78R6106 PB-D

By:  Mabry                                                        H.B. No. 2954



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requirements for certain discounts for homeowners 
insurance coverage.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 6(a), Article 5.33A, Insurance Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person's property qualifies for a homeowners 
insurance premium reduction if the property:
		(1)  meets the following minimum specifications:                              
			(A)  exterior doors must be solid core doors that 
are 1-3/8 inches thick and must be secured by dead-bolt locks;
			(B)  metal doors must be secured by dead-bolt 
locks;                       
			(C)  double doors must meet the specifications 
provided by Subdivision (1) of this subsection, must have the 
inactive door secured by header and threshold bolts that penetrate 
metal strike plates, and in the case of glass located within 40 
inches of header and threshold bolts, must have the bolts 
flush-mounted in the edge of the door;
			(D)  sliding glass doors must be secured by 
secondary locking devices to prevent lifting and prying;
			(E)  dutch doors must have concealed flush-bolt 
locking devices to interlock upper and lower halves and must be 
secured by a dead-bolt lock;
			(F)  garage doors must be equipped with 
key-operated locking devices;  and 
			(G)  windows must be secured by auxiliary locking 
devices;  or             
		(2)  is equipped with an electronic burglar alarm that 
meets the following requirements:
			(A)  all exterior structure openings are 
contacted or the system is equipped with motion detectors or glass 
breakage sensors;
			(B)  the system includes an interior and exterior 
siren;                   
			(C)  all equipment is U.L. approved and is 
monitored by a U.L. approved central station;  and
			(D)  sales, service, installation, and monitoring 
of the system are done in compliance with Chapter 1702, Occupations 
Code [the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act 
(Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes)].
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies only to a discount for a policy of homeowners' insurance 
that is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after  
January 1, 2004.