| 1 | 1 | | 82R7844 TJS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Taylor of Galveston H.B. No. 1950 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the continuation and operation of the office of public |
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| 8 | 8 | | insurance counsel. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 501.003, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 501.003. SUNSET PROVISION. The office is subject to |
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| 13 | 13 | | Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued |
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| 14 | 14 | | in existence as provided by that chapter, the office is abolished |
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| 15 | 15 | | September 1, 2023 [2011]. |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 501, Insurance Code, is |
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| 17 | 17 | | amended by adding Section 501.160 to read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 501.160. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (a) The office shall develop and implement a policy to encourage |
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| 20 | 20 | | the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures |
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| 21 | 21 | | under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the resolution of |
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| 22 | 22 | | internal and external disputes under the office's jurisdiction. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The office's procedures relating to alternative dispute |
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| 24 | 24 | | resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to model |
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| 25 | 25 | | guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings |
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| 26 | 26 | | for the use of alternative dispute resolution procedures by state |
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| 27 | 27 | | agencies. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (c) The office shall: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) coordinate the implementation of the policy |
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| 30 | 30 | | adopted under Subsection (a); |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) provide training as needed to implement the |
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| 32 | 32 | | procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute |
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| 33 | 33 | | resolution; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | (3) collect data concerning the effectiveness of those |
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| 35 | 35 | | procedures. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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