83R8722 MEW-F By: Davis S.B. No. 1565 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the office of public insurance counsel's ability to initiate a hearing on insurance rates or rate filings. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2251.106, Insurance Code, is amended by adding Subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as follows: (d) The public insurance counsel may initiate a hearing on a rate filing or a rate in effect filed under this chapter by filing a written petition with the commissioner. (e) The commissioner shall hold a hearing under Subsection (d) not later than the 30th day after the date of the filing of the written petition. (f) The commissioner shall provide written notice of a hearing under Subsection (d) to the office of public insurance counsel and each insurer that made the rate filing not later than the 10th day before the date of the hearing. (g) The party that made the rate filing has the burden to show that the rate filing meets the standards under Subchapter B. (h) If, after the hearing, the commissioner determines that the rate filing or rate in effect does not meet the requirements of this chapter, the commissioner shall issue an order under Section 2251.103(d) or 2251.104(b), as applicable. (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if a rate filing that is the subject of a hearing under Subsection (d) has not gone into effect as of the date the written petition is filed, the subject rate may not go into effect until: (1) the commissioner has entered an order finding that the rate filing meets the standards under Subchapter B; or (2) the filing is appealed and determined on final appeal to meet the standards under Subchapter B. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.