SB2596 - Relating to group property and casualty insurance policies.

  89R9631 DNC-F     By: Middleton S.B. No. 2596       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to group property and casualty insurance policies.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 2171.001, Insurance Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 2171.001.   DEFINITIONS [ DEFINITION ].  In this chapter :                 (1)  "Large [ , "large ] risk" means an insured described   by Section 2301.004.                 (2)     "Member" means an owner or person with an   insurable interest in a property covered under a policy issued   under Section 2171.002.          SECTION 2.  Chapter 2171, Insurance Code, is amended by   adding Sections 2171.006, 2171.007, 2171.008, and 2171.009 to read   as follows:           Sec.   2171.006.     DISCLOSURES REQUIRED. (a)   During an   application for an insurance policy issued under Section 2171.002,   an insurer must provide to each applicant a written disclosure of   whether the policy has a shared aggregate limit and, if applicable,   the amount of the limit.           (b)     Not later than the 30th day after the date an insurer   issues, delivers, or renews an insurance policy under Section   2171.002, the insurer must deliver the following documents to each   member covered by the policy:                 (1)  a copy of the certificate of insurance; and                 (2)  a copy of the policy.             Sec.   2171.007.     INCIDENTAL CASUALTY COVERAGE. An insurance   policy issued under Section 2171.002 may contain casualty coverage   that is incidental to the property risk covered under the policy.           Sec.   2171.008.     APPLICABILITY TO SURPLUS LINES. Eligible   surplus lines insurers are subject to this chapter, other than   Sections 2171.003, 2171.004, and 2171.005.             Sec.   2171.009.     RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules to   implement and administer this chapter.          SECTION 3.  Subtitle G, Title 10, Insurance Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 2172 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 2172. PERSONAL LINES GROUP PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE           Sec.   2172.001.     DEFINITION. In this chapter, "permitted   group" means a group of 10 or more insureds who have a preexisting   relationship to each other through:                 (1)  a common trade;                 (2)  an association;                 (3)  an affiliation; or                 (4)     any other relationship that is separate and   distinct from any group insurance arrangement of the group.           Sec.   2172.002.     APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a)   This   chapter, other than Section 2172.004, applies to an eligible   surplus lines insurer.           (b)     This chapter does not apply to an insurance policy   issued under and in accordance with:                 (1)  Chapter 2153, 2171, or 2201; or                 (2)  Section 706.002, 2152.003, or 4055.154.           Sec.   2172.003.     GROUP INSURANCE. (a)   An insurer may provide   a personal lines property and casualty insurance policy to a   permitted group, on a group basis, provided that:                 (1)     the issuance of the policy results in economies of   scale in administrative, marketing, or brokerage costs;                 (2)     the benefits provided under the policy are   reasonable to the premiums charged; and                 (3)     the policy does not contain a shared aggregate   limit.             (b)     An insurer may not renew an insurance policy that   provides group coverage under this chapter to a group that includes   fewer than 10 insureds as part of the group at the time of renewal.           Sec.   2172.004.     RATE AND FORM FILINGS. An insurer shall   comply with all applicable rate and form filing requirements of   this title for an insurance policy issued under Section 2172.003.           Sec.   2172.005.     RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules to   implement and administer this chapter.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   an insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on   or after the effective date of this Act.            SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.