S.B. No. 697
AN ACT
relating to the qualifications of certain nonresident individuals
to hold a surplus lines agent license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 981.203, Insurance Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1)(B), an individual
is not required to obtain a general property and casualty agent
license to hold a surplus lines agent license if:
(1) the home state of each insured is Texas;
(2) the individual is a nonresident of this state;
(3) the individual is licensed as a surplus lines
agent in the individual's state of residence;
(4) the individual is not required by the individual's
state of residence to hold a general property and casualty agent
license to become licensed as a surplus lines agent;
(5) the individual has provided information
acceptable to the commissioner that the individual's state of
residence does not require a general property and casualty agent
license for a surplus lines agent license;
(6) the individual's state of residence does not
require a surplus lines agent to search for the availability of
insurance in the individual's state of residence before the
insurance is placed through a surplus lines agent;
(7) the individual's state of residence allows a
licensed general property and casualty agent to search for the
availability of insurance in the individual's state of residence;
(8) the individual has a professional relationship
with, and each transaction is conducted through, a person who:
(A) is a licensed general property and casualty
agent in this state or in the state of each transaction; and
(B) searches for the availability of insurance in
this state before the insurance is placed through a surplus lines
agent; and
(9) each transaction complies with the laws of the
state in which it occurs.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies to a
license application submitted on or after the effective date of
this Act. A license application submitted before the effective
date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before
the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2014.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 697 passed the Senate on
March 27, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 22, 2013, by the
following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 697 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 17, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 134,
Nays 0, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor