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               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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               AN ACT
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            relating to eligibility for coverage under the FAIR Plan  | 
         
         
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            Association in certain areas. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Section 2211.151, Insurance Code, is amended to  | 
         
         
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            read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   Sec. 2211.151.  MANDATORY COVERAGE PROVIDED TO CERTAIN  | 
         
         
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            INSUREDS. (a)  The association shall make residential property  | 
         
         
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            insurance available to each applicant in an underserved area whose  | 
         
         
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            property is insurable in accordance with reasonable underwriting  | 
         
         
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            standards but who, after diligent efforts, is unable to obtain  | 
         
         
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            residential property insurance through the voluntary market, as  | 
         
         
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            evidenced by two declinations from insurers authorized to engage in  | 
         
         
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            the business of, and writing, residential property insurance in  | 
         
         
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            this state. | 
         
         
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                   (b)  For residential properties located not more than two  | 
         
         
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            miles beyond the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association catastrophe  | 
         
         
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            area designated under Section 2210.005, an offer of coverage for a  | 
         
         
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            residential property through the voluntary market whose cost  | 
         
         
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            exceeds 10 percent of a Texas FAIR Plan Association policy offering  | 
         
         
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            equivalent coverage of a residential property with similar rating  | 
         
         
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            characteristics, including size, elevation, age, and construction  | 
         
         
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            standard shall constitute a declination for purposes of  | 
         
         
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            establishing eligibility for coverage under Subsection (a). | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
         
         
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            a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
         
         
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            provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this  | 
         
         
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            Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
         
         
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            Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |