Art. 5.35. POLICY FORMS.
(a)The commissioner shall adopt policy forms and endorsements for each kind of insurance subject to this subchapter other than a line regulated under Article 5.13-2 of this code that may be used by an insurer without filing for approval to use such forms.
(b)The commissioner may also adopt policy forms and endorsements of national insurers or policy forms and endorsements adopted by a national organization of insurance companies or similar organization on policy forms and endorsements. Policy forms and endorsements may be adopted under this subsection for each kind of insurance subject to this subchapter other than a line regulated under Article 5.13-2 of this code on the request of an insurer. For purposes of this subsection, "national insurer" means an insurer
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Art. 5.35. POLICY FORMS. (a) The commissioner shall adopt policy forms and endorsements for each kind of insurance subject to this subchapter other than a line regulated under Article 5.13-2 of this code that may be used by an insurer without filing for approval to use such forms.
(b) The commissioner may also adopt policy forms and endorsements of national insurers or policy forms and endorsements adopted by a national organization of insurance companies or similar organization on policy forms and endorsements. Policy forms and endorsements may be adopted under this subsection for each kind of insurance subject to this subchapter other than a line regulated under Article 5.13-2 of this code on the request of an insurer. For purposes of this subsection, "national insurer" means an insurer subject to this article that, either directly or together with its affiliates as part of an insurance holding company system as those terms are defined by Article 21.49-1 of this code, is licensed to do business and write the kinds of insurance that are subject to this subchapter in 26 or more states and maintains minimum annual direct written premiums for residential property insurance of $750 million in the aggregate for all states.
(c) The commissioner may approve the use of policy forms and endorsements adopted by a national organization of insurance companies or a similar organization, if such forms or endorsements are filed with and are approved by the commissioner in accordance with this article.
(d) An insurer may use an endorsement to the policy forms adopted or approved by the commissioner under this article if the endorsement is approved by the commissioner pursuant to this article.
(e) Unless adopted or approved by the commissioner pursuant to Subsection (a), (b), or (c) of this article or, in the case of an endorsement, under Subsection (d) of this article, an insurance policy or endorsement for use in writing the types of insurance subject to this article may not be delivered or issued for delivery in this state.
(f) Each filing pursuant to Subsection (c) or (d) of this article shall be made not later than the 60th day before the date of any use or delivery for use. At the expiration of the 60-day period, a filed form or endorsement is approved unless before the expiration of the 60 days the commissioner either disapproves the form or endorsement by order or approves the form or endorsement. Approval of a form or endorsement by the commissioner constitutes a waiver of any unexpired portion of the 60-day period. The commissioner may extend, by not more than an additional 30 days, the period during which the commissioner may approve or disapprove a form or endorsement by giving notice to the filer of the extension before the expiration of the initial period. At the expiration of any extension and in the absence of any earlier approval or disapproval, the form or endorsement shall be considered approved. For good cause shown, the commissioner may withdraw the commissioner's approval at any time after notice and hearing.
(g)(1) The commissioner may disapprove a policy form or endorsement filed under this article, or withdraw any previous approval thereof, if the policy form or endorsement:
(A) violates or does not comply with this code, or any valid rule relating thereto duly adopted by the commissioner, or is otherwise contrary to law; or
(B) contains provisions or has any titles or headings which are unjust, encourage misrepresentation, are deceptive, or violate public policy.
(2) The commissioner's order disapproving any form or endorsement or any notice of the commissioner's intention to withdraw a previous approval must state the grounds for the disapproval in enough detail to reasonably inform the filer of the grounds. An order of withdrawal of a previously filed form or endorsement takes effect on the expiration of the prescribed period but not sooner than the 60th day after the effective date of the withdrawal order, as prescribed by the commissioner.
(h) The commissioner may not adopt or approve policy forms for personal fire or homeowner's insurance or any endorsement to the policy if the policy or endorsement is not in plain language. For the purposes of this subsection, a policy or endorsement is written in plain language if it achieves the minimum score established by the commissioner on the Flesch reading ease test or an equivalent test selected by the commissioner or, at the option of the commissioner, if it conforms to the language requirements in a National Association of Insurance Commissioners model act relating to plain language. This subsection does not apply to policy language that is mandated by state or federal law.
(i) An insurer may not use in this state any form or endorsement after disapproval of the form or endorsement or withdrawal of approval by the commissioner.
(j) Notwithstanding Article 1.35A of this code, the office of public insurance counsel may submit written comments to the commissioner and otherwise participate regarding individual company filings made pursuant to this article.
(k)(1) For any policy form and endorsements approved by the commissioner under Subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this article, the commissioner shall promulgate a comparison form for that policy.
(2) The comparison form shall be developed with the assistance of the office of public insurance counsel and with input from the public and shall be designed to explain the features and limitations of the policy compared to other approved policies. An insurer using a policy form may be required to develop the comparison form and submit it for approval by the commissioner. The comparison form shall be made available by an insurer to anyone inquiring about the policy and shall be made available by the department via the Internet and other means as prescribed by the commissioner.
(3) The comparison form shall be designed to be easily read and understood in order to facilitate comparison and understanding of the policy and must meet the requirements of Subsection (h) of this article. At a minimum, the comparison form shall show the features of the policy compared to the HO-B, HO-A, and at least one other policy form widely in use in this state.
(4) The commissioner may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of this subsection.
Acts 1951, 52nd Leg., ch. 491.
Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 242, Sec. 2.33, eff. Sept. 1, 1991; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1330, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Subsec. (k) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 206, Sec. 21.22, eff. June 11, 2003; Subsec. (k) added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 797, Sec. 2, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2017 ), Sec. 18, eff. April 1, 2007.