By: Moncrief, Fraser S.B. No. 139 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to residential fire suppression devices and to an 1-2 insurance premium discount for the installation of such a device. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 5, Insurance Code, is 1-5 amended by adding Article 5.33C to read as follows: 1-6 Art. 5.33C. REDUCTION IN HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AND FIRE 1-7 INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR APPROVED FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES 1-8 Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article: 1-9 (1) "Stovetop fire suppression device" means a device 1-10 or assembly of devices that is mounted to the vent hood over a 1-11 residential stovetop cooking surface and that protects against one 1-12 or more hazards through suppressing or extinguishing fires. 1-13 (2) "Homeowners insurance" has the meaning assigned by 1-14 Section 1, Article 5.33B of this code, as added by Chapter 337, 1-15 Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995. 1-16 Sec. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PREMIUM REDUCTION. A policyholder 1-17 of a single-family or multifamily dwelling is eligible for a 1-18 premium reduction for homeowners insurance coverage and for fire 1-19 insurance coverage if the policyholder has correctly installed on 1-20 the covered property a stovetop fire suppression device that has 1-21 been approved by the State Fire Marshal through the commissioner. 1-22 Sec. 3. AMOUNT OF PREMIUM REDUCTION. The commissioner shall 1-23 establish by rule the amount of a premium reduction applicable 1-24 under this article and may adopt other rules necessary for the 2-1 implementation of this article. 2-2 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-3 (b) Article 5.33C, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, 2-4 applies only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued for 2-5 delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000. A policy that is 2-6 delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2000, 2-7 is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 2-8 effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 2-9 that purpose. 2-10 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-11 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-12 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-13 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-14 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.