81R2465 PB-D
By: Alonzo H.B. No. 197
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 544.002, Insurance Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
follows:
(a) A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to
an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to
an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage
available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is
different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same
coverage because of the individual's:
(1) race, color, religion, or national origin;
(2) age, gender, marital status, or geographic
location; [or]
(3) disability or partial disability; or
(4) sexual orientation or gender identity or
expression.
(d) In this section:
(1) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's
having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity,
appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity,
appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that
stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
(2) "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived
heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2009.