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AN ACT
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relating to minimum insurance coverage amounts to establish |
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evidence of financial responsibility under the Texas Motor Vehicle |
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Safety Responsibility Act and to providing information with regard |
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to compliance with the Act. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 601.072, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 601.072. MINIMUM COVERAGE AMOUNTS; EXCLUSIONS. |
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(a) Effective April 1, 2008, the [The] minimum amounts of motor |
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vehicle liability insurance coverage required to establish |
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financial responsibility under this chapter are: |
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(1) $25,000 [$20,000] for bodily injury to or death of |
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one person in one accident; |
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(2) $50,000 [$40,000] for bodily injury to or death of |
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two or more persons in one accident, subject to the amount provided |
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by Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the |
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persons; and |
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(3) $25,000 [$15,000] for damage to or destruction of |
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property of others in one accident. |
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(a-1) Effective January 1, 2011, the minimum amounts of |
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motor vehicle liability insurance coverage required to establish |
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financial responsibility under this chapter are: |
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(1) $30,000 for bodily injury to or death of one person |
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in one accident; |
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(2) $60,000 for bodily injury to or death of two or |
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more persons in one accident, subject to the amount provided by |
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Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; |
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and |
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(3) $25,000 for damage to or destruction of property |
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of others in one accident. |
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(b) The coverage required under this section [Subsection
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(a)] may exclude, with respect to one accident: |
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(1) the first $250 of liability for bodily injury to or |
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death of one person; |
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(2) the first $500 of liability for bodily injury to or |
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death of two or more persons, subject to the amount provided by |
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Subdivision (1) for bodily injury to or death of one of the persons; |
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and |
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(3) the first $250 of liability for property damage to |
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or destruction of property of others. |
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(c) The Texas Department of Insurance shall establish an |
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outreach program to inform persons of the requirements of this |
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chapter and the ability to comply with the financial responsibility |
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requirements of this chapter through motor vehicle liability |
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insurance coverage. The commissioner, by rule, shall establish the |
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requirements for the program. The program must be designed to |
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encourage compliance with the financial responsibility |
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requirements, and must be made available in English and Spanish. |
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(d) Subsection (a) and this subsection expire December 31, |
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2010. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a motor vehicle |
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liability insurance policy that is delivered, issued for delivery, |
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or renewed on or after April 1, 2008. A policy delivered, issued |
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for delivery, or renewed before April 1, 2008, is governed by the |
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law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ ______________________________ |
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President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 502 passed the Senate on |
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April 12, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that |
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the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 18, 2007, by the |
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following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 502 passed the House, with |
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amendments, on May 15, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 138, |
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Nays 5, one present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |