(

a) The following

definitions govern the construction of this section: (1) “Armenian Genocide victim” means any person of Armenian or other ancestry living in the Ottoman Empire during the period of to 1923, inclusive, who died, was deported, or escaped to avoid persecution during that period. (2) “Insurer” means an insurance provider doing business in the state, or whose contacts in the state satisfy the constitutional requirements for jurisdiction, that sold life, property, liability, health, annuities, dowry, educational, casualty, or any other insurance covering persons or property to persons in Europe or Asia at any time between and 1923. (

b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any Armenian Genocide victim, or heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocide victim, who resides in this state and has a claim arising out of an insurance policy or policies purchased or in effect in Europe or Asia between and from an insurer described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), may bring a legal action or may continue a pending legal action to recover on that claim in any court of competent jurisdiction in this state, which court shall be deemed the proper forum for that action until its completion or resolution. (

c) Any action, including any pending action brought by an Armenian Genocide victim or the heir or beneficiary of an Armenian Genocide victim, whether a resident or nonresident of this state, seeking benefits under the insurance policies issued or in effect between and shall not be dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitation, provided the action is filed on or before December 31, 2016. (

d) The provisions of this

section are severable. If any provision of this

section or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.