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2004 Summary of New State Laws - Tennessee

Issue

Bill #

Bill Description

Catastrophe Insurance

SB 2668

Directs the insurance commissioner to develop a plan for the creation of a natural disaster property insurance pool to provide residential and commercial coverage for property owners unable to obtain it in the open market due to impacts tied to prior or future natural catastrophic events. Effective 4/5/04. Chapter 470, Laws of 2004.

Insurance Scoring

SB 2259

Establishes "sole basis" and other restrictions on the use of credit information by personal lines insurers. Effective 1/1/05. Chapter 527, Laws of 2004.

Motor Vehicle Insurance

(Proof of Coverage)

HB 2601

Requires motor vehicle reports to include evidence of compliance with financial responsibility requirements by individuals and vehicles involved in accidents. Effective 5/24/04. Chapter 757, Laws of 2004.

(Seat Belt Enforcement)

SB 2606

Revises the state's seat belt laws to make violations a primary offense and to clarify and define exemptions to the law. Effective 6/16/04. Public Chapter 893, Laws of 2004.

Regulation

(Insurer Responses to Departmental Inquiries)

SB 2601

Directs insurance companies to respond within 30 days to requests made by the insurance department regarding complaints initiated by insureds. Effective 4/12/04. Chapter 496, Laws of 2004.

State Insurance Regulator

SB 3420

Authorizes the commissioner to require any insurer placed under administrative supervision to pay any and all costs incurred during that supervision. Effective 5/5/04. Chapter 604, Laws of 2004.

State Insurance Regulator

SB 3421

Expands the scope of the insurance commissioner's authority to issue licenses, permits and registrations and to investigate consumer complaints, by authorizing the commissioner to query the state bureau of investigation for criminal history records. Effective 4/22/04. Chapter 557, Laws of 2004.

Tort Reform

(Common Sense Consumption)

SB 2379

Limits liability arising from obesity or other conditions allegedly caused by or resulting from long-term consumption of food. Effective 7/1/04. Chapter 570, Laws of 2004.

Workers' Compensation

HB 3531

Revises portions of the state's workers' compensation laws pertaining to medical service rate caps on claims, independent medical evaluations and other issues. Effective 7/1/04. Chapter 962, Laws of 2004.

The information contained in this summary is not intended as a portrayal of every property/casualty-related law enacted in each state. Rather, it represents recently enacted legislation specifically identified by NAMIC State and Regulatory Affairs Staff as bearing direct relevance to those issues that represent NAMIC's National State Legislative Agenda or otherwise deemed pertinent to the interests of the majority of NAMIC members.

This summary is for use as a convenient tool for our members, and is not intended, and should not be considered to be, legal advice. Please consult your legal representatives.

Tennessee State Resource Center