79R6455 PB-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 1557



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination.                  
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 544.002, Insurance Code, as effective 
April 1, 2005, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding 
Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(a)  A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to 
an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to 
an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage 
available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is 
different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same 
coverage because of the individual's:
		(1)  race, color, religion, or national origin;                               
		(2)  age, gender, marital status, or geographic 
location; [or]
		(3)  disability or partial disability; or                              
		(4)  sexual orientation or gender identity or 
expression.            
	(d)  In this section:                                                   
		(1)  "Gender identity or expression" means a person's 
having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity, 
appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, 
appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that 
stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
		(2)  "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived 
heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.