28 TAC §7.70
1. INTRODUCTION. The Texas Department of Insurance proposes the repeal of §7.70, concerning the 2000 annual statements, other reporting forms, and diskettes or electronic filings with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) via the internet. The section is proposed for repeal because the Department is proposing a new §7.70 concerning the 2007 annual and quarterly statement blanks, the 2008 quarterly statement blanks, other reporting forms, electronic data filings with the NAIC via the internet and instructions to be used by insurers and certain other regulated entities authorized to do the business of insurance in this state when reporting their 2007 and part of their 2008 calendar year financial condition and business operations and activities. The proposed new §7.70 is also published in this issue of the Texas Register.
2. FISCAL NOTE. Danny Saenz, Senior Associate Commissioner, Financial Program, has determined that, for the first five years the repeal of the section will be in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal, and there will be no effect on local employment or local economy as result of the proposal.
3. PUBLIC BENEFIT/COST NOTE. Mr. Saenz also has determined that, for each year of the first five years the repeal of the section will be in effect, the public benefit anticipated as a result of the repeal will be the elimination of obsolete regulations. There will be no economic cost to any individuals, or insurers or other Department regulated entities, regardless of size, as a result of the proposed repeal.
4. ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT AND REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ANALYSIS FOR SMALL AND MICRO BUSINESSES. In accordance with the Government Code §2006.002(c), the Department has determined that this proposed repeal will not have an adverse economic effect on small or micro business carriers because it is simply a repeal of an unnecessary rule. Therefore, in accordance with the Government Code §2006.002(c), the Department is not required to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis.
5. TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT. The Department has determined that no private real property interests are affected by this proposal and that this proposal does not restrict or limit an owner's right to property that would otherwise exist in the absence of government action and, therefore, does not constitute a taking or require a takings impact assessment under the Government Code §2007.043.
6. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. To be considered, written comments on the proposal must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on January 28, 2008, to Gene C. Jarmon, General Counsel and Chief Clerk, Mail Code 113-2A, Texas Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 149104, Austin, Texas 78714-9104. An additional copy of the comments should be simultaneously submitted to Danny Saenz, Senior Associate Commissioner, Financial Program, Mail Code 305-2A, Texas Department of Insurance, P.O. Box 149104, Austin, Texas 78714-9104. Any request for a public hearing should be submitted separately to the Office of the Chief Clerk before the close of the public comment period. If a hearing is held, oral and written comments presented at the hearing will be considered.
7. STATUTORY AUTHORITY. The repeal of the section is proposed under the Insurance Code §§802.001 - 802.003, 802.051 - 802.056, and 36.001. Sections 802.001 - 802.003 and 802.051 - 802.056 authorize the Commissioner to make changes in the forms of the annual statements required of insurance companies of any kind, as shall seem best adapted to elicit a true exhibit of their condition and methods of transacting business. Section 36.001 provides that the Commissioner of Insurance may adopt any rules necessary and appropriate to implement the powers and duties of the Texas Department of Insurance under the Insurance Code and other laws of this state.
8. CROSS REFERENCE TO STATUTE. The following statutes in the Insurance Code will be affected by this proposed repeal: Chapters 2201, 2210, and 2211 and §§32.041, 421.001, 802.001 - 802.003, 802.051 - 802.056, 841.255, 842.003, 842.201, 842.202, 843.151, 843.155, 844.001 - 844.005, 844.051 - 844.054, 844.101, 861.254, 861.255, 862.001, 862.003, 882.001, 882.003, 883.002, 883.204, 884.256, 885.401, 885.403-885.406, 886.107, 887.009, 887.060, 887.401 - 887.407, 911.001, 911.304, 912.002, 912.201 - 912.203, 912.301, 941.252, 942.201, 961.002, 961.003, 961.052, 961.202, 982.001, 982.002, 982.004, 982.052, 982.101, 982.102, 982.103, 982.104, 982.106, 982.108, 982.110 - 982.112, 982.251 - 982.255, 982.302 - 982.306, 984.153, 984.201, 984.202, 1301.009, 1506.057, 2551.001, and 2551.152.
9. TEXT.
§7.70. Requirements for Filing the 2000 Annual Statements, Other Reporting Forms, and Diskettes or Electronic Filings with the NAIC Via the Internet.