By: Watson S.B. No. 189
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain practices in the business of personal
  automobile insurance.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 544.552, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 544.552.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only
  to:
               (1)  a standard fire, homeowners, or farm and ranch
  owners insurance policy; or
               (2)  a personal automobile insurance policy, including
  a policy written by a county mutual insurance company.
         SECTION 2.  Section 551.113(a), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  This section applies only to:
               (1)  a standard fire, homeowners, or farm and ranch
  owners insurance policy; or
               (2)  a personal automobile insurance policy.
         SECTION 3.  Section 912.002(b), Insurance Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  A county mutual insurance company is subject to:
               (1)  Sections 38.001, 401.051, 401.052,
  401.054-401.062, 401.151, 401.152, 401.155, 401.156, 501.159,
  501.202, 501.203, 822.204, 1806.001, 1806.101, 1806.103(b),
  1806.104-1806.107, 1953.051(b), 2002.002, and 2002.005;
               (2)  Subchapter A, Chapter 86;
               (3)  Subchapter A, Chapter 401;
               (4)  the provisions of Subchapter B, Chapter 424, other
  than Sections 424.052, 424.072, and 424.073;
               (5)  Chapters 221, 251, 252, 254, 541, and 2210; and
               (6)  Articles 5.39 and 5.40.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1953.051, Insurance Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 1953.051.  CERTAIN RATING PLANS PROHIBITED. (a)  A
  rating plan regarding the writing of automobile insurance, other
  than insurance written under Chapter 2151, may not:
               (1)  assign a rate consequence to a charge or
  conviction for a violation of Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation
  Code; or
               (2)  otherwise cause premiums for automobile insurance
  to be increased because of a charge or conviction described by
  Subdivision (1).
         (b)  A rating plan regarding the writing of personal
  automobile insurance may not:
               (1)  assign a rate consequence solely to:
                     (A)  a consumer inquiry, as defined by Section
  544.551, made by an applicant or insured; or
                     (B)  a claim filed by an insured under a personal
  automobile insurance policy that is not paid or payable under the
  policy; or
               (2)  otherwise cause premiums for personal automobile
  insurance to be increased solely because of an inquiry or claim
  described by Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 5.  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 the effective
  date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.