reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Ins Code § 501.153 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.153. Authority to Appear, Intervene, or Initiate

Sec. 501.153.  AUTHORITY TO APPEAR, INTERVENE, OR INITIATE.  The public counsel:(1)  may appear or intervene, as a party or otherwise, as a matter of right before the commissioner or department on behalf of insurance consumers, as a class, in matters involving:(A)  rates, rules, and forms affecting:(i)  property and casualty insurance;(ii)  title insurance;(iii)  credit life insurance;(iv)  credit accident and health insurance;  or(v)  any other line of insurance for which the commissioner or department promulgates, sets, adopts, or approves rates, rules, or forms;(B)  rules affecting life, health, or accident insurance;  or(C)  withdrawal of approval of policy forms:(i)  in proceedings initiated by the department under Sections 1701.055 and 1701.057;  or(ii)  if the public counsel presents persuasive evidence to the department that the forms do not comply with this code, a rule adopted under this code, or any other law;(2)  may initiate or intervene as a matter of right or otherwise appear in a judicial proceeding involving or arising from an action taken by an administrative agency in a proceeding in which the public counsel previously appeared under the authority granted by this chapter;(3)  may appear or intervene, as a party or otherwise, as a matter of right on behalf of insurance consumers as a class in any proceeding in which the public counsel determines that insurance consumers are in need of representation, except that the public counsel may not intervene in an enforcement or parens patriae proceeding brought by the attorney general;  and(4)  may appear or intervene before the commissioner or department as a party or otherwise on behalf of small commercial insurance consumers, as a class, in a matter involving rates, rules, or forms affecting commercial insurance consumers, as a class, in any proceeding in which the public counsel determines that small commercial consumers are in need of representation.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.154 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.154. Access to Information

Sec. 501.154.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  The public counsel:(1)  is entitled to the same access as a party, other than department staff, to department records available in a proceeding before the commissioner or department under the authority granted to the public counsel by this chapter;  and(2)  is entitled to obtain discovery under Chapter 2001, Government Code, of any nonprivileged matter that is relevant to the subject matter involved in a proceeding or submission before the commissioner or department as authorized by this chapter.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.155 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.155. Recommendation of Legislation

Sec. 501.155.  RECOMMENDATION OF LEGISLATION.  The public counsel may recommend legislation to the legislature that the public counsel determines would positively affect the interests of insurance consumers.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.156 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.156. Consumer Bill of Rights

Sec. 501.156.  CONSUMER BILL OF RIGHTS.  The public counsel shall submit to the department for adoption a consumer bill of rights appropriate to each personal line of insurance regulated by the department to be distributed on issuance of a policy by an insurer to each policyholder under department rules.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.157 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.157. Prohibited Interventions or Appearances

Sec. 501.157.  PROHIBITED INTERVENTIONS OR APPEARANCES.  The public counsel may not intervene or appear in:(1)  any proceeding or hearing before the commissioner or department, or any other proceeding, that relates to approval or consideration of an individual charter, license, certificate of authority, acquisition, merger, or examination;  or(2)  any proceeding concerning the solvency of an individual insurer, a financial issue, a policy form, advertising, or another regulatory issue affecting an individual insurer or agent.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.158 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.158. Confidentiality Requirements

Sec. 501.158.  CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS. Confidentiality requirements applicable to examination reports under Sections 401.105 and 401.106 and to the commissioner under Section 441.201 apply to the public counsel.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 2D.001, eff. April 1, 2009.|
TX Ins Code § 501.159 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.159. Comments on Certain Insurer Filings

Sec. 501.159.  COMMENTS ON CERTAIN INSURER FILINGS.  (a)  Notwithstanding this chapter, the office may submit written comments to the commissioner and otherwise participate regarding individual insurer filings made under Chapters 2251 and 2301 relating to insurance described by Subchapter B, Chapter 2301.(b)  The commissioner may adopt reasonable and necessary rules to implement this section.|Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 727 (H.B. 2017), Sec. 14, eff. April 1, 2007.|
TX Ins Code § 501.160 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter D. Powers and Duties|Section 501.160. Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures

Sec. 501.160.  ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEDURES.  (a)  The office shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the resolution of internal and external disputes under the office's jurisdiction.(b)  The office's procedures relating to alternative dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution procedures by state agencies.(c)  The office shall:(1)  coordinate the implementation of the policy adopted under Subsection (a);(2)  provide training as needed to implement the procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute resolution; and(3)  collect data concerning the effectiveness of those procedures.|Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1231 (S.B. 647), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011.|
TX Ins Code § 501.201 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter E. Assessments|Section 501.201. Office Expenses

