimpaired under the converted facility.
4-13 (e) Subject to Section 1.07 of this part, each debt,
4-14 liability, and duty of the facility becomes a debt, liability, or
4-15 duty of the converted facility and may be enforced against the
4-16 converted facility as if it were incurred or contracted by the
4-17 converted facility.
4-18 (f) A cause of action or similar proceeding in which the
4-19 facility was a party that is pending on the effective date of the
4-20 conversion:
4-21 (1) is not affected by the conversion;
4-22 (2) may be continued to be prosecuted by or against
4-23 the converted facility; and
4-24 (3) continues to be governed by and conducted under
4-25 Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article existed before its
4-26 repeal, and the applicable bylaws, rules, and regulations of the
4-27 facility, as amended by the converted facility.
5-1 (g) The converted facility may not, without the prior
5-2 consent of the commissioner, amend its bylaws, rules, or
5-3 regulations in a manner that would reasonably be likely to have a
5-4 material adverse effect on employees, beneficiaries, or the holders
5-5 of or insureds under policies issued under Article 5.76, Insurance
5-6 Code, or under Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article
5-7 existed before its repeal.
5-8 (h) The converted facility may audit, at the converted
5-9 facility's expense, the books and records of each company that
5-10 services policies of insurance issued under Article 5.76, Insurance
5-11 Code, or under Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article
5-12 existed before its repeal. The audit must be limited to:
5-13 (1) the books and records that relate to the policies
5-14 described by this subsection; and
5-15 (2) claims paid on behalf of or charged to the
5-16 converted facility.
5-17 SECTION 1.07. APPLICABLE LAW. Except as otherwise provided
5-18 by this part, Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, ceases to apply to
5-19 the facility on the closing date and does not apply to the
5-20 converted facility. Specifically, neither the converted facility
5-21 nor any other insurer succeeds to the facility's right to assess
5-22 the facility's member insurers under Section 4.04, Article 5.76-2,
5-23 Insurance Code.
5-24 SECTION 1.08. COMPLIANCE; CAPITALIZATION REQUIREMENTS. (a)
5-25 The converted facility shall comply with the Insurance Code and
5-26 rules adopted by the commissioner except as otherwise provided by
5-27 this part. If the converted facility does not issue any policies
6-1 of insurance after the closing date, the converted facility:
6-2 (1) is exempt from:
6-3 (A) the risk-based capital and surplus
6-4 regulations adopted under Article 2.02, Insurance Code; and
6-5 (B) the requirements adopted under Article
6-6 21.45, Insurance Code;
6-7 (2) may discount the reserves for losses and loss
6-8 adjustment expenses in a manner and to the extent authorized by the
6-9 commissioner in the order approving the conversion agreement;
6-10 (3) may reflect accounts receivable as an admitted
6-11 asset, notwithstanding the regulations adopted under Articles 2.08
6-12 and 2.10, Insurance Code, if those accounts receivable are
6-13 guaranteed by an insurance company authorized to do business in
6-14 this state:
6-15 (A) in an amount not to exceed $15 million; and
6-16 (B) in a manner and to the extent authorized by
6-17 the commissioner in the order approving the conversion agreement;
6-18 and
6-19 (4) may receive full credit for the reinsurance
6-20 contemplated by the conversion agreement to the extent ordered by
6-21 the commissioner, notwithstanding Article 5.75-1, Insurance Code,
6-22 and the rules adopted under that article.
6-23 (b) The commissioner shall set the capitalization
6-24 requirements of the converted facility in the order approving the
6-25 conversion agreement.
6-26 SECTION 1.09. FINAL ASSESSMENT. (a) The facility, through
6-27 action by its governing committee, may make a final assessment of
7-1 the insurance carriers licensed in this state in accordance with
7-2 Section 4.04, Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that section
7-3 existed before its repeal, and the facility's bylaws, rules, and
7-4 regulations in the amount that the governing committee determines
7-5 is necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the
7-6 conversion agreement. The final assessment must be made at a time
7-7 to allow the assessment to be paid in full on or before the closing
7-8 date.
