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No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
Under current law, the Texas Windstorm Insurance Agency (a non-profit entity) provides insurance coverage to individuals along the Texas coast who are not able to obtain insurance from the private market.
SB 615 extends the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association's (TWIA) sunset review, creates rules for board members, requires training or prerequisites for a board position, sets mandatory disclosures for conflicts of interest, sets rules and provisions for automatic renewal, gives public access to proposed rate filings, and makes other procedural changes.
The bill adds requirements to TWIA that would include processes such as the automatic renewal of a policy for policy holder, while also providing a way for TWIA to receive supplemental payments from policy holders. SB 615 would also transfer authority from TWIA to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) on matters that relate to the compliance of building codes.
Lastly, the bill would require TWIA to provide public access to its rate adequacy analysis on the TWIA website for at least 14 days before the date that the board of directors would vote on the submission of new insurance rates.
Texas Action remains neutral on SB 615 because it does not affect our liberty principles.
However, we recognize that this bill redefines and sets strong boundaries in order to guard against corruption, increase transparency, and increase efficiency.
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