| 1 | 1 | | 82R21318 TJS-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Hancock H.B. No. 3589 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3589: |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | By: Hancock C.S.H.B. No. 3589 |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to claim-handling deadlines in the event of certain |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | weather-related catastrophes or natural disasters. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 542.059, Insurance Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (b) In the event of a weather-related catastrophe or major |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | natural disaster in which the commissioner estimates the amount of |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | losses will total at least $5 million and the number of claims will |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | total at least 3,000 in the aggregate for all insurers [as defined |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | by the commissioner], the claim-handling deadlines imposed under |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | this subchapter are extended for an additional 15 days. |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (c) The department shall issue a bulletin to notify insurers |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | of an extension under Subsection (b) not later than the fifth day |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | after the date the weather-related catastrophe or major natural |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | disaster occurs. The department may request information from an |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | insurer about the insurer's estimated amount of losses or total |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | number of claims. Information that an insurer voluntarily provides |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | to the department under this section is confidential and not |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (d) In the event that the governor issues a disaster |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | declaration under Section 418.014, Government Code, a |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | claim-handling deadline under this subchapter is extended for 15 |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | days for a county specified in the declaration. The department |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | shall issue a bulletin to notify insurers of an extension under this |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | subsection. |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
|---|