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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability of certain information concerning the |
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settlement of certain types of claims made under residential |
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property insurance policies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 32.102, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) In addition to the information required by Subsection |
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(a), the Internet website required by this section must include, |
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with reference to residential property insurance, a side-by-side |
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comparison of the most likely settlement or other resolution of |
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categories of typical claims filed with the insurer by |
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policyholders. The side-by-side comparison must include a ratio of |
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the average dollar amount paid by an insurer as settlement for a |
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category of typical claims under a residential property insurance |
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policy to the premiums received by the insurer for that same policy. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 32, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 32.105 and 32.106 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 32.105. PURPOSE OF INFORMATION; ADMISSIBILITY. The |
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information provided through the department's Internet website |
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required by Section 32.102 is provided solely for the purpose of |
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assisting consumers in making educated decisions concerning the |
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purchase of insurance in this state and is not admissible in a civil |
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or criminal proceeding as prima facie evidence of the truth of any |
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matter asserted by the information. |
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Sec. 32.106. RULES. The commissioner by rule shall define |
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the categories of typical claims filed with an insurer by |
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policyholders about which an insurer must provide the department |
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with information for the purposes of Section 32.102(a-1). |
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SECTION 3. The commissioner of insurance shall adopt the |
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rules required by Section 32.106, Insurance Code, as added by this |
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Act, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act and in |
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no event later than January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |