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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain inquiries made by the Texas Department of |
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Insurance to insurers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.001, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read |
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as follows: |
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(c) A person receiving an inquiry under Subsection (b) shall |
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respond to the inquiry in writing not later than the 15th [10th] day |
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after the date the inquiry is received. If the department receives |
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written notice from the person that additional time is required to |
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respond to the inquiry, the department shall grant a 15-day |
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extension of the time to respond to the inquiry. |
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(e) The department shall maintain a record of all inquiries |
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made by the department under this section. |
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(f) The department shall provide a biennial report to the |
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legislature that: |
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(1) summarizes the nature of all inquiries made by the |
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department under this section; |
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(2) estimates the financial cost of those inquiries to |
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the recipients; and |
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(3) outlines specifically how those inquiries were |
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necessary for the public good or for the proper discharge of the |
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department's duties. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an inquiry made by the Texas Department of Insurance on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An inquiry made before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |