The bill must pass a final procedural vote and then it goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill would also impose stricter ethics regulations on the association's employees and change the name to the Texas Coastal Insurance Plan Association.
House approves wind insurance changes
AUSTIN, TX
The most hotly debated change was eliminating a policyholder's
right to sue the association for punitive damages if it does not
pay a legitimate claim. Consumer groups say that punitive damages
are the only way to make sure the association acts responsibly.
Opponents point out that the association is a non-profit
organization and any punitive damages only hurts other
policyholders.
