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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to extending claim-handling deadlines after certain |
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emergency declarations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 542.059, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Claim-handling [In the event of a weather-related
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catastrophe or major natural disaster, as defined by the
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commissioner, the claim-handling] deadlines imposed under this |
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subchapter are extended for an additional 15 days on the date that: |
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(1) the governor declares a state of natural disaster |
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under Section 418.014, Government Code; or |
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(2) if the governor does not declare a state of natural |
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disaster under Section 418.014, Government Code, the commissioner |
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declares a weather-related catastrophe under Subsection (c). |
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(c) The commissioner shall declare a weather-related |
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catastrophe if the commissioner determines that, for all insurers |
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writing insurance in an area designated by the commissioner and |
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defined by reasonable boundaries, as of the date of the declaration |
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a weather-related event resulted in, or may reasonably be expected |
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to result in: |
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(1) $50 million or more in aggregate insured losses; |
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or |
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(2) 3,000 or more claims. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |