Texas Joint Committee on Windstorm Coverage Selected

Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and Speaker Tom Craddick recently released the names of Senate and House of Representatives appointees to the Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage.

The Joint Select Committee is composed of six senators appointed by the Lieutenant Governor and six House members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Sen. Mike Jackson (La Porte) and Rep. John Smithee (Amarillo) will co-chair the Committee.

Senate appointees include Sen. Robert Duncan (Lubbock), Sen. Troy Fraser (Horseshoe Bay), Sen. Kyle Janek (Houston), Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (Brownsville), and Sen. Royce West (Dallas).

House of Representatives appointees include Rep. Warren Chisum (Pampa), Rep. Joe Driver (Garland), Rep. Allan Ritter (Nederland), Rep. Gene Seaman (Corpus Christi) and Rep. Larry Taylor (Friendswood).

“Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have reminded us all in Texas that we must be properly prepared to deal with a catastrophic emergency. Last year, Hurricane Rita brought unprecedented damage to Southeast Texas, where families and small businesses are still recovering from the aftermath of the disaster,” Lt. Gov. Dewhurst said. “I look forward to working with the members of the Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage to ensure that Texas is financially prepared to deal with a natural disaster.”

“Recent events have shown that Texas is susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms that can create tremendous damage to private property,” Speaker Craddick said. “The members chosen for this committee have been charged to develop recommendations to that will ensure that coastal properties are adequately insured while not placing an undue burden on the state’s budget.”

The Joint Select Committee on Windstorm Coverage was established to study the use of rating methodologies in determining windstorm rate adequacy in Tier I and Tier II coastal counties. The Committee will also closely examine and recommend ways to minimize the impact to the state’s general revenue in the event of a catastrophe and study the creation of a state windstorm reinsurance facility and trust fund.

The first report from the Committee is due on Dec. 1, 2006.