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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: Gallegos |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, there are various city ordinances regarding temporary signage. After an emergency declaration has been declared for areas hit by a hurricane, the commissioner of the Texas Department of Insurance (commissioner) can issue bulletins to insurance companies instructing them to quickly contact policyholders to file and settle claims. Some cities have ordinances in place that prevent such signage from being temporarily erected, even if only to help the area recover from a natural disaster. This bill creates a statewide statute to be enforced during a declared natural disaster. S.B. 1890 will help to ensure that victims of storms and hurricanes in Texas can receive expedited insurance claims service at locations convenient to policy holders, upon declaration of a state disaster.
S.B. 1890 amends current law relating to the temporary suspension of certain signage restrictions during a state of disaster.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SB1890 amends Section 418.016, Government Code, to provides that upon declaration of a state of disaster, enforcement of the regulation of on-premise outdoor signs under Subchapter A, Chapter 216, Local Government Code, by a municipality that is located in a county within, or that is located in a county adjacent to a county within, the disaster area specified by the declaration is suspended to allow licensed or admitted insurance carriers or licensed agents acting on behalf of insurance carriers to erect temporary claims service signage for not more than 30 days or until the end of the declaration of disaster, whichever is earlier. The bill limits the size and placement of signs under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2009.