By: Martinez Fischer H.B. No. 4455
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prompt payment of insurance claims.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 542.056(c) is amended to read as
  follows:
         (c)  If the insurer rejects the claim, the notice required by
  Subsection (a) or (b) must state the reasons for the rejection.  An
  insurer may not rely on any defense that was not stated as a reason
  for rejection as required by this subsection, unless the court
  finds that the insurer, in the exercise of reasonable diligence,
  could not have known of the reason at the time notice was required.
         SECTION 2.  Section 542.060, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 542.060.  LIABILITY FOR VIOLATION OF SUBCHAPTER. (a)  
  If an insurer that is liable for a claim under an insurance policy
  is not in compliance with this subchapter, the insurer is liable to
  pay the holder of the policy or the beneficiary making the claim
  under the policy, in addition to the amount of the claim, 18 percent
  per annum of the amount of such claim as damages, plus prejudgment
  interest, for each violation [interest on the amount of the claim at
  the rate of 18 percent a year as damages], together with reasonable
  attorney's fees.
         (b)  Damages shall accrue beginning on the date of the
  failure to comply, and continuing until the date of compliance.  
  Damages for a failure to pay continue to accrue on any unpaid
  portion of the claim until the claim is paid in full.
         (c) [(b)]  If a suit is filed, the attorney's fees shall be
  taxed as part of the costs in the case.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 542, Subchapter B, Insurance Code, is
  amended to add Section 542.062 to read as follows:
         Sec. 542.062.  APPLICATION TO UNINSURED/UNDERINSURED
  MOTORIST COVERAGE.  An insurer that receives notice of a claim for
  uninsured/underinsured motorist benefits shall not require a final
  adjudication of liability and shall not delay notice of acceptance
  or rejection of a claim under Section 542.056 or payment of a claim
  under Section 542.060 pending such final adjudication.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies only to an action commenced on
  or after the effective date of this Act.  An action that is
  commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law applicable to the action immediately before the effective date
  of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  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.