2001 SESSION

01-0153

03/10

HOUSE BILL 563

COMMITTEE: Commerce

ANALYSIS

This bill requires proof of motor vehicle liability insurance in order to register a motor vehicle. This bill also permits a person electing to purchase liability insurance in an amount greater than the minimum coverage level to purchase uninsured motorist coverage in any amount equal to or greater than the minimum coverage level.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

01-0153

03/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Application for Registration; Proof of Insurance Required. Amend RSA 261:52 to read as follows:

261:52 Application for Registration.

I. Application for the registration of vehicles may be made by the owner thereof by mail or otherwise to the department, upon blanks prepared by the director. In addition to such other particulars as the director may require, the application shall contain the applicant's birth date, unless the vehicle is registered in the name of a person other than a natural person, in which case the date assigned by the director shall be used as the date of birth. All applications shall contain the words: "This application is signed and any additional information is offered under penalty of unsworn falsification pursuant to RSA 641:3." The proper fee shall be deposited before the application is granted.

II. The applicant shall submit with the application proof of motor vehicle liability insurance indicating that such insurance is valid for the duration of the registration period or longer. No registration shall be issued, renewed, or transferred without adequate proof of insurance.

2 Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Motor Vehicle Coverage; Optional Coverage. Amend RSA 264:15, I to read as follows:

I. No policy shall be issued under the provisions of RSA 264:14, with respect to a vehicle registered or principally garaged in this state unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto at least in amounts or limits prescribed for bodily injury or death for a liability policy under this chapter, for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or drivers of uninsured motor vehicles, and hit-and-run vehicles because of bodily injury, sickness, or disease, including death resulting therefrom. When an insured elects to purchase liability insurance in an amount greater than the minimum coverage required by RSA 259:61, his or her uninsured motorist coverage [shall automatically be equal to the liability coverage elected] may be in any amount equal to or greater than the minimum coverage level. For the purposes of this paragraph umbrella or excess policies that provide excess limits to policies described in RSA 259:61, shall also provide uninsured motorist coverage equal to the limits of liability purchased, unless the named insured rejects such coverage.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2002.