87R6421 JES-F
 
  By: Krause H.B. No. 1682
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to disclosures by liability insurers and policyholders to
  third-party claimants; providing an administrative penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 542, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter C-2 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C-2. DISCLOSURE OF POLICY INFORMATION TO THIRD-PARTY
  CLAIMANTS
         Sec. 542.141.  DISCLOSURE BY INSURER. (a) This section
  applies to an insurer that receives:
               (1)  a written request for policy information from a
  claimant asserting a claim that is or might be covered under
  liability insurance coverage provided by the insurer to a
  policyholder against whom the claim is asserted; or
               (2)  a claimant's request for policy information
  forwarded under Section 542.142.
         (b)  An insurer described by Subsection (a) shall provide to
  the claimant:
               (1)  a sworn statement of an officer or claims manager
  of the insurer that contains the following information for each
  policy known by the insurer that provides or may provide relevant
  coverage, including excess or umbrella coverage:
                     (A)  the name of the insurer;
                     (B)  the name of each insured;
                     (C)  the limits of liability coverage; and
                     (D)  any policy or coverage defense the insurer
  reasonably believes is available to the insurer at the time the
  sworn statement is made; and
               (2)  a copy of each policy described by Subdivision (1)
  under which the insurer provides coverage.
         (c)  An insurer that fails to comply with this section is
  subject to an administrative penalty under Chapter 84 of not more
  than $500.
         Sec. 542.142.  DISCLOSURE BY POLICYHOLDER. (a)  This
  section applies to a policyholder that receives a written request
  for policy information from a claimant asserting a claim against
  the policyholder that the policyholder believes is or may be
  covered under liability insurance coverage provided to the
  policyholder.
         (b)  A policyholder described by Subsection (a) shall
  promptly:
               (1)  disclose to the claimant the name of and type of
  coverage provided by each insurer that provides or may provide
  liability coverage for the claim; and
               (2)  forward the claimant's request to each insurer
  included in the disclosure under Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 542.143.  INSURER'S DEADLINE FOR PROVIDING REQUESTED
  INFORMATION. An insurer shall provide the information requested
  under Section 542.141 or 542.142 to the claimant not later than the
  30th day after the date the insurer receives the request from the
  claimant or policyholder.
         Sec. 542.144.  AMENDMENT OF STATEMENT. (a)  An insurer that
  is aware of a material change that affects a fact stated in the
  insurer's sworn statement under Section 542.141 or a policyholder
  that is aware of a material change that affects a fact stated in the
  policyholder's disclosure under Section 542.142 shall provide to
  the claimant a written amended statement or disclosure, as
  applicable, stating the material change.
         (b)  An amended statement provided by an insurer under
  Subsection (a) must be sworn and include a copy of each insurance
  policy relevant to the change.
         (c)  The insurer or the policyholder must provide the amended
  statement or disclosure described by Subsection (a) not later than
  the second business day after the date the insurer or policyholder
  is aware of the material change.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.