| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to review of certain license examinations for insurance |
|
|
agents. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 4002, Insurance Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 4002.008 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 4002.008. STANDARDS FOR EXAMINATION PASS RATES; ANNUAL |
|
|
REPORT. (a) This section applies only to insurance agent license |
|
|
examinations for limited and single lines licenses, including agent |
|
|
licenses issued under: |
|
|
(1) Subchapters C and I, Chapter 4051; and |
|
|
(2) Subchapters C and G, Chapter 4054. |
|
|
(b) The commissioner or, at the commissioner's discretion, |
|
|
a vendor under contract with the department, shall review a license |
|
|
examination subject to this section if, during any 12-month period |
|
|
beginning on September 1 of a year that examination exhibits an |
|
|
overall pass rate of less than 70 percent for first-time examinees. |
|
|
(c) The department shall collect demographic information, |
|
|
including, race, gender, and national origin, from an individual |
|
|
taking a license examination subject to this section. |
|
|
(d) The department shall compile an annual report based on |
|
|
the review required under Subsection (b). The report must indicate |
|
|
whether there was any disparity in the pass rate based on |
|
|
demographic information. |
|
|
(e) The commissioner by rule may establish procedures as |
|
|
necessary to: |
|
|
(1) collect demographic information necessary to |
|
|
implement this section; and |
|
|
(2) ensure that a review required under Subsection (b) |
|
|
is conducted and the resulting report is prepared. |
|
|
(f) The commissioner shall deliver the report prepared |
|
|
under Subsection (d) to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and |
|
|
the speaker of the house of representatives not later than December |
|
|
1 of each year. |
|
|
SECTION 2. (a) The first 12-month period for which a |
|
|
license examination review may be required under Section |
|
|
4002.008(b), Insurance Code, as added by this Act, begins September |
|
|
1, 2009. |
|
|
(b) The commissioner of insurance shall deliver the initial |
|
|
report required under Section 4002.008, Insurance Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, not later than December 1, 2010. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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, 2009. |