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