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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice to residential tenants regarding renter's |
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insurance. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 92, Property Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 92.0132 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 92.0132. NOTICE REGARDING RENTER'S INSURANCE. (a) |
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Before entering into a lease with a tenant, a landlord or the |
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landlord's agent shall give the following written notice to the |
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tenant: |
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NOTICE REQUIRED BY STATE LAW: The property owner's insurance |
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cannot provide coverage for your personal property. You may |
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purchase renter's insurance, which may cover losses due to theft, |
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fire, or other events or occurrences, through a licensed property |
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and casualty insurance agent. Renter's insurance may not cover |
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losses due to a flood. If you are eligible, you can purchase flood |
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insurance for your personal property from the Federal Emergency |
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Management Agency through a licensed property and casualty |
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insurance agent. Additional information regarding renter's |
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insurance may be obtained from the Texas Department of Insurance at |
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(insert toll-free telephone number and Internet website address). |
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(b) The notice required by Subsection (a) may be printed in |
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the lease or in a separate document signed by the landlord or the |
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landlord's agent and the tenant. |
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SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies |
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only to a lease initially entered into on or after January 1, 2010. |
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(b) A lease initially entered into before January 1, 2010, |
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is governed by the law existing immediately before the effective |
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date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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(c) This Act does not apply to the renewal of a lease. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |