By: Moncrief S.B. No. 139 99S0019/2 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 PREMIUMS FOR 1-7 APPROVED FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES 1-8 Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article: 1-9 (1) "Stovetop fire suppression device" means a device 1-10 that is magnetically mounted to the vent hood over a residential 1-11 stovetop cooking surface and that contains siliconized sodium 1-12 bicarbonate that protects against one or more hazards through 1-13 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, 1995. 1-17 Sec. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PREMIUM REDUCTION. A policyholder 1-18 of a single-family or multifamily dwelling is entitled to a premium 1-19 reduction for homeowners insurance coverage if the policyholder has 1-20 installed on the covered property a stovetop fire suppression 1-21 device that: 1-22 (1) is certified to Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1-23 1254; and 1-24 (2) has been approved by the State Fire Marshal 2-1 through the commissioner. 2-2 Sec. 3. AMOUNT OF PREMIUM REDUCTION. The commissioner shall 2-3 establish by rule the amount of a premium reduction applicable 2-4 under this article. 2-5 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 2-6 (b) Article 5.33C, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, 2-7 applies only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued for 2-8 delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000. A policy that is 2-9 delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2000, 2-10 is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 2-11 effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 2-12 that purpose. 2-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.