NCOIL shelves steering Model Act at annual meeting

The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Property-Casualty Insurance Committee voted to postpone indefinitely the Proposed Model Act Regarding Insurer Auto Body Steering at its annual meeting in Austin, Texas. The committee had delayed action on this Model Act during the past two NCOIL meetings.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) opposed the Model Act Regarding Insurer Auto Body Steering as it was drafted. ASA had several concerns with the original proposal. The draft lacked criteria to be used in insurer shop recommendations. ASA supported language requiring insurers to base shop recommendations on the level of training, equipment and certifications held by the repair facility and its staff. ASA, in a letter to Ruth Teichman, the NCOIL Property-Casualty committee chairwoman, stated, “The current NCOIL draft encourages a system seeking the lowest common denominator within the marketplace; punishing those shops with higher standards.”

ASA also requested that the bill include language to ensure that there is no interference with a consumer’s selection of a repair facility once it has been determined.

To view the text from the proposed model bill as well as ASA’s comments, visit ASA’s legislative website at www.TakingTheHill.com.

For more information visit www.ASAshop.org.