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AN ACT
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relating to prior approval of property and casualty insurance rates  | 
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under certain circumstances. | 
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       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
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       SECTION 1.  Section 2251.151, Insurance Code, is amended by  | 
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adding Subsections (a-1) and (e) to read as follows: | 
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       (a-1)  If an insurer files a petition under Subchapter D,  | 
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Chapter 36, for judicial review of an order disapproving a rate  | 
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under this chapter, the insurer must use the rates in effect for the  | 
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insurer at the time the petition is filed and may not file and use  | 
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any higher rate for the same line of insurance subject to this  | 
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chapter before the matter subject to judicial review is finally  | 
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resolved unless the insurer, in accordance with this subchapter,  | 
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files the new rate with the department, along with any applicable  | 
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supplementary rating information and supporting information, and  | 
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obtains the commissioner's approval of the rate. | 
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       (e)  If the commissioner requires an insurer to file the  | 
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insurer's rates under this section, the commissioner shall issue an  | 
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order specifying the commissioner's reasons for requiring the rate  | 
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filing.  An affected insurer is entitled to a hearing on written  | 
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request made to the commissioner not later than the 30th day after  | 
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the date the order is issued. | 
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       SECTION 2.  The change in law made by Section 2251.151(a-1),  | 
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Insurance Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an insurer  | 
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that files a petition for judicial review under Subchapter D,  | 
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Chapter 36, Insurance Code, on or after the effective date of this  | 
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Act.  An insurer that files a petition for judicial review before  | 
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect  | 
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immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is  | 
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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 certify that H.B. No. 3358 was passed by the House on May  | 
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10, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 0, 2 present, not  | 
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.  | 
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No. 3358 on May 25, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 137, Nays 0,  | 
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2 present, not voting. | 
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______________________________ | 
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Chief Clerk of the House    | 
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       I certify that H.B. No. 3358 was passed by the Senate, with  | 
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amendments, on May 22, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays  | 
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0. | 
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______________________________ | 
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Secretary of the Senate    | 
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APPROVED: __________________ | 
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                Date        | 
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         __________________ | 
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              Governor        |