Bill Text: TX HB597 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to an appraisal procedure for disputed losses under certain property and casualty insurance policies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-04 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB597 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB597-Comm_Sub.html

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88R22914 CJD-F
By: Jetton H.B. No. 597
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 597:
By: Oliverson C.S.H.B. No. 597

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an appraisal procedure for disputed losses under
certain property and casualty insurance policies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 10, Insurance Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 1813 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 1813. APPRAISAL PROCEDURES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 1813.001. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) This chapter
applies only to an insurer writing a property or casualty insurance
policy, including the FAIR Plan Association, the Texas Automobile
Insurance Plan Association, a Lloyd's plan, a reciprocal or
interinsurance exchange, a farm mutual insurance company, and a
county mutual insurance company.
(b) This chapter does not apply to the Texas Windstorm
Insurance Association.
Sec. 1813.002. RULES. The commissioner may adopt rules
necessary to implement this chapter.
Sec. 1813.003. REQUIRED POLICY PROVISION: APPRAISAL
PROCEDURE. An insurance policy described by Section 1813.001 must
contain an appraisal procedure for first-party property damage
claims that complies with this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. APPRAISAL PROCEDURES
Sec. 1813.051. APPRAISAL DEMAND. (a) If the policyholder
and insurer fail to agree to the amount of a loss covered by the
policy, the policyholder or insurer may provide a written demand
for an appraisal to the other party not later than the 180th day
after the date the policyholder receives the initial offer from the
insurer.
(b) The insurer must include written notification of the
180-day deadline to demand appraisal in the insurer's initial offer
to the policyholder.
(c) The policyholder and the insurer may agree in writing
not later than the 20th day after the date on which a demand for
appraisal is provided to waive any deadlines imposed by this
subchapter.
Sec. 1813.052. SELECTION OF APPRAISERS. Not later than the
20th day after the date an appraisal demand is provided under
Section 1813.051, the policyholder and insurer shall each:
(1) select a disinterested and competent appraiser;
and
(2) provide written notice to the other party of the
appraiser's identity.
Sec. 1813.053. APPRAISAL OF LOSS BY APPRAISERS; SELECTION
OF UMPIRE. (a) The appraisers shall appraise the loss that is the
subject of the appraisal not later than the 90th day after the date
both the policyholder and insurer have complied with Section
1813.052.
(b) The policyholder and insurer by agreement may twice
extend the deadline described by Subsection (a) for a period not to
exceed 60 days each time.
(c) If the appraisers agree on the amount of the loss:
(1) the appraisers shall provide written notice of the
agreement to the policyholder and insurer; and
(2) the agreed amount is set as the amount of the loss.
(d) If the appraisers fail to agree on the amount of the
loss, the appraisers shall select a competent and impartial umpire.
If the appraisers do not agree on an umpire before the 20th day
after the deadline for the appraisers to determine the amount of the
loss under this section, a judge of a court in the county in which
the policyholder resides or where the property is located shall
select the umpire on the request of the policyholder or insurer. The
policyholder or insurer shall provide at least 10 days' notice of
the request to the other party before the request is submitted to
the court.
(e) After the umpire is selected under Subsection (d), the
appraisers shall provide written notice to the umpire that
includes:
(1) the amount each appraiser sets for the loss; and
(2) any supporting documentation.
Sec. 1813.054. APPRAISAL DETERMINATION. (a) The umpire
shall present a draft award to both appraisers not later than the
30th day after the date the umpire receives the notice described by
Section 1813.053(e) from each appraiser. The umpire shall set the
amount of loss by agreement of either appraiser with the umpire's
draft award.
(b) If neither appraiser agrees to the umpire's draft award
on or before the 15th day after the date on which the appraisers are
presented the draft award, the umpire shall, not later than the 15th
day after the date of that deadline, revise the award in an attempt
to reach an agreement with either appraiser.
(c) The umpire shall continue revising the award every 15
days until an agreement is reached with at least one of the
appraisers.
(d) The umpire may not remove or reduce any items to which
both appraisers previously agreed.
(e) By agreement, the policyholder and insurer may extend
the deadline described by Subsection (a) for a period not to exceed
60 days.
(f) On reaching an agreement on the amount of the loss as
described by this section, the umpire shall provide a written
determination to the policyholder and insurer that:
(1) sets the amount of the loss; and
(2) is signed by the umpire and the appraiser with whom
the umpire reached the agreement.
(g) A determination provided under this section does not
prevent either party from pursuing its rights under the policy or
law.
Sec. 1813.055. APPRAISAL EXPENSES. The policyholder and
insurer shall equally divide and pay the umpire's expenses, as
applicable, and all other appraisal expenses.
Sec. 1813.056. EFFECT OF APPRAISAL. (a) The appraisal does
not affect any applicable policy terms, including deductibles.
(b) The appraisal decision on the amount of loss is binding,
and the use of the appraisal procedure is not a condition precedent
to bringing an action for a violation of this code, for a breach of
contract, or for any other common-law or statutory remedy.
SECTION 2. Chapter 1813, Insurance Code, as added by this
Act, applies only to an insurance policy delivered, issued for
delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.