Legislature(2023 - 2024)BARNES 124
02/17/2023 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB63 | |
HB57 | |
HB29 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HB 63 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | HB 57 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 29 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 29-INSURANCE DISCRIMINATION 3:51:25 PM CHAIR SUMNER announced that the final order of business would be HB 29, "Insurance Discrimination." 3:52:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked what the number of umbrella policies available is. 3:52:27 PM LORI WING-HEIER, Director, Juneau Office, Alaska Division of Insurance, Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development answered that she was unsure of the exact number but noted that there are "not a lot." 3:52:54 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked whether the legislature should be concerned about the potential of increased prices or reduced insurance availability if it passed a bill requiring insurance companies to make umbrella insurance policies available to its members. MS. WING-HEIER answered that because Alaska is a small market, anything that affects insurance companies could become a concern. In response to a follow-up question, she said that there is not an effective way to gauge the potential impact that the bill would have on prices or insurance companies leaving for certain. 3:55:37 PM CHAIR SUMNER asked whether HB 29 could potentially affect insurance policies other than just umbrella coverage. MS. WING-HEIR answered that her department was unable to find any record of a complaint in the State of Alaska for any elected official being unable to find primary homeowner's, automobile liability, or watercraft insurance. The issue seems to arise only when it comes to excess liability insurance. She added that the Department of Administration, Division of Risk Management self-insures for the executive branch and the legislature. In response to a follow-up question, she reiterated that no elected officials submitted a complaint that they were unable to obtain primary insurance. 3:57:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX asked the bill sponsor if he believed the bill could cause some insurance providers to leave the state. 3:58:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE KEVIN MCCABE, Alaska State Representative, as prime sponsor of HB 29, answered that such a possibility had been considered. He said that he was unable to find any insurance providers that either could or would answer the question. He gave his opinion that if the bill passes, the most likely scenario is that legislators will have to pay more for umbrella policies than those who are deemed to be "lower risk," in a manner similar to how a person that has received multiple traffic citations has higher insurance premiums than a person who is a "safe" driver. 3:59:48 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked if Representative McCabe had personally experienced denial of an umbrella insurance policy due to his status as an elected official. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE answered that he has. In response to a follow-up question, he said that the insurance company did not articulate any specifics as to why his status as an elected official caused it to deny him an umbrella policy. 4:00:55 PM CHAIR SUMNER asked whether there is anything preventing an Alaskan from buying an umbrella insurance policy in another state. MS. WING-HEIR answered that the first step in purchasing an umbrella insurance policy is to fill out an application, which includes listing a place of residence. The insurance broker selling the policy would need to have a license to sell insurance in the State of Alaska, and Alaska statutes would apply. In response to a follow-up question, she said a physical address is required and a U.S. Post Office box (P.O. box) would not be accepted. 4:02:37 PM REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT asked what the consequences would be if someone were to use a P.O. box rather than their actual physical address for the purpose of obtaining an umbrella policy. MS. WING-HEIR answered that such a scenario would potentially constitute as insurance fraud. 4:03:46 PM REPRESENTATIVE PRAX commented that insurance companies are very skeptical of fraud and will refuse to pay out a claim if fraud is likely to have occurred. CHAIR SUMNER replied that the issue is particularly relevant to Alaska, as many Alaskans spend significant time out of state during the winter months. MS. WING-HEIER added that a physical address can be different from a mailing address; if someone were to own property in another state, that person could purchase an umbrella policy in that state for that property but have the mail sent to his/her Alaska residence without any issues. [HB 29 was held over.]
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HB 63 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 63 |
HB 63 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 63 |
HB 57 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |
HB 57 - Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |
HB63 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 63 |
HB57 Fiscal Note.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |
HB 63 powerpoint.pptx |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 63 |
HB0063A.PDF |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 63 |
HB0057A.PDF |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |
Testimony Response to L&C Questions.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
|
03.03.2023 Brian Webb Invited Testimony in House L&C for HB 57.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |
02.17.2023 Brian Webb Invited Testimony in House L&C for HB 57.pdf |
HL&C 2/17/2023 3:15:00 PM |
HB 57 |