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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to coverage for certain architectural engineering |
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services under certain insurance policies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 2002, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2002.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2002.007. ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING COVERAGE FOR |
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DAMAGE TO DWELLING. (a) In this section, "insurer" and |
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"residential property insurance" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 2301.051. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an insurer, |
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including the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association and the FAIR |
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Plan Association, may not deliver or issue for delivery a |
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residential property or Texas windstorm and hail insurance policy |
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in this state unless the policy provides coverage for an evaluation |
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and analysis, performed by an appropriately qualified |
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architectural engineer, of the covered dwelling in a circumstance |
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in which a covered peril may have caused structural damage to the |
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dwelling. |
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(c) The insured may reject the coverage required by this |
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section. |
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(d) This section does not apply to an insurance policy that |
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provides coverage only for the contents of a dwelling. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to an insurance policy |
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delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, |
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2014. A policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before |
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January 1, 2014, is governed by the law as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |