1-1 By: Moncrief, Fraser S.B. No. 139 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 11, 1999; January 28, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Economic Development; 1-4 April 6, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 6, 1999, 1-6 sent to printer.) 1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 139 By: Fraser 1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-9 AN ACT 1-10 relating to residential fire suppression devices and to an 1-11 insurance premium discount for the installation of such a device. 1-12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-13 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 5, Insurance Code, is 1-14 amended by adding Article 5.33C to read as follows: 1-15 Art. 5.33C. REDUCTION IN HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AND FIRE 1-16 INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR APPROVED FIRE SUPPRESSION DEVICES 1-17 Sec. 1. DEFINITIONS. In this article: 1-18 (1) "Stovetop fire suppression device" means a device 1-19 or assembly of devices that is mounted to the vent hood over a 1-20 residential stovetop cooking surface and that protects against one 1-21 or more hazards through suppressing or extinguishing fires. 1-22 (2) "Homeowners insurance" has the meaning assigned by 1-23 Section 1, Article 5.33B of this code, as added by Chapter 337, 1-24 Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995. 1-25 Sec. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PREMIUM REDUCTION. A policyholder 1-26 of a single-family or multifamily dwelling is eligible for a 1-27 premium reduction for homeowners insurance coverage and for fire 1-28 insurance coverage if the policyholder has correctly installed on 1-29 the covered property a stovetop fire suppression device that has 1-30 been approved by the State Fire Marshal through the commissioner. 1-31 Sec. 3. AMOUNT OF PREMIUM REDUCTION. The commissioner shall 1-32 establish by rule the amount of a premium reduction applicable 1-33 under this article and may adopt other rules necessary for the 1-34 implementation of this article. 1-35 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-36 (b) Article 5.33C, Insurance Code, as added by this Act, 1-37 applies only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued for 1-38 delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000. A policy that is 1-39 delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2000, 1-40 is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the 1-41 effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for 1-42 that purpose. 1-43 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-44 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-45 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-46 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-47 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-48 * * * * *