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.