Governor has until Sept. 30 to act on SB 988. The Independent Glass Association says Assembly consumer-choice amendments do not resolve its concerns. The California Legislature gave final approval to Senate Bill 988, the California Motor Vehicle Glass Act, on Aug. 26, when the Senate concurred 37-0 in Assembly amendments to the measure. The Assembly […]
Louisiana Senate Bill Would Ban Insurer Steering Incentives
Bill would also mandate written consent for non-OEM parts. A Louisiana state senator has introduced legislation that would prohibit auto insurers from offering incentives to use preferred repair shops, require collision repair facilities to obtain written consent before installing non-original equipment manufacturer parts, and shift liability to insurers if they pressure policyholders into accepting “substandard” […]
Mississippi Bill Requires Payment for Repairs at Prevailing Prices for Proper Repair Following OEM Procedures
Senate Bill also prohibits insurance company personnel from soliciting or accepting gratuities for referrals. Legislation introduced Monday, January 20 in the Mississippi Senate seeks to define that insurers are required to pay for proper repairs, including glass installation, as well as prohibit referral fees by insurance company personnel and protect consumer’s ability to choose a […]
Justice Department Extends Public Comment Period on 1963 Consent Decree Until October 2
Members of the collision repair industry that want to see the 1963 insurance antitrust consent decree applied to the insurance industry in the 21st century have a few more weeks to make their case to enforce the decree. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division posted on its website detailing the listing of consent […]
U.S. Senator Blumenthal Joins Collision Repair Association in Call to Preserve 1963 Consent Decree
Senator Blumenthal has repeatedly called on the U.S. DOJ to enforce the 1963 insurance industry antitrust consent decree to protect consumers and competition. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut joined members of the Auto Body Association of Connecticut yesterday to warn the public of the potential consequences of the proposed termination of a 1963 consent […]
Louisiana Legislature Passes Collision Repair and Auto Glass Anti-Steering Legislation
Bill expands state’s current anti-steering law and increases fines that can be levied on auto insurance companies. On Saturday, June 1, the Louisiana Senate voted to approve legislation passed by the House of Representatives that would expand the state’s anti-steering law and double fines for an initial offense and a 10 times increase for third […]
Louisiana Legislation Seeks to Increase Fines for Insurance Company Collision Repair and Auto Glass Steering
Legislation passed by the House of Representatives would expand the state’s anti-steering law and double fines for an initial offense and a 10 times increase for third and subsequent offenses. Louisiana House of Representative legislation currently before the Louisiana Senate would expand the state’s existing insurance company steering prohibitions for collision repair and auto glass […]
Minnesota Legislation Seeks to Enact New Collision Repair Steering Restrictions
Legislation would also prohibit insurers from disregarding estimating system procedure pages or OEM collision repair procedures. A bill introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives on May 20 seeks to amend the state’s existing standards for automobile claims handling expanding restrictions on steering prohibiting an insurer from attempting to influence consumers choice of a repair […]
Texas House Insurance Committee Holds Hearing on Bill That Would Define Collision Repair Labor Rates, OEM Procedure Requirements
Hearing includes an emotional appeal in support of the legislation by Marcia Seebachan, the vehicle owner at the center of the $42 million negligence judgment against a Texas collision repair shop for unsafe collision repairs. At a hearing before the Texas House Insurance Committee on Tuesday, legislators heard from supporters and opponents of Texas House […]
Texas Legislation Seeks to Define Prevailing Collision Repair Labor Rates, Parts Choice, OEM Procedures
Bill seeks to address prevailing rates, would require labor rate surveys to establish rates to be conducted by a third party, prohibit insurers from requiring least expensive parts and further restrict referrals. Legislation filed in Texas on February 4 seeks to address a panoply of common friction points between collision repair facilities and insurance companies […]