Sec. 501.201.  OFFICE EXPENSES.  Expenses of the office shall be paid from the assessments collected under this subchapter.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.202 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter E. Assessments|Section 501.202. Assessment

Sec. 501.202.  ASSESSMENT.  To defray the costs of operating the office, the comptroller shall collect assessments under this subchapter annually in connection with the collection of other taxes imposed on an insurer.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.203 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter E. Assessments|Section 501.203. Assessment on Property and Casualty Insurers

Sec. 501.203.  ASSESSMENT ON PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURERS.  Each property and casualty insurer authorized to engage in business in this state shall pay an annual assessment of 5.7 cents for each property and casualty insurance policy in force in this state at the end of the year.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.204 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter E. Assessments|Section 501.204. Assessment on Life, Health, and Accident Insurers and Related Entities

Sec. 501.204.  ASSESSMENT ON LIFE, HEALTH, AND ACCIDENT INSURERS AND RELATED ENTITIES.(a)  This section applies to each insurer authorized to engage in business in this state under:(1)  Chapter 841;(2)  Chapter 842;(3)  Section 1367.053, Subchapter A, Chapter 1452, Subchapter B, Chapter 1507, Chapter 222, 251, or 258, as applicable to a health maintenance organization, Chapter 843, Chapter 1271, or Chapter 1272;(4)  Chapter 882;(5)  Chapter 884;(6)  Chapter 885;(7)  Chapter 887;(8)  Chapter 888;(9)  Chapter 962;(10)  Chapter 982;(11)  Subchapter B, Chapter 1103;(12)  Subchapter A, Chapter 1104;(13)  Chapter 1201, or a provision listed in Section 1201.005;(14)  Chapter 1551;(15)  Chapter 1578; or(16)  Chapter 1601.(b)  Each insurer subject to this section shall pay an annual assessment of 5.7 cents for each individual policy, and for each certificate of insurance evidencing coverage under a group policy, of life, health, or accident insurance that is written for delivery and placed in force in this state during each calendar year and for which the initial premium is paid in full.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 2D.002, eff. April 1, 2009.Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 643 (S.B. 1623), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019.|
TX Ins Code § 501.205 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter E. Assessments|Section 501.205. Assessment on Title Insurance Companies

Sec. 501.205.  ASSESSMENT ON TITLE INSURANCE COMPANIES.  Each title insurance company authorized to engage in business in this state shall pay an annual assessment of 5.7 cents for each owner and mortgage policy that is written for delivery in this state during each calendar year and for which the full basic premium is charged.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.251 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter F. Duties Relating to Health Maintenance Organizations|Section 501.251. Comparison of Health Maintenance Organizations

Sec. 501.251.  COMPARISON OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS.  (a)  The office shall develop and implement a system to compare and evaluate, on an objective basis, the quality of care provided by and the performance of health maintenance organizations established under Chapter 843.(b)  In developing the system, the office may use information or data from a person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the office considers reliable.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.252 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter F. Duties Relating to Health Maintenance Organizations|Section 501.252. Annual Consumer Report Cards

Sec. 501.252.  ANNUAL CONSUMER REPORT CARDS.  (a)  The office shall develop and issue annual consumer report cards that identify and compare, on an objective basis, health maintenance organizations in this state.  The consumer report cards may be based on information or data from any person, agency, organization, or governmental unit that the office considers reliable.(b)  The office may not endorse or recommend a specific health maintenance organization or plan, or subjectively rate or rank health maintenance organizations or plans, other than through comparison and evaluation of objective criteria.(c)  The office shall provide a copy of any consumer report card on request on payment of a reasonable fee.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.253 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter F. Duties Relating to Health Maintenance Organizations|Section 501.253. Access to Information

Sec. 501.253.  ACCESS TO INFORMATION.  (a)  The office is entitled to information that is confidential under a law of this state, including Section 843.006 of this code, Chapter 108, Health and Safety Code, and Chapter 552, Government Code.(b)  The department and the Texas Health Care Information Council shall provide any information or data as requested by the office in furtherance of the duties under this subchapter.(c)  The office shall use information collected or received under this subchapter for the benefit of the public.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 501.254 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle A - Public Insurance Counsel|Chapter 501 - Office of Public Insurance Counsel|Subchapter F. Duties Relating to Health Maintenance Organizations|Section 501.254. Confidentiality and Use of Information

