|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to certain inquiries made by the Texas Department of |
|
Insurance to insurers. |
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
SECTION 1. Section 38.001, Insurance Code, is amended by |
|
amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(c) A person receiving an inquiry under Subsection (b) shall |
|
respond to the inquiry in writing not later than the 15th [10th] day |
|
after the date the inquiry is received. If the department receives |
|
written notice from the person that additional time is required to |
|
respond to the inquiry, the department shall grant a 15-day |
|
extension of the time to respond to the inquiry. |
|
(e) The department shall maintain a record of all inquiries |
|
made by the department under this section. |
|
(f) The department shall provide a biennial report to the |
|
legislature that: |
|
(1) summarizes the nature of all inquiries made by the |
|
department under this section; |
|
(2) estimates the financial cost of those inquiries to |
|
the recipients; and |
|
(3) outlines specifically how those inquiries were |
|
necessary for the public good or for the proper discharge of the |
|
department's duties. |
|
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
an inquiry made by the Texas Department of Insurance on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. An inquiry made before the effective |
|
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before |
|
the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
|
for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |