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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 544.002, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to |
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an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to |
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an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage |
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available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is |
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different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same |
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coverage because of the individual's: |
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(1) race, color, religion, or national origin; |
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(2) age, gender, marital status, or geographic |
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location; [or] |
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(3) disability or partial disability; or |
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(4) sexual orientation or gender identity or |
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expression. |
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(d) In this section: |
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(1) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's |
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having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity, |
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appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, |
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appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that |
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stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth. |
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(2) "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived |
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heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |