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S.B. 52

             1     

INSURANCE AMENDMENTS - LOSS

             2     
HISTORIES AND INQUIRIES

             3     
2004 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Sponsor: Thomas V. Hatch

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Insurance Code to address use of loss histories and inquiries for
             10      insurance purposes.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    prohibits the use of certain losses in making adverse eligibility or rate decisions;
             14          .    prohibits use of inquiries for certain insurance purposes; and
             15          .    makes technical changes.
             16      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          None
             20      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             21      AMENDS:
             22          31A-19a-212, as last amended by Chapter 252, Laws of Utah 2003
             23          31A-21-303, as last amended by Chapter 116, Laws of Utah 2001
             24      ENACTS:
             25          31A-22-1308, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             26     
             27      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:


             28          Section 1. Section 31A-19a-212 is amended to read:
             29           31A-19a-212. Premium increases prohibited for certain claims or inquiries.
             30          (1) Each rate, rating schedule, and rating manual filed with the commissioner for
             31      [insurance covering a vehicle or the operation of a vehicle] personal lines insurance may not
             32      permit a premium increase due to:
             33          (a) a telephone call or other inquiry that does not result in the insured demanding the
             34      payment of a claim; or
             35          (b) a claim resulting from any incident, including acts of vandalism, in which the
             36      person named in the policy or any other person using [the] an insured motor vehicle with the
             37      express or implied permission of the named insured is not at fault.
             38          (2) Subsection (1) prohibits a premium increase when:
             39          (a) a policy is issued; or
             40          (b) a policy is renewed.
             41          (3) This section is an exception to Section 31A-19a-201 .
             42          Section 2. Section 31A-21-303 is amended to read:
             43           31A-21-303. Termination of insurance policies by insurers.
             44          (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, in other statutes, or by rule under
             45      Subsection (1)(c), this section applies to all policies of insurance other than life [and], accident
             46      and health insurance, and annuities, if the policies of insurance are issued on forms that are
             47      subject to filing and approval under Subsection 31A-21-201 (1).
             48          (b) A policy may provide terms more favorable to insureds than this section requires.
             49          (c) The commissioner may by rule totally or partially exempt from this section classes
             50      of insurance policies in which the insureds do not need protection against arbitrary or
             51      unannounced termination.
             52          (d) The rights provided by this section are in addition to and do not prejudice any other
             53      rights the insureds may have at common law or under other statutes.
             54          (2) (a) As used in this Subsection (2), "grounds" means:
             55          (i) material misrepresentation;
             56          (ii) substantial change in the risk assumed, unless the insurer should reasonably have
             57      foreseen the change or contemplated the risk when entering into the contract;
             58          (iii) substantial breaches of contractual duties, conditions, or warranties;


             59          (iv) attainment of the age specified as the terminal age for coverage, in which case the
             60      insurer may cancel by notice under Subsection (2)(c), accompanied by a tender of proportional
             61      return of premium; or
             62          (v) in the case of automobile insurance, revocation or suspension of the driver's license
             63      of:
             64          (A) the named insured; or
             65          (B) any other person who customarily drives the car.
             66          (b) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(e) or unless the conditions of Subsection
             67      (2)(b)(ii) are met, an insurance policy may not be canceled by the insurer before the earlier of:
             68          (A) the expiration of the agreed term; or
             69          (B) one year from the effective date of the policy or renewal.
             70          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(b)(i), an insurance policy may be canceled by the
             71      insurer for:
             72          (A) nonpayment of a premium when due; or
             73          (B) on grounds defined in Subsection (2)(a).
             74          (c) (i) The cancellation provided by Subsection (2)(b), except cancellation for
             75      nonpayment of premium, is effective no sooner than 30 days after the delivery or first-class
             76      mailing of a written notice to the policyholder.
             77          (ii) Cancellation for nonpayment of premium is effective no sooner than ten days after
             78      delivery or first class mailing of a written notice to the policyholder.
             79          (d) (i) Notice of cancellation for nonpayment of premium shall include a statement of
             80      the reason for cancellation.
             81          (ii) Subsection (6) applies to the notice required for grounds of cancellation other than
             82      nonpayment of premium.
             83          (e) (i) Subsections (2)(a) through (d) do not apply to any insurance contract that has not
             84      been previously renewed if the contract has been in effect less than 60 days when the written
             85      notice of cancellation is mailed or delivered.
             86          (ii) A cancellation under this Subsection (2)(e) may not be effective until at least ten
             87      days after the delivery to the insured of a written notice of cancellation.
             88          (iii) If the notice required by this Subsection (2)(e) is sent by first-class mail, postage
             89      prepaid, to the insured at the insured's last-known address, delivery is considered accomplished


