Legislature(2013 - 2014)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
04/06/2013 09:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB71 | |
| HB175 | |
| HB168 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | HB 71 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 175 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 168 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 175-ELECTRONIC POSTING OF INSURANCE POLICIES
9:11:15 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced the consideration of HB 175. "An Act
allowing, under certain conditions, a property or casualty
insurer to provide policies and endorsements to an insured by
posting the policies and endorsements on the insurer's Internet
website." He noted that CSHB 175(L&C) was before the committee
and that this was the first hearing.
9:11:50 AM
KONRAD JACKSON, Staff, Representative Kurt Olson, explained that
HB 175 would permit insurers to post standard property and
casualty insurance policies and endorsements on the insurer's
website. Current law in all 50 states requires companies to mail
or deliver policies to their customers. These on-line documents
would contain no personally identifiable information. Consumers
would have easy access to those documents which would make it
easy to shop for coverage or file a claim. A change from the
original version clarifies that paper contracts will continue to
be available without an additional fee.
9:14:09 AM
SENATOR MICCICHE asked where the bill says there wouldn't be an
additional charge for mailing.
MR. JACKSON clarified that the bill doesn't attempt to change
anything about mailing costs. The intent is to make sure there
is no fee to receive a paper copy.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked if Alaska was the first of the 50 states
to do this.
MR. JACKSON replied that all states require the mailing or
delivery of policies, and about 16 states are currently
providing an electronic option.
9:16:03 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public testimony.
9:16:32 AM
MARTIN HESTER, Deputy Director, Division of Insurance,
Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
(DCCED), introduced himself.
SENATOR STEDMAN asked the department's position on the
legislation and if there had been input from the public.
MR. HESTER affirmed that this legislation has been enacted in
several other states. He explained that it does not remove the
requirement for the insurer to provide the insured their
declarations page, which has personal information. The bill
provides an additional method of delivery for the insured to
access the policy, although the insured may still request a
paper copy. He relayed that the Division of Insurance sees no
difficulty with the language proposed in HB 175.
9:18:13 AM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY stated he would hold HB 175 in committee and keep
public testimony open.