7-9 (b) On or before the closing date, and under terms and
7-10 conditions the governing committee considers necessary or advisable
7-11 to consummate the transactions contemplated by the conversion
7-12 agreement, the governing committee may:
7-13 (1) bind the carriers described by Subsection (a) to
7-14 reinsure a portion of the facility's liabilities instead of payment
7-15 of any or all of the final assessment under Subsection (a) of this
7-16 section; or
7-17 (2) defer payment on any or all of the final
7-18 assessment.
7-19 (c) A reinsurance arrangement approved by the governing
7-20 committee must compute a member insurer's participation in
7-21 reinsurance in the same manner that is used for the computation of
7-22 assessments under Section 4.04, Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as
7-23 that section existed before its repeal.
7-24 SECTION 1.10. IMMUNITY. The immunity provisions of Sections
7-25 2.05(h) and 2.12, Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as those
7-26 provisions existed before their repeal, continue to apply to each
7-27 act or omission that occurs before, on, or after the closing date
8-1 and that is performed by the persons or entities covered by those
8-2 provisions, including an act or omission related to the powers and
8-3 duties contained in this part.
8-4 SECTION 1.11. DEFENSE; INDEMNIFICATION. If any party
8-5 institutes or continues an action against the facility, or the
8-6 governing committee, executive director, staff, agents, servants,
8-7 or employees of the facility, whether or not serving in that
8-8 capacity on the closing date, in connection with or arising from
8-9 either the facility's operations or the transactions contemplated
8-10 by the conversion agreement, the converted facility shall defend,
8-11 indemnify, and hold harmless that person or entity from liability
8-12 for any act or omission of that person or entity in connection
8-13 with, or arising from the performance of, the powers and duties
8-14 exercised under Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code, as that article
8-15 existed before its repeal, but only on, and subject to, the terms
8-16 and conditions set forth in the conversion agreement, which must be
8-17 substantially as beneficial to the indemnified person or entity as
8-18 the indemnification set forth in the facility's bylaws in effect on
8-19 the closing date.
8-20 SECTION 1.12. CONTROLLING LAW. If a conflict exists between
8-21 this part and any other statute relating to the facility, this part
8-22 controls.
8-23 SECTION 1.13. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Article 21.28-C,
8-24 Insurance Code, is amended by adding Sections 26 and 27 to read as
8-25 follows:
8-26 Sec. 26. COVERAGE FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE
8-27 POLICIES ISSUED BY TEXAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE FACILITY.
9-1 (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, this
9-2 article applies to each policy of insurance issued under Article
9-3 5.76 of this code or Article 5.76-2 of this code, as that article
9-4 existed before its repeal.
9-5 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article,
9-6 after the conversion of the Texas workers' compensation insurance
9-7 facility to a stock insurance company, that converted facility
9-8 shall be considered an impaired insurer for purposes of this
9-9 article if any of the actions described by Section 5(9)(A) or (B)
9-10 of this article occurs to the converted facility.
9-11 (c) A claim under such an insurance policy is a covered
9-12 claim for purposes of this article if the claim satisfies the
9-13 definition under Section 5(8) of this article, whether or not the
9-14 converted facility:
9-15 (1) issued or assumed the policy; or
9-16 (2) was licensed to do business in this state at the
9-17 time:
9-18 (A) the policy was written; or
9-19 (B) the converted facility became an impaired
9-20 insurer.
9-21 (d) If a conflict exists between this section and any other
9-22 statute relating to the Texas workers' compensation insurance
9-23 facility or the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty
9-24 Association, this section controls.
9-25 Sec. 27. IMMUNITY. There is no liability on the part of,
9-26 and a cause of action does not arise against, any member insurer of
9-27 the association, the association, an agent or employee of the
10-1 association, a member of the board of directors of the association,
10-2 or the commissioner or the commissioner's representative for any
10-3 act or omission in the performance of any activity related to the
10-4 negotiations relating to the privatization of the Texas workers'
10-5 compensation insurance facility. This section applies to each
10-6 activity undertaken by such a person or entity, regardless of the
10-7 date of the act or omission.
10-8 SECTION 1.14. EFFECTIVE DATE FOR PART 1. This part takes
10-9 effect immediately.
10-10 PART 2. CONTINGENT TRANSFER
10-11 SECTION 2.01. TRANSFER TO TEXAS PROPERTY AND CASUALTY
10-12 INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION; EFFECTIVE DATE. (a) If the
10-13 conversion required under Part 1 of this Act does not occur on or
10-14 before August 31, 1997, the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance
10-15 Guaranty Association, on September 1, 1997, shall take control of
10-16 the operations and all of the assets, liabilities, and obligations
10-17 of the Texas workers' compensation insurance facility as provided
10-18 by this part.
10-19 (b) This part takes effect September 1, 1997, but only if
10-20 the conversion described by Subsection (a) of this section does not
10-21 occur before that date. If that conversion does occur before that
10-22 date, this part has no effect.
10-23 SECTION 2.02. CONFORMING AMENDMENT. Article 21.28-C,
10-24 Insurance Code, is amended by adding Section 26 to read as
10-25 follows:
10-26 Sec. 26. TRANSFER OF FACILITY TO ASSOCIATION. (a) The
10-27 purpose of this section is to:
11-1 (1) provide a means for the transfer of control of the
11-2 assets, liabilities, and obligations of the Texas workers'
11-3 compensation insurance facility to the Texas Property and Casualty
11-4 Insurance Guaranty Association; and
11-5 (2) ensure that the association has full authority to
11-6 enforce the rights of the facility without limitation, except as
11-7 expressly provided by this section.
11-8 (b) In addition to the definitions under Section 5 of this
11-9 Act, in this section:
11-10 (1) "Comptroller" means the Texas comptroller of
11-11 public accounts.
11-12 (2) "Facility" means the Texas workers' compensation
11-13 insurance facility.
11-14 (3) "Fund" means the Texas Workers' Compensation
11-15 Insurance Fund.
11-16 (4) "Insurer" means an insurance company licensed to
11-17 do business in this state.
11-18 (5) "Texas workers' compensation insurance facility
11-19 account" means the account maintained by the association for the
11-20 assets of the facility.
11-21 (c) The association shall take control of the facility's
11-22 assets, liabilities, and obligations and may administer all of the
11-23 remaining aspects of the facility's operation. The association has
11-24 full authority to enforce the contract or statutory rights of the
11-25 facility under any servicing company agreements. This section may
11-26 not be construed to be an assignment of the facility's rights or
11-27 obligations under those agreements.
12-1 (d) The association shall maintain the Texas workers'
12-2 compensation insurance facility account separately from the
12-3 association's accounts described by Section 6 of this Act. Each
12-4 claim, expense, or other liability related to the assets,
12-5 liabilities, and obligations of the facility shall be paid from,
12-6 and all collections and receipts shall be deposited into, the Texas
12-7 workers' compensation insurance facility account. Funds in the
12-8 Texas workers' compensation insurance facility account shall be
12-9 maintained outside the state treasury.
12-10 (e) Not later than June 1 of each year, the association
12-11 shall report its operating results for the Texas workers'
12-12 compensation insurance facility account to the commissioner on a
12-13 calendar year premium and an accident year loss basis.
12-14 (f) For a claim in which the compensable injury occurred
12-15 before January 1, 1992, the association shall compute at least
12-16 annually its results for incurred losses in the Texas workers'
12-17 compensation insurance facility account, including incurred but not
12-18 reported losses, by accident year. If there is a deficit or
12-19 surplus from the operation of the Texas workers' compensation
12-20 insurance facility account for those claims, the amount of the
12-21 deficit or surplus shall be assessed or rebated to the member
12-22 insurers licensed in this state who were members of the facility
12-23 during the calendar year. Each member insurer shall pay a
12-24 proportionate share of the total assessment or receive a
12-25 proportionate share of the total rebate based on that insurer's
12-26 portion of the total voluntary workers' compensation insurance
12-27 writings during the calendar year. The fund is not liable for any
13-1 deficit incurred on a policy with an effective date before January
13-2 1, 1992.
