Applicants for a license generally must file insurance proof with the department, and must insure depositor grain for full market value in temporary or emergency storage. If loss occurs, the warehouse operator must settle with the depositor on demand, and a depositor may recover from the insurer if no settlement is made within 31 days.
Sec. 14.041. CASUALTY INSURANCE. (a) Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (d), an applicant for a license must file or have on file with the department a certificate of insurance evidencing that: (1) the applicant has an effective policy of insurance issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in this state or, with the approval of the department, by an eligible surplus lines insurer that meets the requirements of Chapter 981, Insurance Code, and rules adopted by the commissioner of insurance under that chapter; and (2) the policy insures, in the name of the applicant, all depositor grain that is or may be in the public grain warehouse for its full market value against loss by or due to water or other fluid resulting from an insured peril, excluding flood and other rising waters resulting from natural causes, malicious mischief, vandalism, smoke, fire, internal explosion, lightning, hail, windstorm, hurricane, or tornado. (b) If water or other fluid resulting from an insured peril, excluding flood and other rising waters resulting from natural causes, malicious mischief, vandalism, smoke, fire, internal explosion, lightning, hail, windstorm, hurricane, or tornado destroys or damages grain in a public grain warehouse, the warehouse operator shall, on demand by the depositor and presentation of a receipt or other evidence of ownership, make settlement with the depositor of the grain. The amount of the settlement shall be the average price paid for grain of the same grade and quality on the date of the loss at the location of the warehouse, minus the warehouse operator's charges and advances. If a settlement is not made before the 31st day following the date of demand, the depositor is entitled to seek recovery from the insurance company. (c) An applicant is not required to file a certificate of insurance if the applicant certifies in writing, at or before the time the certificate of insurance is due, that all grain within the warehouse at the time the license is to be effective is or will be owned by the applicant free of any lien. The applicant shall file the required certificate of insurance on or before the first day any grain not owned by the applicant free of any lien is stored for hire, handled for hire, or shipped for hire. (d) An applicant for a license shall insure depositor grain for its full market value against loss by or due to fire or windstorm if the grain is in temporary or emergency storage. The certificate required under Subsection (a) must evidence that the applicant has an effective policy of insurance under this subsection before the applicant may store depositor grain in temporary or emergency storage. Renumbered from Sec. 14.011 and amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1124, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 196, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 10A.505, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.