Session Scoop: This Week at the Circus - March 19 - 23



All good circus events include a loud vendor circulating in the stands.  This week committee chairs take the place of hot dog vendors, but the cry of the week is not about “red hots” (or hot dogs for the uninitiated, and frankfurters for you New Yorkers), it’s about votes.  “Votes, get your votes here” will be heard all week.



"They call me Red Hot.
This is my brother, Frank."



That’s because Tuesday (the first day of Spring) is “Committee Reporting Courtesy Date.”  Committees will try to vote on dozens of accumulated bills this week.  It is a courtesy date because next week, on Monday, is “Opposite Chamber Bill Crossover date.”  If bills are passed out of a committee after march 26^th , they are not guaranteed a vote in the other chamber.

Bills that the Scoop will watch for votes include SB 82 (raising the Uninsured Division limits), SB 406 (changing the time for submitting an Uninsured Division claim), SB 1006 (changing MAIF’s commission structure), HB 472 (creating a lead paint injury compensation fund), HB 149 (motor scooters - the House counterpart to SB309), and HB 1180 (enhanced insurance company reports to the MVA).

As late as it is in session, there are still bills being heard.  Here's what we've been keeping an eye on this week:

SB 1027: Waiver of Mandatory Deductible- This bill would require insurance companies to waive the $250 mandatory deduction if the insured is receiving disability payments from State or federal government or from a pension plan and they file a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage of their policy.

SB 960- Unfair Claim Settlement Practices – Refusal to Pay a Claim- This alters the wording of the current definition of “unfair claim settlement practice.” Often, homeowner’s insurance claims are denied based on the report of an expert, regardless of the homeowner’s ability to provide additional information to support their claim. This bill would require an insurer to consider all information provided in making a decision on a claim, even if it contradicts the expert’s report.

SB 256/HB876- Commercial Policies – Notices of Premium Increase- This bill exempts insurers from issuing a notice of a policy premium renewal at least 45 days prior to the policy’s renewal date if the renewal policy premium is greater than $500 and increases by 5% or less.

And of course, the budget is still out there. This week, the House will debate budget bills.

After this week, there's just two full weeks of Session 2012 remaining, before it adjourns on April 9. It's going to get wild.