77R13195 PB-D                           
         By Oliveira                                           H.B. No. 3393
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3393:
         By Moreno of Harris                               C.S.H.B. No. 3393
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the adoption and use of certain consumer information
 1-3     materials in Spanish regarding personal automobile insurance
 1-4     coverage.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Insurance Code, is amended by adding
 1-7     Article 1.35E to read as follows:
 1-8           Art. 1.35E.  CONSUMER INFORMATION IN SPANISH REQUIRED. (a)
 1-9     The commissioner shall develop or adopt an  informational sheet in
1-10     the Spanish language to provide a general explanation of the terms
1-11     most commonly used in the Texas personal automobile insurance
1-12     policy.  The department shall make the informational sheet required
1-13     by this article available to the public.
1-14           (b)  The informational sheet is intended to provide only a
1-15     general explanation of insurance terms used in the Texas personal
1-16     automobile insurance policy and is not intended to alter any
1-17     rights, obligations, or responsibilities of the contracting
1-18     parties.   All other applicable laws, including provisions of this
1-19     code, apply regardless of whether an informational sheet is used.
1-20           (c)  An informational sheet developed by the commissioner
1-21     must include a disclaimer, prominently printed in 10-point boldface
1-22     type at the top of the informational sheet in the Spanish language,
1-23     that contains the following:
1-24           "This document is for informational purposes only and is not
 2-1     intended to alter or replace the insurance policy.  Additionally,
 2-2     this informational sheet is not intended to fully set out your
 2-3     rights and obligations or the rights and obligations of the
 2-4     insurance company.  If you have questions about your insurance, you
 2-5     should consult your insurance agent, the insurance company, or the
 2-6     language of the insurance policy."
 2-7           SECTION 2. (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
 2-8     section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-9           (b)  An informational sheet required by Article 1.35E,
2-10     Insurance Code, as added by this Act, must be available to the
2-11     public as required by that article not later than January 1, 2002.