TITLE exempt-filings

Texas Department of Insurance

Proposed Action on Rules

EXEMPT FILING NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THE INSURANCE CODE CHAPTER 5, SUBCHAPTER L, ARTICLE 5.96

Notice is given that the Commissioner of Insurance will consider a proposal made in a staff petition which seeks amendments of the Texas Automobile Rules and Rating Manual (the Manual), to adopt new and/or adjusted 2003 and 2004 model Private Passenger Automobile Physical Damage Rating Symbols and revised identification information. Staff's petition (Ref. No. A-0104-01-I), was filed on January 20, 2004.

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 listed 2003 and 2004 model vehicles.

A copy of the petition, including a 90-page exhibit with the full text of the proposed amendments to the Manual is available for review in the office of the Chief Clerk of the Texas Department of Insurance, 333 Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas. For further information or to request copies of the petition, please contact Sylvia Gutierrez at (512) 463-6327; refer to (Ref. No. A-0104-01-I).

Comments on the proposed changes must be submitted in writing no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 29, 2004 to the Office of the Chief Clerk, Texas Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 149104, MC 113-2A, Austin, Texas 78714-9104. An additional copy of comments is to be simultaneously submitted to Marilyn Hamilton, Associate Commissioner, Property and Casualty Program, Texas Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 149104, MC 104-PC, Austin, Texas 78714-9104.

A public hearing on this matter will not be held unless a separate request for a hearing is submitted to the Office of the Chief Clerk during the comment period defined above.

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

TRD-200400406

Gene C. Jarmon

General Counsel and Chief Clerk

Texas Department of Insurance

Filed: January 21, 2004


Final Action on Rules

Effective date: February 14, 2004

EXEMPT FILING NOTIFICATION PURSUANT TO THE INSURANCE CODE CHAPTER 5, SUBCHAPTER L, ARTICLE 5.96 ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE TEXAS BASIC MANUAL OF RULES, CLASSIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE RATING PLAN FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY INSURANCE

The Commissioner of Insurance adopted the amendments proposed by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) staff in a petition filed on November 25, 2003. Notice of the proposal (Reference No. W-1103-23-I) was published in the December 5, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10975). No hearing was requested on this matter. TDI received no comments concerning the proposed amendments.

The Commissioner adopts the amendments proposed by staff. The purpose of these amendments to Rule XVIII- Group Purchase of Workers’ Compensation in the Texas Basic Manual of Rules, Classifications and Experience Rating Plan for Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance (the Manual) is to implement Section 2 of HB 1865, which passed during the 78th Legislature. This bill amended Article 5.57A of the Texas Insurance Code by expanding the definition of "group" to include two or more members of a trade association of business entities that join together with the approval of the Commissioner to purchase individual workers’ compensation insurance policies covering each participating trade association member.

The adopted amendments to the Manual are on file in the Chief Clerk’s Office of the Texas Department of Insurance under Reference No. W-1103-23-I and are incorporation by reference into Commissioner’s Order No. 04-0043.

The staff requests that the proposed amendments to the Manual as proposed herein be adopted effective 15 days after notice of adoption is published in the Texas Register .

The Commissioner has jurisdiction of this matter pursuant to Articles 5.57A and 5.96 of the Texas Insurance Code.

IT IS THEREFORE THE ORDER of the Commissioner of Insurance that the amendments proposed by staff to the Manual be and hereby are adopted.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the proposed amendments to the Texas Basic Manual of Rules, Classifications and Experience Rating Plan for Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability Insurance will go into effect 15 days after notice of adoption is published in the Texas Register .

TRD-200400295

Gene C. Jarmon

General Counsel and Chief Clerk

Texas Department of Insurance

Filed: January 15, 2004