By: Eltife S.B. No. 956
(Muñoz, Jr.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the delivery of personal automobile and residential
property insurance policies; adding provisions that may be subject
to a criminal penalty.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 5, Insurance Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 525 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 525. DELIVERY OF INSURANCE POLICIES
Sec. 525.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter
applies to:
(1) an insurer, as defined by Section 2301.051,
writing personal automobile insurance or residential property
insurance, as defined by Section 2301.051, in this state;
(2) the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association;
(3) the FAIR Plan Association; and
(4) the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association.
Sec. 525.002. DELIVERY OF INSURANCE POLICIES. (a) Except
as provided by Subsection (b), an insurer to whom this chapter
applies shall deliver a policy issued by the insurer to the
policyholder, or to the insurer's agent for delivery to the
policyholder:
(1) not later than:
(A) the 30th day after the effective date of the
policy if the policy term is more than 30 days; or
(B) the 10th day after the effective date of the
policy if the policy term is more than 10 days and less than 31 days;
or
(2) within the policy period for a policy with a term
of 10 days or less.
(b) An insurer to whom this chapter applies shall deliver a
policy renewed or amended by the insurer to the policyholder, or to
the insurer's agent for delivery to the policyholder, not later
than the 15th day after the date the insurer or insurer's agent
receives a written request from the policyholder that the policy be
delivered to the policyholder.
Sec. 525.003. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The commissioner may
adopt rules to implement this chapter.
SECTION 2. Chapter 525, Insurance Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to an insurance policy that is delivered, issued
for delivery, or renewed on or after the effective date of this Act.
A policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed
immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.