SRC-JBJ S.B. 323 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 323
76R3759 AJA-DBy: Ellis
Economic Development
3/16/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Residential Market Assistant Program (MAP) assists
homeowners in underserved areas to obtain residential property insurance.
S.B. 1499, 75th Legislature, moved farm and ranch owners policies from
regulation as personal lines insurance to regulation as commercial lines.
As a result of the regulatory change, a corresponding change must be made
to redefine residential property insurance in the Insurance Code to assist
insureds to utilize the Texas Residential Market Assistance Program. S.B.
323 would establish that residential property insurance in underserved
areas does not include farm and ranch owners policies. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 323 specifically excludes a farm and ranch owner's policy
from certain residential property insurance in underserved areas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 1(a), Article 21.49-12, Insurance Code, to
exclude farm and ranch owners' policies from residential property
insurance.  Makes nonsubstantive changes.   

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.