Bill Text: CA AB2474 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Department of Insurance: contact information.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-24 - Referred to Com. on INS. [AB2474 Detail]
Download: California-2019-AB2474-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2474
| Introduced by Assembly Member Chen |
February 19, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 678 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2474, as introduced, Chen.
Department of Insurance: contact information.
Existing law creates the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner, and prescribes the department’s powers and duties. If an insurer nonrenews a policy of property insurance, existing law requires the insurer, on or after July 1, 2020, to provide the consumer with a statement that includes the department’s internet website, telephone number, and Consumer Services Division mailing address. Existing law specifies the internet website, telephone number, and mailing address to be included in that statement.
This bill would delete the specified internet website, telephone number, and mailing address to be included in the statement and would instead require the department, at least annually, to provide property insurers with its most current contact information.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 678 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:678.
(a) At least 45 days before the policy expiration, an insurer shall deliver to the named insured or mail to the named insured at the address shown in the policy, either of the following:(1) An offer of renewal of the policy contingent upon payment of premium as stated in the offer, stating each of the following:
(A) Any reduction of limits or elimination of coverage.
(B) The telephone number of the insurer’s representatives who handle consumer inquiries or complaints. The telephone number shall be displayed prominently in a font size
consistent with the other text of the renewal offer.
(2) A notice of nonrenewal of the policy. That notice shall contain all of the following:
(A) The reason or reasons for the nonrenewal.
(B) The telephone number of the insurer’s representatives who handle consumer inquiries or complaints. The telephone number shall be displayed prominently in a font size consistent with the other text of the notice of nonrenewal.
(C) Until July 1, 2020, a brief statement indicating that if the consumer has contacted the insurer to discuss the nonrenewal and remains unsatisfied, the consumer may have the matter reviewed by the department. The statement shall include the telephone number of the unit within the department that responds to consumer inquiries and
complaints.
(D) On or after July 1, 2020, a statement that if the consumer has contacted the insurer to discuss the nonrenewal and remains unsatisfied, the consumer may have the matter reviewed by the department. The statement shall include the department’s internet website, www.insurance.ca.gov, the department’s telephone number, (800) 927-HELP (4357), and the mailing address of the department’s Consumer Services Division, 300 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Division. At least annually, the department shall provide insurers subject to this section with its most current consumer contact information.
(b) If an insurer fails to give the named insured either an offer of renewal or notice of nonrenewal as required by this section, the existing policy, with no change in its terms and conditions, shall remain in effect for 45 days from the date that either the offer to renew or the notice of nonrenewal is delivered or mailed to the named insured. A notice to this effect shall be provided by the insurer to the named insured with the policy or the notice of renewal or nonrenewal.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b), with respect to a notice of nonrenewal for a policy that expires on or after July 1, 2020, the following timelines apply:
(1) At least 75 days prior to
before the policy expiration, the insurer shall deliver the notice of nonrenewal to the named insured or mail the notice of nonrenewal to the named insured at the address shown in the policy. The notice shall include the information contained in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).
(2) If an insurer fails to give the named insured a notice of nonrenewal at least 75 days prior to before the policy expiration, as required by paragraph (1), the existing policy, with no change in its terms and conditions, shall remain in effect for 75 days from the date that the notice of nonrenewal is delivered or mailed to the named insured. A notice to this effect shall be provided by the insurer to the named insured with the notice of nonrenewal.
(d) A policy written for a term of less than one year shall be considered as if written for a term of one year. A policy written for a term longer than one year, or a policy with no fixed expiration date, shall be considered as if written for successive policy periods or terms of one year.
(e) This section applies only to policies of insurance specified in Section 675.
