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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the application of the open meetings and public |
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information laws to the Texas Mutual Insurance Company. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2054.003(c), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The company is not a state agency or executive agency or |
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a governmental entity for any purpose and is subject to a law |
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applicable to such an agency or entity only as provided by this |
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chapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2054.007, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2054.007. APPLICABILITY OF OPEN MEETINGS LAW AND OPEN |
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RECORDS LAW; EXCEPTIONS [NOT APPLICABLE]. (a) Except as provided by |
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Subsections (b) and (c) [Notwithstanding any other state law], |
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Chapters 551 and 552, Government Code, apply [do not apply] to the |
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company. |
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(b) The board may hold closed meetings to consider: |
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(1) information relating to claims, rates, or the |
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company's underwriting guidelines; or |
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(2) other information that would give advantage to a |
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competitor or bidder. |
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(c) The board may refuse to disclose: |
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(1) information relating to claims, rates, or the |
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company's underwriting guidelines; or |
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(2) other information that would give advantage to a |
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competitor or bidder. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2054.008(d), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a company |
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investigation file: |
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(1) is confidential and not subject to disclosure |
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under Chapter 552, Government Code; and |
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(2) may be disclosed only: |
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(A) in a criminal proceeding; |
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(B) in a hearing conducted by the division of |
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workers' compensation of the department; |
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(C) on a judicial determination of good cause; or |
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(D) to a governmental agency, political |
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subdivision, or regulatory body if the disclosure is necessary or |
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proper for the enforcement of a law of this state, another state, or |
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the United States. |
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SECTION 4. Section 2054.256(b), Insurance Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Except as otherwise required or permitted by Chapter |
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552, Government Code, the [The] company may not provide to an |
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insurance agent information obtained from another insurance agent. |
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SECTION 5. The following sections of the Government Code |
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are repealed: |
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(1) Section 552.0225(c); and |
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(2) Section 552.143(f). |
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SECTION 6. (a) The change in law made to Section 2054.007, |
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Insurance Code, by this Act applies only to a meeting of the Texas |
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Mutual Insurance Company for which notice is given under Chapter |
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551, Government Code, on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) The change in law made by this Act applies only to a |
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request for information that is received by the Texas Mutual |
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Insurance Company or an officer for public information on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A request for information that was |
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received before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law as it existed on the date the request was received, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(c) The change in law made by this Act applies to |
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information maintained in investigation files of the Texas Mutual |
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Insurance Company without regard to the date the information is |
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collected, compiled, or developed or otherwise becomes part of the |
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investigation file. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |