83R8722 MEW-F
 
  By: Turner of Tarrant H.B. No. 2646
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the office of public insurance counsel's ability to
  initiate a hearing on insurance rates or rate filings.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2251.106, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as
  follows:
         (d)  The public insurance counsel may initiate a hearing on a
  rate filing or a rate in effect filed under this chapter by filing a
  written petition with the commissioner.
         (e)  The commissioner shall hold a hearing under Subsection
  (d) not later than the 30th day after the date of the filing of the
  written petition.
         (f)  The commissioner shall provide written notice of a
  hearing under Subsection (d) to the office of public insurance
  counsel and each insurer that made the rate filing not later than
  the 10th day before the date of the hearing.
         (g)  The party that made the rate filing has the burden to
  show that the rate filing meets the standards under Subchapter B.
         (h)  If, after the hearing, the commissioner determines that
  the rate filing or rate in effect does not meet the requirements of
  this chapter, the commissioner shall issue an order under Section
  2251.103(d) or 2251.104(b), as applicable.
         (i)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if
  a rate filing that is the subject of a hearing under Subsection (d)
  has not gone into effect as of the date the written petition is
  filed, the subject rate may not go into effect until:
               (1)  the commissioner has entered an order finding that
  the rate filing meets the standards under Subchapter B; or
               (2)  the filing is appealed and determined on final
  appeal to meet the standards under Subchapter B.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.