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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the collection and use of certain information by |
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certain insurers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle G, Title 5, Insurance Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 752 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 752. DATA MINING AND PATTERN RECOGNITION |
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Sec. 752.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Personal automobile insurance" means an |
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automobile insurance policy providing insurance coverages for the |
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ownership, maintenance, or use of private passenger, utility, and |
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miscellaneous type motor vehicles and trailers including mobile |
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homes and recreational trailers, and not primarily used for the |
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delivery of goods, materials, or services, unless the use is in farm |
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or ranch operations and provided that the vehicles are owned or |
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leased by an individual or individuals. |
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(2) "Regulated insurer" means each insurer subject to |
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rate regulation by the department for residential property |
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insurance or personal automobile insurance, including a domestic or |
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foreign, stock or mutual, fire or casualty insurance company, a |
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domestic or foreign Lloyd's plan, a domestic or foreign reciprocal |
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or interinsurance exchange, and a county mutual insurance company. |
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The term includes an affiliate, as described by this code, if that |
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affiliate is authorized to write residential property insurance or |
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personal automobile insurance. |
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(3) "Residential property insurance" means insurance |
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against loss to real property at a fixed location or tangible |
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personal property provided in a homeowners policy, a tenant policy, |
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a condominium unit owners policy, or a residential fire and allied |
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lines policy. |
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Sec. 752.002. COLLECTION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING DATA |
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MINING AND PATTERN RECOGNITION. (a) The commissioner by rule may |
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require a regulated insurer to report to the department concerning: |
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(1) technologies such as statistical techniques, |
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devices, or models to be used by or on behalf of the regulated |
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insurer to establish new classifications or to change existing |
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methods of classification for rating, tiering, or underwriting, as |
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described by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) the manner in which the regulated insurer intends |
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to use the relationships derived from the technologies described by |
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Subdivision (1) in: |
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(A) underwriting and creating and defining new |
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risk classifications or changing an existing method of |
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classification; |
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(B) setting or determining rates and premiums; or |
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(C) using new classifications or a change in an |
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existing method of classification to deny coverage, limit coverage, |
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or refuse to renew or cancel coverage for existing individual |
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insureds. |
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(b) Information filed as required by Subsection (a)(1) must |
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include: |
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(1) information necessary for the department to |
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identify: |
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(A) the expected costs for a particular |
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classification; and |
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(B) relationships among variables that are used |
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to predict differences in expected losses of covered persons or |
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applicants for coverage; and |
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(2) other information, to the extent reasonably |
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available, concerning the new classification or change in an |
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existing method of classification that is intended to be otherwise |
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used in rating, tiering, or underwriting activities of the |
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regulated insurer. |
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(c) In exercising the commissioner's authority under this |
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section, the commissioner may require that regulated insurers: |
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(1) file underlying data relating to new |
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classifications or a change to an existing method of classification |
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as supplementary rating information under Chapter 2251; |
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(2) support the specific uses of information derived |
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from the technologies; and |
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(3) state whether the new classification or change to |
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an existing method of classification preserves a reasonable level |
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of risk transfer. |
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(d) Technologies and related information obtained from a |
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regulated insurer by the department under this chapter are |
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confidential and are not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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Government Code, except to the extent the regulated insurer |
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specifically authorizes the release. |
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Sec. 752.003. OVERSIGHT OF DATA MINING AND PATTERN |
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RECOGNITION; TRANSITION PLAN. (a) The commissioner may limit the |
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use of a new classification or a change to an existing method of |
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classification derived from a technology described by Section |
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752.002 if the commissioner finds that: |
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(1) the new classification or change to an existing |
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method of classification was not previously used by the regulated |
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insurer in underwriting or in establishing rating classifications |
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or rating tiers; and |
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(2) one of the following conditions exists: |
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(A) the new classification or change to an |
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existing method of classification would result in: |
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(i) a refusal to renew or to limit coverage |
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of an existing policyholder; or |
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(ii) an increase or decrease of 15 percent |
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or more in premium for any existing policyholder; or |
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(B) the new classification or change to an |
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existing method of classification violates state law. |
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(b) The limitations adopted under Subsection (a) may |
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require the regulated insurer to: |
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(1) use a transition plan, as described by Subsection |
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(c), to phase in the application or use of classifications, rating |
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tier differentials, or underwriting guidelines over not more than |
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two renewal periods; |
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(2) furnish available underlying data relating to the |
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new classifications or changes to an existing method of |
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classification, including whether the new classifications or |
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changes to an existing method of classification create overlaps |
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among classifications and the manner that the overlap has been |
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recognized in underwriting or setting or determining rates or |
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premiums; or |
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(3) require the regulated insurer to furnish available |
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information on whether the new classifications or changes to an |
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existing method of classification will promote loss prevention or |
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the availability of insurance in underserved areas. |
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(c) A transition plan required by Subsection (b)(1) must: |
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(1) be reasonable; |
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(2) promote market and rate stability; |
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(3) take into consideration any changes that may |
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impact overall rates and premiums, other than the new |
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classifications or changes to an existing method of classification |
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or uses of the relationships derived from the technology; and |
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(4) moderate or otherwise mitigate overall rate and |
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premium increases for individual policyholders over one or two |
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renewal periods. |
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(d) This chapter does not limit the authority of the |
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commissioner to disapprove rates or rating classifications that |
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violate state law. |
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Sec. 752.004. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. The department shall |
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include in its biennial report to the legislature under Section |
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32.022 information concerning the use of relationships derived from |
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technologies described by Section 752.002(a)(1) by regulated |
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insurers. The report must describe the impact that the use of those |
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relationships has on insurance, policyholders, and applicants for |
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insurance in this state, and may include recommendations for |
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proposed legislation appropriate to regulate new classifications |
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or changes to existing methods of classification that are derived |
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from the use of those technologies. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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