13-3 (g) For claims with an accident date on or after January 1,
13-4 1992, the association shall compute at least annually its results
13-5 for incurred losses in the Texas workers' compensation insurance
13-6 facility account, including incurred but not reported losses, by
13-7 accident year. If there is a deficit or surplus from operation of
13-8 the Texas workers' compensation insurance facility account for
13-9 those claims, the amount of the deficit or surplus shall be
13-10 assessed or rebated to the member insurers licensed in this state
13-11 who were members of the facility during the calendar year and to
13-12 the fund. Each member insurer and the fund shall pay a
13-13 proportionate share of the total assessment or receive a
13-14 proportionate share of the total rebate based on its portion of the
13-15 total voluntary workers' compensation insurance writings during the
13-16 calendar year.
13-17 (h) The association may provide for the redistribution of
13-18 all or part of an assessment that would otherwise be levied on a
13-19 member insurer under Subsection (f) or (g) of this section if the
13-20 member insurer is unable to pay the full assessment because the
13-21 member insurer is in liquidation at the time of the assessment.
13-22 (i) The association may authorize the deferment of the
13-23 payment of an assessment made under Subsection (f) or (g) of this
13-24 section. A deferment may be allowed only if the cash flow of the
13-25 Texas workers' compensation insurance facility account is adequate
13-26 to meet all needs.
13-27 (j) If a member insurer or the fund elects to defer any
14-1 portion of an assessment as provided by this section, the entire
14-2 unpaid portion of the assessment and any accrued interest must be
14-3 shown as a liability on each financial and annual statement of that
14-4 insurer.
14-5 (k) A member insurer may not be allowed a credit against any
14-6 tax levied by this state as a result of an assessment paid under
14-7 this section.
14-8 (l) The association may invest Texas workers' compensation
14-9 insurance facility account funds only in investments authorized for
14-10 the investment of state funds as provided by Chapter 404,
14-11 Government Code. The association shall develop an investment
14-12 policy for the Texas workers' compensation insurance facility
14-13 account and shall submit that policy to the comptroller for review
14-14 and approval.
14-15 (m) The association shall submit to the commissioner for
14-16 approval a plan of operation to ensure the fair, reasonable, and
14-17 equitable administration of the Texas workers' compensation
14-18 insurance facility account not later than October 1, 1997. The
14-19 commissioner shall approve or disapprove the association's plan of
14-20 operation of the Texas workers' compensation insurance facility
14-21 account not later than the 60th day after the date on which the
14-22 association submits the plan to the commissioner.
14-23 (n) If the commissioner does not approve the plan of
14-24 operation, the association shall submit to the commissioner an
14-25 amended plan of operation with any amendments necessary or suitable
14-26 to ensure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the
14-27 Texas workers' compensation insurance facility account. The plan
15-1 of operation and any amendments take effect on approval in writing
15-2 by the commissioner. If the association fails to submit suitable
15-3 amendments to the plan, the commissioner, after notice and hearing,
15-4 shall adopt reasonable rules as necessary or advisable to implement
15-5 this section. Those rules shall continue in force until modified
15-6 by the commissioner or superseded by a plan submitted by the
15-7 association and approved by the commissioner.
15-8 (o) In addition to all immunities and protections otherwise
15-9 provided by this article, the association succeeds to all rights,
15-10 defenses, immunities, and liabilities of the facility in each
15-11 cause of action or other proceeding pending by or against the
15-12 facility on September 1, 1997, or filed after that date. The
15-13 immunity provisions of Sections 2.05(h) and 2.12, Article 5.76-2 of
15-14 this code, as those provisions existed before their repeal,
15-15 continue to apply to each act or omission that occurs before, on,
15-16 or after September 1, 1997, and that is performed by the persons or
15-17 entities covered by those provisions.
