2003 SESSION

03-1158

03/01

SENATE BILL 189

COMMITTEE: Insurance

ANALYSIS

This bill excludes from the definition of accident in any automobile insurance rate manual an occurrence involving only damage to the windshield of the vehicle or an occurrence involving only damage to the vehicle caused by contact with animals. This bill also prohibits an insurer from canceling, refusing to write, or refusing to renew a policy of automobile insurance solely because of such an occurrence.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

03-1158

03/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three

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

1 Rates for Motor Vehicle Insurance; Definition. Amend RSA 412:18-c to read as follows:

412:18-c Definition. Accident as defined in any automobile insurance rate manual shall mean only an occurrence which results in death, bodily injury causing loss in excess of $750, or damage to any property in excess of $1,500, but shall not include an occurrence involving only damage to the windshield of the vehicle or an occurrence involving only damage to the vehicle caused by contact with animals or an occurrence involving only bodily injury or property damage to the applicant or any operator of the automobile currently a resident in the same household, unless the said applicant or operator is convicted of a moving motor vehicle violation in connection with the occurrence.

2 Insufficient Grounds for Refusal to Issue, Cancellation, and Refusal to Renew Automobile Insurance. Amend RSA 417-A:3 to read as follows:

417-A:3 Cancellation; Refusal to Write; Refusal to Renew; Insufficient Grounds. No insurer shall cancel, refuse to write, or refuse to renew a policy of automobile insurance on any person with at least 2 years' driving experience solely because of the age, residence, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, or lawful occupation, including the military service, of anyone who is or seeks to become insured, or solely because another insurer has refused to write a policy, or has cancelled or has refused to renew an existing policy in which that person was the named insured, or solely because the person has been involved in an occurrence involving only damage to the windshield of the vehicle or an occurrence involving only damage to the vehicle caused by contact with animals.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.