AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the types of insurance covered by the program to assist
 1-2     persons in obtaining residential property insurance in underserved
 1-3     areas.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subsection (a), Section 1, Article 21.49-12,
 1-6     Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The commissioner shall establish a voluntary mechanism
 1-8     to be called a market assistance program to assist insureds in
 1-9     Texas in obtaining residential property insurance coverage in
1-10     underserved areas, which shall be determined and designated by the
1-11     commissioner by rule using the standards specified in Section 1,
1-12     Article 5.35-3, of this code. For purposes of this article,
1-13     residential property insurance means insurance against loss to real
1-14     or tangible personal property at a fixed location provided in a
1-15     homeowners policy or a[,] residential fire and allied lines policy,
1-16     but does not include a [or] farm and ranch owners policy.  The
1-17     types of risks to be assisted under the market assistance program
1-18     will be established by the commissioner.  A market assistance
1-19     program division shall be established in and operated by the Texas
1-20     Department of Insurance.
1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 323 passed the Senate on
         April 22, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 323 passed the House on
         May 25, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                     Date
         _______________________________
                   Governor