    INSURANCE CODE
    TITLE 5. PROTECTION OF CONSUMER INTERESTS
    SUBTITLE A. PUBLIC INSURANCE COUNSEL
    CHAPTER 501. OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSURANCE COUNSEL
    SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
    Sec. 501.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "office" means the office of public insurance counsel.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.002.  OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSURANCE COUNSEL.  The independent office of public insurance counsel represents the interests of insurance consumers in this state.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.003.  SUNSET PROVISION.  The office is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the office is abolished September 1, 2029.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1227 (H.B. 1116), Sec. 2.06, eff. September 1, 2005.Acts 2009, 81st Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 2 (S.B. 2), Sec. 1.07, eff. July 10, 2009.Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1231 (S.B. 647), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011.Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 850 (S.B. 713), Sec. 2.02, eff. June 16, 2021.Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 941 (S.B. 1659), Sec. 1.14, eff. June 18, 2023.

    Sec. 501.004.  PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION.  (a)  The office shall prepare information of public interest describing the functions of the office.(b)  The office 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.

    Sec. 501.005.  ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES.  (a)  The office shall prepare and maintain a written plan that describes how a person who does not speak English can be provided reasonable access to the office's programs.(b)  The office shall comply with federal and state laws for program and facility accessibility.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    SUBCHAPTER B. PUBLIC COUNSEL
    Sec. 501.051.  APPOINTMENT;  TERM.  (a)  The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a public counsel to serve as the executive director of the office.  The public counsel serves a two-year term that expires on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.(b)  The governor shall appoint the public counsel without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointee.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.052.  QUALIFICATIONS.  To be eligible to serve as public counsel, a person must:(1)  be licensed to practice law in this state;(2)  have demonstrated a strong commitment to and involvement in efforts to safeguard the rights of the public;  and(3)  possess the knowledge and experience necessary to practice effectively in insurance proceedings.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.053.  BUSINESS INTEREST;  SERVICE AS PUBLIC COUNSEL.  A person is not eligible for appointment as public counsel if the person or the person's spouse:(1)  is employed by or participates in the management of a business entity or other organization regulated by or receiving funds from the department;(2)  owns or controls, directly or indirectly, more than a 10 percent interest in a business entity or other organization regulated by or receiving funds from the department or the office;  or(3)  uses or receives a substantial amount of tangible goods, services, or funds from the department or the office, other than compensation or reimbursement authorized by law for department or office membership, attendance, or expenses.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.054.  LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.  A person may not serve as public counsel or act as general counsel to the office if the person is required to register as a lobbyist under Chapter 305, Government Code, because of the person's activities for compensation related to the operation of the department or the office.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.055.  GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL.  (a)  It is a ground for removal from office if the public counsel:(1)  does not have at the time of appointment or maintain during service as public counsel the qualifications required by Section 501.052;(2)  violates a prohibition established by Section 501.053, 501.054, 501.056, or 501.102;  or(3)  cannot, because of illness or disability, discharge the public counsel's duties for a substantial part of the public counsel's term.(b)  The validity of an action of the office is not affected by the fact that the action is taken when a ground for removal of the public counsel exists.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.056.  PROHIBITED REPRESENTATION OR EMPLOYMENT.  A former public counsel may not represent any person or receive compensation for services rendered on behalf of any person regarding a case pending before the commissioner or department before the second anniversary of the date the person ceases to serve as public counsel.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    SUBCHAPTER C. PERSONNEL
    Sec. 501.101.  OFFICE PERSONNEL.  (a)  The public counsel shall employ professional, technical, and other employees necessary to implement this chapter.(b)  Compensation for an employee shall be set under the General Appropriations Act as provided by the legislature.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.102.  TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.  (a)  In this section, "trade association" means a nonprofit, cooperative, and voluntarily joined association of business or professional competitors designed to assist its members and its industry or profession in dealing with mutual business or professional problems and in promoting their common interest.(b)  A person may not serve as public counsel or be an employee of the office who is exempt from the state's position classification plan or is compensated at or above the amount prescribed by the General Appropriations Act for step 1, salary group A17, of the position classification salary schedule if the person is:(1)  an officer, employee, or paid consultant of a trade association in the field of insurance;  or(2)  the spouse of an officer, manager, or paid consultant of a trade association in the field of insurance.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.103.  CAREER LADDER PROGRAM;  PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS.  (a)  The public counsel or the public counsel's designee shall develop an intra-agency career ladder program.  The program must require intra-agency posting of all nonentry level positions concurrently with any public posting.(b)  The public counsel or the public counsel's designee shall develop a system of annual performance evaluations.  All merit pay for office employees must be based on the system established under this subsection.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.104.  EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY POLICY;  REPORT.  (a)  The public counsel or the public counsel's designee shall prepare and maintain a written policy statement to ensure implementation of an equal employment opportunity program under which all personnel transactions are made without regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin.  The policy statement must include:(1)  personnel policies, including policies relating to recruitment, evaluation, selection, appointment, training, and promotion of personnel that are in compliance with the requirements of Chapter 21, Labor Code;(2)  a comprehensive analysis of the office workforce that meets federal and state guidelines;(3)  procedures by which a determination can be made about areas of significant underuse in the office workforce of all persons for whom federal or state guidelines encourage a more equitable balance;  and(4)  reasonable methods to appropriately address those areas of significant underuse.(b)  A policy statement prepared under Subsection (a) must:(1)  cover an annual period;(2)  be updated at least annually;(3)  be reviewed by the Commission on Human Rights for compliance with Subsection (a)(1);  and(4)  be filed with the governor.(c)  The governor shall deliver a biennial report to the legislature based on the information received under Subsection (b).  The report may be made separately or as a part of other biennial reports to the legislature.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.105.  QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT.  The office shall provide to the public counsel and office employees, as often as necessary, information regarding their:(1)  qualifications for office or employment under this chapter;  and(2)  responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for state officers or employees.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    SUBCHAPTER D. POWERS AND DUTIES
    Sec. 501.151.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICE.  The office:(1)  may assess the impact of insurance rates, rules, and forms on insurance consumers in this state;  and(2)  shall advocate in the office's own name positions determined by the public counsel to be most advantageous to a substantial number of insurance consumers.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    Sec. 501.152.  ADMINISTRATION OF OFFICE.  The public counsel shall administer and enforce this chapter, including preparing and submitting to the legislature a budget for the office and approving expenditures for professional services, travel, per diem, and other actual and necessary expenses incurred in administering the office.
    Added by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1274, Sec. 2, eff. April 1, 2005.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    SUBCHAPTER E. ASSESSMENTS
    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    SUBCHAPTER F. DUTIES RELATING TO 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.

    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.

    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.

    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.