15-18 (p) If any party institutes or continues an action against
15-19 the facility, the governing committee of the facility, the
15-20 executive director of the facility, a member insurer solely in that
15-21 insurer's capacity as a member insurer, or an agent, servant,
15-22 attorney, consultant, or employee of the facility, whether or not
15-23 serving in that capacity on September 1, 1997, in connection with
15-24 or arising from either the facility's operations or the
15-25 transactions contemplated by this section, the association shall
15-26 defend, indemnify, and hold harmless that person or entity from
15-27 liability for any act or omission of that person or entity in
16-1 connection with, or arising from the performance of, the person's
16-2 or entity's powers and duties on behalf of the facility. A cause
16-3 of action or other proceeding described by this subsection shall
16-4 continue to be governed by and conducted under this section and
16-5 Article 5.76-2 of this code, as that article existed before its
16-6 repeal, and the applicable bylaws, rules, and regulations of the
16-7 facility, and those provisions are continued in effect for the
16-8 purposes of this section.
16-9 (q) The association may enter into negotiations for the
16-10 privatization to a single insurer of all the assets, liabilities,
16-11 and obligations maintained in the Texas workers' compensation
16-12 insurance facility account. If the association determines that
16-13 privatization under this subsection is in the best interest of this
16-14 state, the association shall obtain the written approval of the
16-15 commissioner before entering into a privatization agreement to
16-16 consummate the applicable transaction.
16-17 (r) Any net proceeds from the privatization of the Texas
16-18 workers' compensation insurance facility account shall be rebated
16-19 in accordance with Subsection (g) of this section.
16-20 (s) If an insurer that assumes the assets, liabilities, and
16-21 obligations maintained in the Texas workers' compensation insurance
16-22 facility account under a privatization agreement approved under
16-23 Subsection (q) of this section becomes an impaired insurer after
16-24 that privatization agreement takes effect, any remaining facility
16-25 claims shall be covered claims under this article.
16-26 (t) If a conflict exists between this section and any other
16-27 statute relating to the facility or the association, this section
17-1 controls.
17-2 PART 3. REPEALER; TRANSITION; EMERGENCY
17-3 SECTION 3.01. REPEALER. Except as otherwise provided by
17-4 this Act, the following laws are repealed on the effective date of
17-5 this Act:
17-6 (1) Article 5.76-2, Insurance Code; and
17-7 (2) Section 18.24(b), Chapter 12, Acts of the 72nd
17-8 Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1991, as amended by Section 8,
17-9 Chapter 885, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993.
17-10 SECTION 3.02. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any provision of this
17-11 Act or the application of this Act to any person or entity or
17-12 circumstance is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
17-13 that invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
17-14 this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
17-15 application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are
17-16 declared to be severable.
17-17 SECTION 3.03. SAVING CLAUSE. The repeal of Article 5.76-2,
17-18 Insurance Code, under Section 3.01 of this Act does not affect
17-19 rights and liabilities accruing under that article before the
17-20 effective date of this Act, and that article is continued in effect
17-21 for that purpose and for the purposes expressly provided by this
17-22 Act or Section 26, Article 21.28-C, Insurance Code, as added by
17-23 this Act.
17-24 SECTION 3.04. EFFECTIVE DATE. This part takes effect:
17-25 (1) on the closing date of the conversion of the Texas
17-26 workers' compensation insurance facility under Part 1 of this Act
17-27 as that date is defined by Section 1.02 of this Act; or
18-1 (2) on September 1, 1997, if Part 2 of this Act takes
18-2 effect.
18-3 SECTION 3.05. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
18-4 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
18-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
18-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
18-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
18-8 and that this Act take effect and be in force according to its
18-9 terms, and it is so enacted.