78R5950 AJA-D

By:  Eiland                                                       H.B. No. 1463



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to underwriting and rating guidelines for medical 
professional liability insurance.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Article 5.15-1, Insurance Code, is amended by 
adding Section 11 to read as follows:
	Sec. 11.  CERTAIN UNDERWRITING AND RATING GUIDELINES 
PROHIBITED.  An insurer may not consider a notice of claim letter 
received by an insured or applicant for insurance under Section 
4.01, Medical Liability and Insurance Improvement Act of Texas 
(Article 4590i, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to be a claim for 
the purposes of underwriting or rating.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only 
to a policy of medical professional liability insurance issued or 
renewed on or after January 1, 2004.  A policy of medical 
professional liability insurance issued before January 1, 2004, is 
governed by the law in effect immediately before the effective date  
of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.