Text of TX SB 73 (2013)

83R937 AJA-D By: Ellis S.B. No. 73 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibition of certain insurance discrimination. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 544.002, Insurance Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (a) A person may not refuse to insure or provide coverage to an individual, refuse to continue to insure or provide coverage to an individual, limit the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available for an individual, or charge an individual a rate that is different from the rate charged to other individuals for the same coverage because of the individual's: (1) race, color, religion, or national origin; (2) age, gender, marital status, or geographic location; [or] (3) disability or partial disability; or (4) sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. (d) In this section: (1) "Gender identity or expression" means a person's having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity, appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth. (2) "Sexual orientation" means actual or perceived heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.