TITLE: Relating to insurers as proper parties to certain actions for damages.

SUMMARY: Relating to insurers as proper parties to certain actions for damages.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to insurers as proper parties to certain actions for damages. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is amended by adding Section 17.006 to read as follows: Sec. 17.006. SUIT FOR DAMAGES AGAINST INSURED DEFENDANT. In a suit for recovery of damages in which a defendant in the suit is an insured under a policy of liability insurance that may provide coverage for the damages, the insurer who issued the policy, including a county mutual insurance company, a Lloyd's plan insurer, a surplus lines insurer, or a reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, is a proper party to the suit. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an action commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. An action commenced before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law applicable to the action immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.