Washington: Bill Preventing Carriers from Educating Policyholders about Auto Glass Repair Options Dies in Senate

On Feb. 29, SHB 3053, the highly contentious auto glass repair bill, died in the Senate Financial Services and Insurance Committee after the insurance industry was able to persuade legislators that the legislation is anti-insurance consumer.

“NAMIC, in conjunction with other members of the insurance industry, drafted a fact sheet to educate legislators about how the proposed bill was unnecessary and would prevent consumers from receiving auto glass repair information they need and desire from their insurance carrier,” said Christian J. Rataj, NAMIC’s Western state affairs manager.

Washington’s legislative session is just two weeks away from its scheduled adjournment, and Feb. 29 was the last day for bills to advance out of policy committees. The remainder of the 2008 session is devoted to floor actions, concurrences, and approval of budgets.

Several other bills of concern to the insurance industry also died at last week’s legislative cut-off date:

HB 2802, an attempt to eliminate the use of credit-based insurance scoring information in insurance underwriting or rate-setting;
SB 6382, which raised the cap on allowable damages for violations of the Consumer Protection Act;
SB 6614, which would have allowed for exemplary (punitive) damages;
HB 3056, which would have restricted the use of after-market parts in auto repairs;
HB 3038, which would have imposed onerous reporting requirements on insurers as part of the state’s attempt to increase penalties for uninsured motorists;
HB 2945, which would have created a cause of action for the wrongful death of a companion animal;
SB 6024, which would have required carriers to offer auto insurance policies with lower minimum coverage limits for low-income citizens; and
SB 6696, which would have drastically expanded classes of beneficiaries and allowable damages under the state’s Wrongful Death and Survival statute.

Direct questions to NAMIC State Affairs Manager Christian J. Rataj.

Posted: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Tuesday, March 04, 2008 2:47:12 PM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.