TITLE exempt-filings

Texas Department of Insurance

Final Action on Rules

The Commissioner of Insurance, at a public hearing under Docket No. 2383 held at 10:00 a.m., November 4, 1998 in Room 100 of the William P. Hobby Jr. State Office Building, 333 Guadalupe Street in Austin, Texas, adopted amendments proposed by Staff to the Texas Automobile Rules and Rating Manual (the Manual). The amendments consist of new and/or adjusted 1997, 1998, and 1999 model Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage Rating Symbols and revised identification information. Staff's petition (Ref. No. A-0998-25-I) was published in the September 25, 1998 issue of the Texas Register (23 TexReg 9797).

The new and/or adjusted symbols for the Manual's Symbols and Identification Section reflect data compiled on damageability, repairability, and other relevant loss factors for the 1997, 1998, and 1999 model years of the listed vehicles.

The amendments as adopted by the Commissioner of Insurance are shown in exhibits on file with the Chief Clerk under Ref. No. A-0998-25-I, which are incorporated by reference into Commissioner's Order No. 98-1364 .

The Commissioner of Insurance has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to the Insurance Code, Articles 5.10, 5.96, 5.98, and 5.101.

This notification is made pursuant to the Insurance Code, Article 5.96, which exempts it from the requirements of the Government Code, Chapter 2001 (Administrative Procedure Act).

Consistent with the Insurance Code, Article 5.96(h), the Department will notify all insurers writing automobile insurance of this adoption by letter summarizing the Commissioner's action.

IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER of the Commissioner of Insurance that the Manual is amended as described herein, and the amendments are adopted to become effective on January 15, 1999.

This agency hereby certifies that the amendments as adopted have been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's authority.

TRD-9817954

Lynda H. Nesenholtz

General Counsel and Chief Clerk

Texas Department of Insurance

Filed: November 24, 1998