             90      after the passing, since the mailing date, of the mailing time specified in the Utah Rules of
             91      Civil Procedure.
             92          (iv) A policy cancellation subject to this Subsection (2)(e) is not subject to the
             93      procedures described in Subsection (6).
             94          (3) A policy may be issued for a term longer than one year or for an indefinite term if
             95      the policy includes a clause providing for cancellation by the insurer by giving notice as
             96      provided in Subsection (4)(b)(i) 30 days prior to any anniversary date.
             97          (4) (a) Subject to Subsections (2), (3), and (4)(b), a policyholder has a right to have the
             98      policy renewed:
             99          (i) on the terms then being applied by the insurer to similar risks; and
             100          (ii) (A) for an additional period of time equivalent to the expiring term if the agreed
             101      term is one year or less; or
             102          (B) for one year if the agreed term is longer than one year.
             103          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(c), the right to renewal under Subsection (4)(a)
             104      is extinguished if:
             105          (i) at least 30 days prior to the policy expiration or anniversary date a notice of
             106      intention not to renew the policy beyond the agreed expiration or anniversary date is delivered
             107      or sent by first-class mail by the insurer to the policyholder at the policyholder's last-known
             108      address;
             109          (ii) not more than 45 nor less than 14 days prior to the due date of the renewal
             110      premium, the insurer delivers or sends by first-class mail a notice to the policyholder at the
             111      policyholder's last-known address, clearly stating:
             112          (A) the renewal premium;
             113          (B) how [it] the renewal premium may be paid; and
             114          (C) that failure to pay the renewal premium by the due date extinguishes the
             115      policyholder's right to renewal;
             116          (iii) the policyholder has:
             117          (A) accepted replacement coverage; or
             118          (B) requested or agreed to nonrenewal; or
             119          (iv) the policy is expressly designated as nonrenewable.
             120          (c) Unless the conditions of Subsection (4)(b)(iii) or (iv) apply, an insurer may not fail


             121      to renew an insurance policy as a result of a telephone call or other inquiry that:
             122          (i) references a policy coverage; and
             123          (ii) does not result in the insured demanding payment of a claim [being filed or paid].
             124          (5) (a) (i) Subject to Subsection (5)(b), if the insurer offers or purports to renew the
             125      policy, but on less favorable terms or at higher rates, the new terms or rates take effect on the
             126      renewal date if the insurer delivered or sent by first-class mail to the policyholder notice of the
             127      new terms or rates at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the prior policy.
             128          (ii) If the insurer did not give the prior notification described in Subsection (5)(a)(i) to
             129      the policyholder, the new terms or rates do not take effect until 30 days after the notice is
             130      delivered or sent by first-class mail, in which case the policyholder may elect to cancel the
             131      renewal policy at any time during the 30-day period.
             132          (iii) Return premiums or additional premium charges shall be calculated
             133      proportionately on the basis that the old rates apply.
             134          (b) Subsection (5)(a) does not apply if the only change in terms that is adverse to the
             135      policyholder is:
             136          (i) a rate increase generally applicable to the class of business to which the policy
             137      belongs;
             138          (ii) a rate increase resulting from a classification change based on the altered nature or
             139      extent of the risk insured against; or
             140          (iii) a policy form change made to make the form consistent with Utah law.
             141          (6) (a) If a notice of cancellation or nonrenewal under Subsection (2)(c) does not state
             142      with reasonable precision the facts on which the insurer's decision is based, the insurer shall
             143      send by first-class mail or deliver that information within ten working days after receipt of a
             144      written request by the policyholder.
             145          (b) A notice under Subsection (2)(c) is not effective unless it contains information
             146      about the policyholder's right to make the request.
             147          (7) If a risk-sharing plan under Section 31A-2-214 exists for the kind of coverage
             148      provided by the insurance being cancelled or nonrenewed, a notice of cancellation or
             149      nonrenewal required under Subsection (2)(c) or (4)(b)(i) may not be effective unless it contains
             150      instructions to the policyholder for applying for insurance through the available risk-sharing
             151      plan.


             152          (8) There is no liability on the part of, and no cause of action against, any insurer, its
             153      authorized representatives, agents, employees, or any other person furnishing to the insurer
             154      information relating to the reasons for cancellation or nonrenewal or for any statement made or
             155      information given by them in complying or enabling the insurer to comply with this section
             156      unless actual malice is proved by clear and convincing evidence.
             157          (9) This section does not alter any common law right of contract rescission for material
             158      misrepresentation.
             159          Section 3. Section 31A-22-1308 is enacted to read:
             160          31A-22-1308. Use of loss history by insurers.
             161          (1) For purposes of this section:
             162          (a) "Adverse eligibility or rate decision" means:
             163          (i) declining insurance coverage;
             164          (ii) terminating insurance coverage;
             165          (iii) not renewing insurance coverage; or
             166          (iv) the charging of a higher rate for insurance coverage.
             167          (b) (i) "Loss reporting agency" means any person who regularly engages, in whole or in
             168      part, in the business of assembling or collecting information for the primary purpose of
             169      providing the information to insurers or insurance producers for insurance transactions
             170      including assembling or collecting loss or claims information.
             171          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(b)(i), the following persons are not loss reporting
             172      agents:
             173          (A) a governmental entity;
             174          (B) an insurer;
             175          (C) an insurance producer;
             176          (D) an insurance consultant;
             177          (E) a medical care institution or professional; or
             178          (F) a peer review committee.
             179          (iii) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(b)(i), the following are not considered a report
             180      from a loss reporting agency:
             181          (A) a report specifically provided for fraud prevention; and
             182          (B) that portion of a report that includes information related to consumer credit


             183      behavior.
             184          (iv) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             185      the department may define by rule what constitutes:
             186          (A) a report specifically provided for fraud prevention; and
             187          (B) information related to consumer credit behavior.
             188          (c) (i) "Score" means a numerical value, categorization, or classification that is:
             189          (A) derived from a statistical tool, modeling system, or method; and
             190          (B) developed to predict the likelihood of future insurance claims.
             191          (ii) A numerical value, categorization, or classification described in Subsection
             192      (1)(c)(i) is a score if it is developed to predict the likelihood of future insurance claims
             193      regardless of whether it is developed to predict other factors in addition to predicting the future
             194      insurance claims.
             195          (2) (a) An insurer may not make an adverse eligibility or rate decision related to
             196      personal lines insurance in whole or in part on the basis of:
             197          (i) a report by a loss reporting agency of a loss if the loss did not result in the insured
             198      demanding the payment of a claim;
             199          (ii) a report by an insured of a loss if the loss did not result in the insured demanding
             200      payment of a claim;
             201          (iii) a loss that occurred when real property covered by the personal lines insurance was
             202      owned or occupied by a person other than the:
             203          (A) insured; or
             204          (B) person seeking insurance; or
             205          (iv) a score if the score is determined in whole or in part on the basis of information
             206      described in Subsection (2)(a)(i), (ii), or (iii).
             207          (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (2)(a), an insurer may:
             208          (i) use the information described in Subsection (2)(a)(iii) to require a review of the
             209      condition of the premises; and
             210          (ii) make an adverse eligibility or rate decision on the basis of the condition of the
             211      premises.
             212          (3) (a) If an insurer uses a score that is derived from information obtained from a loss
             213      reporting agency or an insured, the insurer shall file with the department a summary of the


             214      method used to derive the score:
             215          (i) that is in sufficient detail so that the department can determine whether the score
             216      complies with Subsection (2)(a)(iv); and
             217          (ii) within 30 days of the day on which the score is first used by the insurer.
             218          (b) The department shall classify a summary filed under this Subsection (3) as a
             219      protected record under Subsection 63-2-304 (2) except that the insurer is not required to file the
             220      information specified in Section 63-2-308 .
             221          (c) In accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the
             222      commissioner shall make rules providing for the form and procedure of filing the summary
             223      required by Subsection (3)(a).




Legislative Review Note
    as of 1-30-04 9:48 AM


This bill prohibits the use of loss history reports for certain insurance decisions. These loss history
reports could be considered credit reports subject to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Because FCRA permits a credit agency to provide credit reports to persons who intend to use the
information in connection with the underwriting of insurance and addresses insurance transactions not
initiated by the consumer, this bill might be challenged as being preempted by the FCRA. The FCRA
provides that it does not annul, alter, affect, or exempt any person from complying with state law with
respect to the collection, distribution, or use of any information, except to the extent that the state law
is inconsistent with the FCRA. The FCRA then expressly prohibits certain state laws including laws
related to prescreening for insurance. In reviewing this legislation it would be for a court to decide
whether loss history reports are subject to FCRA and if so, whether this bill is consistent with the
FCRA.
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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