Bill Text: TX SB1164 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to insurance agents' ownership and use of certain information related to general property and casualty insurance policies; authorizing administrative penalties; adding provisions that may be subject to a criminal penalty.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-18 - Co-author authorized [SB1164 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB1164-Introduced.html
  84R11363 PMO-F
 
  By: Hancock S.B. No. 1164
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to insurance agents' ownership and use of certain
  information related to general property and casualty insurance
  policies; authorizing administrative penalties; adding provisions
  that may be subject to a criminal penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 4051, Insurance Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER J. AGENTS' OWNERSHIP INTERESTS
         Sec. 4051.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Expiration" means policy information and records
  related to a property and casualty insurance policy or an
  application for a property and casualty insurance policy,
  including:
                     (A)  the name and address of the applicant or
  insured;
                     (B)  the location and description of any property
  referenced in the application or covered by the policy;
                     (C)  the value, inception date, renewal date, and
  expiration date of the policy;
                     (D)  the premium, policy limits, and description
  of the terms and coverage of the policy; and
                     (E)  information or records that may be:
                           (i)  necessary for placing insurance
  coverage, insurance products, or insurance services; or 
                           (ii)  used to solicit, sell, or negotiate
  the renewal or sale of insurance coverage, insurance products, or
  insurance services.
               (2)  "Person" means an individual, partnership,
  corporation, limited liability company, or depository institution.
               (3)  "Record" has the meaning assigned by Section
  322.002, Business & Commerce Code.
         Sec. 4051.452.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a)  This
  subchapter applies with respect to expirations concerning coverage
  of a risk located in this state, or an application for such
  coverage, issued by or placed with an insurer engaged in the
  business of property and casualty insurance in this state,
  including:
               (1)  a stock fire or casualty company;
               (2)  a mutual fire or casualty company;
               (3)  a Mexican casualty company;
               (4)  a Lloyd's plan;
               (5)  a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange;
               (6)  a county mutual insurance company;
               (7)  a farm mutual insurance company;
               (8)  a risk retention group;
               (9)  the Medical Liability Insurance Joint
  Underwriting Association under Chapter 2203;
               (10)  the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association under
  Chapter 2210;
               (11)  the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association
  under Chapter 2151; and
               (12)  an eligible surplus lines insurer.
         (b)  This subchapter applies only to ownership and use of an
  expiration by an agent who:
               (1)  holds a contract with the insurer to whom the
  relevant application was submitted or that issued the relevant
  insurance policy; or
               (2)  has the authority to contract with or submit an
  application for coverage to that insurer.
         Sec. 4051.453.  EXCLUSIVE OWNERSHIP AND USE. (a)  Except as
  provided by Section 4051.454, an agent or surplus lines agent
  exclusively owns and has exclusive use of an expiration directly
  related to an insurance application submitted by or an insurance
  policy written through the agent for the purpose of soliciting,
  selling, or negotiating the renewal or sale of property and
  casualty insurance coverage, a property and casualty insurance
  product, or a property and casualty insurance service.
         (b)  Nothing in this subchapter may be construed to modify or
  amend or require modification or amendment of a contract between an
  insurer and an agent or the authority of the insurer or agent with
  respect to each other.
         Sec. 4051.454.  EXCEPTIONS; INSURER OR MANAGING GENERAL
  AGENT. Notwithstanding Section 4051.453, an insurer or the
  insurer's managing general agent may use an expiration:
               (1)  to solicit, sell, or negotiate the sale or renewal
  of property and casualty insurance coverage, a property and
  casualty insurance product, or a property and casualty insurance
  service with the written consent of the agent who owns the
  expiration; 
               (2)  in the normal course of business, including
  underwriting, handling claims, and negotiating reinsurance; or
               (3)  if the insured or a property and casualty agent on
  behalf of the insured requests that the insurer renew a policy or
  issue other insurance coverage to the insured.
         Sec. 4051.455.  EXCEPTIONS; CERTAIN AGENTS. (a)  This
  subchapter does not apply to an expiration related to an insurance
  policy placed or an application for an insurance policy received by
  an agent who:
               (1)  has agreed by contract to act exclusively for one
  insurer or group of affiliated insurance companies;
               (2)  has agreed in writing with an insurer that all
  expirations, insurance policies, and insurance business is owned by
  the insurer and not the agent; 
               (3)  is in default for nonpayment of premium or other
  money due under the agent's contract or other agreement with the
  insurer or group of affiliated insurance companies unless a bona
  fide, good faith dispute exists concerning the money due;
               (4)  has a suspended, revoked, surrendered, or
  terminated license; or
               (5)  has misappropriated, converted to the agent's own
  use, or illegally withheld money belonging to an insurer, an
  insured, or an applicant for insurance.
         (b)  The rights of an agent described by Subsection (a)(1)
  with respect to expirations are determined by the agent's contract
  with the insurer or group of affiliated insurance companies.
         Sec. 4051.456.  PRIVACY RIGHT OF APPLICANT OR INSURED NOT
  IMPAIRED. An applicant's or insured's right to privacy related to
  an expiration is not impaired or affected by an agent's ownership of
  the expiration.
         Sec. 4051.457.  COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROGRAM. The
  department shall establish a program to resolve complaints of
  violations of this subchapter.
         Sec. 4051.458.  ENFORCEMENT; SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
  AUTHORIZED. (a) The commissioner may impose sanctions as provided
  by Chapter 82 against a person who the commissioner finds violated
  this subchapter.
         (b)  The commissioner may use the cease and desist procedures
  authorized by Chapter 83 against a person who the commissioner
  finds violated this subchapter.
         (c)  In addition to a sanction authorized by this subchapter,
  the commissioner may impose an administrative penalty in accordance
  with Chapter 84 against a person who the commissioner finds
  violated this subchapter.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to an expiration related to
  an insurance policy placed or an application for an insurance
  policy received by an agent on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A policy placed or an application received 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.
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