04/04/2017 09:00 AM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

         SB  98-INSURER'S USE OF CREDIT HISTORY/SCORES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:31:28 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR COSTELLO announced  the consideration of SB  98. She stated                                                               
that  this is  the  second hearing,  and the  intent  is to  take                                                               
questions and look  to the will of the committee.  She noted that                                                               
Ms. Wing-Heier was available to answer questions.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
9:31:58 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR STEVENS asked  why the governor vetoed a  similar bill in                                                               
the past  and how this  bill differs, so  it would not  be vetoed                                                               
again.                                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
9:32:13 AM                                                                                                                    
LORI WING-HEIER,  Director, Division of Insurance,  Department of                                                               
Commerce, Community  and Economic Development  (DCCED), explained                                                               
that  the governor  was concerned  about provisions  in what  was                                                               
Senate  Bill  127. Specifically,  a  consumer  that appealed  for                                                               
extraordinary  life  circumstances  would  be  appealing  to  the                                                               
insurance  company   that  declared   that  they  did   not  meet                                                               
extraordinary  life circumstances.  The  insurance company  would                                                               
also  make  the  final  decision  about  the  qualification.  The                                                               
governor did not feel that  was appropriate. SB 98 designates the                                                               
director of  the Division of  Insurance as the  final adjudicator                                                               
of the  process. The bill  also has the consumer  protection that                                                               
the  consumer must  receive written  notice from  the insurer  if                                                               
there  is an  adverse action,  and it  must include  instructions                                                               
about the appeal process.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS asked  if there has been  pushback from insurance                                                               
companies.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
MS. WING-HEIER  said insurers are  not concerned about  having to                                                               
give the  notice, the appeal  process, or having the  director be                                                               
the final adjudicator.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO  found  no  further  questions  and  solicited  a                                                               
motion.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
9:33:57 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  HUGHES  moved  to  report  SB  98  from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s).                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  COSTELLO announced  that  without objection,  SB 98  moved                                                               
from the Senate Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.