BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2355

By: Cortez

Insurance

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and office of public insurance counsel (OPIC) provide critical services in properly representing Texans' interests in insurance-related matters. From aiding consumers through insurance regulation to educating Texans about the insurance marketplace, TDI and OPIC are important to the well-being of many Texans. Given the magnitude of their work, it is essential that their employees be properly trained and educated to handle a multitude of tasks. C.S.H.B. 2355 seeks to address sources of funding for both TDI and OPIC, specifically authorizing them to accept gifts, grants, and donations for training and education.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of insurance in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2355 amends the Insurance Code to authorize the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the office of public insurance counsel (OPIC) to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source to provide additional funding for their respective employees to participate in educational events or trainings and for other purposes related to employee education, including education relating to any insurance line, product, or service or any other topic that may assist in performing their respective duties. The bill authorizes the commissioner of insurance to adopt rules to administer the bill's provisions relating to training of TDI employees.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2355 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute and introduced both authorize TDI to accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source for employee training and education but the substitute also extends that authorization to OPIC.