HBA-JEK H.B. 3393 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3393
By: Oliveira
Insurance
7/25/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

A considerable portion of the Texas population speaks Spanish.  Many of the
Spanish-speaking immigrants in our state may not have had car insurance in
their home countries and may not be familiar with the terms used in car
insurance policies.  House Bill 3393 requires an informational sheet to be
made available to the public that explains the terms most commonly used in
personal automobile insurance policies in Spanish. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3393 amends the Insurance Code to require the commissioner of
insurance (commissioner) to develop or adopt and the Department of
Insurance to make available to the public no later than January 1, 2002 an
informational sheet in Spanish that provides a general explanation of the
terms most commonly used in a Texas personal automobile insurance policy.  

H.B. 3393 provides that an informational sheet is intended to provide only
a general explanation of insurance terms and that all other applicable laws
apply regardless of whether an informational sheet is used.  The bill
provides that an informational sheet must include a disclaimer that the
informational sheet is not intended to fully set out the rights and
obligations of the insured or the insurance company. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.