In order to give those following my updates a better view of pending legislation relating to the insurance industry I have reorganized my reporting process. Each report will include Live-Links to both the current PDF copy of the proposed legislation as well as a link to the Senator or Representative's Legislative site - with phone and contact information. As always, this report is for you, and I would like to receive input on ways to make it better.

ACTON THIS WEEK

• HB 463 - Matt Dollar – (R-Marietta; District 45)
  Limited Licenses; Allows self-storage facilities to sell individual insurance coverage on personal property stored in self-storage units.
  Passed – Administrative/Licensing Sub-committee – February 7, 2012
• HB 640 - Carl Rogers - (R-Gainesville; District 26)
  Rights by claimants against insolvent insurers; Legislative “fix” for an administrative error made when drafting original legislation by Legislative Counsel.
  Passed – Administrative/Licensing Sub-committee – February 7, 2012
  Passed - House Insurance Committee – February 8, 2012
• HB 785 - Allen Peake – (R-Macon; District 137)
  Limitations on licensure requirements for certain health care providers; Legislation providing that state licensing requirements for physicians and dentists in Georgia will be based on demonstrated skill and academic competence. Helps avoid future conflict with National Healthcare requirements.
  Passed – Administrative/Licensing Sub-committee – February 7, 2012
  Passed - House Insurance Committee – February 8, 2012
• HB 786 - Bill Hembree – (R-Winston; District 67)
  Consumers’ Insurance Advocate; Provides that until the consumers’ insurance advocate is appropriately funded, it shall not be necessary for companies to file copies of insurance rate filings with the consumers’ insurance advocate.
  Passed – Administrative/Licensing Sub-committee – February 7, 2012
  Passed - House Insurance Committee – February 8, 2012
• HB 819 - Howard Maxwell – (R-Dallas; District 17)
  Vehicle Service Agreements; Provides consumers with protection when purchasing service agreements.
  Passed – P&C Sub-committee – February 9, 2012
• HB 820 - Howard Maxwell – (R-Dallas; District 17)
  Guaranteed Asset Protection waivers; Provides purchasers of vehicles with guaranteed coverage of auto loan if vehicle is total-loss during term of loan.
  Passed – P&C Sub-committee – February 9, 2012
  SB 385- David Shafer – (R; District 48)
  Confidentiality of certain records of the Commissioner of Insurance; Insurance Departments housekeeping Bill to improve provisions of code.
  Passed - Insurance and Labor Committee – February 9, 2012

FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS

• HB 477 - Jason Shaw – (R-Lakeland; District 176)
  Biennial agent licensing based on licensee’s birth month; Allows Insurance Commissioner to implement a new renewal system – Renewal required every two years, current hours unchanged, current fee schedule remains unchanged.
  Passed – Senate
  Waiting for Full House to agree to Senate version

LEGISLATION UPDATE

Metal/Copper thefts had become a major issue for law enforcement, utilities, and insurance companies. As reported in our weekly Newsline, PIA’s Executive Committee met with representatives of the Metal Recyclers Association in October to explore possible solutions to this growing problem.

Since the 2012 Legislative Session convened on January 9th there have been several Bills introduced to address the problem. As of today, no one Bill has been perfected. I placed links to the majority of the Bills and will give more details as they move through the legislative process.

• HB 872 - Jason Shaw – (R-Lakeland; District 176)
• HB 888 - Tom Rice – (R-Norcross; District 51)
• HB 900 - Tom Rice – (R-Norcross; District 51)
• SB 296 - Joshua McKoon – (R; District 29)
• SB 321 - Renee Unterman – (R; District 45)
  Passed – Senate Committee – Regulated Industries & Utilities – February 9, 2012
  Requires thumbprint, digital image of items, prohibits cash payments – creates statewide database of buyers and sellers.