HBA-JEK H.B. 3589 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3589
By: Hunter
State, Federal & International Relations
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In 1999, the legislature established the Texas Film Industry Development
Loan Guarantee Program and the Texas Film Industry Administrative Fund to
assist film makers in borrowing money to make films.  The application for a
loan guarantee requires a film producer to provide to the comptroller an
indemnity against loss that equals the amount guaranteed by the state.  The
indemnity must be issued by a Texas-licensed insurance company, surety
company, or financial institution.  House Bill 3589 adds a surplus lines
insurance company to this list, and sets forth provisions regarding a loan
guarantee. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the comptroller of public accounts in
SECTION 3 (Section 403.332, Government Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3589 amends the Government Code to add a surplus lines insurer
to the entities that are authorized to issue an indemnity against loss
(indemnity) to a film producer who is producing the film with the proceeds
from a loan guaranteed under the loan guarantee indemnity program
(program).  The bill provides that a surplus lines insurer must meet the
requirements and rules for surplus lines insurance.   

The bill authorizes the comptroller to provide that a guarantee fee is
payable as a condition of approval of the issuance of a loan guarantee and
to set the guarantee fee in an amount sufficient to fund the administration
of the program.  The bill authorizes the comptroller by rule to adopt a
guarantee-to-reserve ratio that determines the amount of loan guarantees
that may be made to exceed the amount available in the Texas Film Industry
Administrative Fund (fund).  The bill prohibits the ratio of guarantees to
the amount of money available in the fund from exceeding five to one, and
requires the comptroller to review and adjust the guarantee-to-reserve
ratio annually. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.