Sec. 501.254.  CONFIDENTIALITY AND USE OF INFORMATION.  (a)  Except as provided by this section, information collected under this subchapter is subject to Chapter 552, Government Code, and the office shall make determinations on requests for information in favor of access.(b)  The office may not make public any confidential information provided to the office under this subchapter but may disclose a summary of the information that does not directly or indirectly identify the health maintenance organization that is the subject of the information.  The office may not release, and a person or entity may not gain access to, any information that:(1)  could reasonably be expected to reveal the identity of a patient or physician;(2)  reveals the zip code of a patient's primary residence;(3)  discloses a provider discount or a differential between a payment and a billed charge;  or(4)  relates to an actual payment made by a payer to an identified provider.(c)  Information collected or used by the office under this subchapter is subject to the confidentiality provisions and criminal penalties of:(1)  Section 81.103, Health and Safety Code;(2)  Section 311.037, Health and Safety Code;  and(3)  Chapter 159, Occupations Code.(d)  Information on patients and physicians that is in the possession of the office and any compilation, report, or analysis produced from the information that identifies patients and physicians is not:(1)  subject to discovery, subpoena, or other means of legal compulsion for release to any person or entity;  or(2)  admissible in any civil, administrative, or criminal proceeding.(e)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(2), the office may use zip code information to analyze information on a geographical basis.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.001 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter A. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures|Section 521.001. Public Interest Information

Sec. 521.001.  PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION.  (a)  The department shall prepare information of public interest describing the department's functions and the procedures by which complaints are filed with and resolved by the department.(b)  The department shall make the information available to the public and appropriate state agencies.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.002 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter A. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures|Section 521.002. Complaint Resolution Program

Sec. 521.002.  COMPLAINT RESOLUTION PROGRAM.  The department shall establish a program to facilitate resolution of policyholder complaints.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.003 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter A. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures|Section 521.003. Notification of Complaint Status

Sec. 521.003.  NOTIFICATION OF COMPLAINT STATUS.  If a written complaint is filed with the department, the department, at least quarterly and until final disposition of the complaint, shall notify each party to the complaint of the complaint's status unless the notice would jeopardize an undercover investigation.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.004 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter A. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures|Section 521.004. Records of Complaints

Sec. 521.004.  RECORDS OF COMPLAINTS.  The department shall keep an information file about each complaint filed with the department that concerns an activity regulated by the department or the commissioner.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.005 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter A. Public Interest Information and Complaint Procedures|Section 521.005. Notice to Accompany Policy

Sec. 521.005.  NOTICE TO ACCOMPANY POLICY.  (a)  Each insurance policy delivered or issued for delivery in this state shall include with the policy a brief written notice that includes:(1)  a suggested procedure to be followed by a policyholder with a dispute concerning the policyholder's claim or premium;(2)  the department's name and address;  and(3)  the department's toll-free telephone number maintained under Subchapter B.(b)  The commissioner shall adopt appropriate wording for the notice.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.051 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter B. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints|Section 521.051. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints

Sec. 521.051.  DEPARTMENT TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS.  The department shall maintain a toll-free telephone number to:(1)  provide the information described by Section 521.052;  and(2)  receive and aid in resolving complaints against insurers.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.052 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter B. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints|Section 521.052. Information Provided

Sec. 521.052.  INFORMATION PROVIDED.  The department shall provide to the public through the department's toll-free telephone number only the following information:(1)  information collected or maintained by the department relating to the number and disposition of complaints received against an insurer that are justified, verified as accurate, and documented as valid, expressed as a percentage of the total number of insurance policies written by the insurer and in force on December 31 of the preceding year;(2)  the rating of an insurer, if any, as published by a nationally recognized rating organization;(3)  the kinds of coverage available to a consumer through any insurer writing insurance in this state;(4)  an insurer's admitted assets-to-liabilities ratio;  and(5)  other appropriate information collected and maintained by the department.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.053 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter B. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints|Section 521.053. Publicity Requirements

Sec. 521.053.  PUBLICITY REQUIREMENTS.  The department shall publicize the department's toll-free telephone number in public service announcements and publish that number in telephone books throughout the state, as the department finds appropriate.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.054 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter B. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints|Section 521.054. Record of Inquiry or Complaint Required

Sec. 521.054.  RECORD OF INQUIRY OR COMPLAINT REQUIRED.  The department shall maintain a written record of each inquiry and complaint received through the department's toll-free telephone number.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|
TX Ins Code § 521.055 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Insurance Code|Title 5 - Protection of Consumer Interests|Subtitle B - Consumer Service Provisions|Chapter 521 - Consumer Information and Complaints|Subchapter B. Department Toll-Free Number for Information and Complaints|Section 521.055. Complaint Notification System

Sec. 521.055.  COMPLAINT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.  The department shall establish a system to notify insurers by electronic transmission to a facsimile machine or other appropriate system of complaints received by the department through the department's toll-free telephone number.|Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.|