State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB1850

      215 ILCS 5/155.17a new
      215 ILCS 5/407.3 new
          Amends the Illinois Insurance  Code.   Creates  the  Task
      Force  on  Automobile Insurance.  Provides for the Task Force
      to consist of legislative and public members appointed by the
      President and Minority Leader of the Senate and  the  Speaker
      and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.  Directs
      the  Task  Force  to  examine all aspects of the provision of
      automobile insurance to consumers in this State and to  place
      major emphasis on the cost of automobile insurance.  Provides
      for  the study of the effect of demographics and geography on
      rates  and  identification   of   practices   that   have   a
      discriminatory  effect on consumers.  Requires the Task Force
      to recommend whether the State should regulate  premiums  for
      automobile insurance.  Effective January 1, 1999.
                                                     LRB9011624JSgc
                                               LRB9011624JSgc
 1        AN  ACT concerning automobile insurance rates, amending a
 2    named Act.
 3        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 4    represented in the General Assembly:
 5        Section  5.  The  Illinois  Insurance  Code is amended by
 6    adding Sections 155.17a and 407.3 as follows:
 7        (215 ILCS 5/155.17a new)
 8        Sec.  155.17a.  Interim   rate   freeze   of   automobile
 9    insurance  premiums.    During  the  period  beginning on the
10    effective  date  of  this  amendatory  Act  of  1998  through
11    December 31, 1999, an insurer may not  increase  the  premium
12    charged to an insured for a policy of automobile insurance as
13    defined  in  Section 143.13.  In addition, an insurer may not
14    cancel, nonrenew,  or  reduce  coverage  under  a  policy  of
15    automobile  insurance  if  that  cancellation, nonrenewal, or
16    reduction in  coverage  would  defeat  the  purpose  of  this
17    Section.   This Section does not prohibit the cancellation of
18    a policy in compliance with Section 143.19 or the  nonrenewal
19    of a policy in compliance with Section 143.19.1.
20        (215 ILCS 5/407.3 new)
21        Sec. 407.3.  Task Force on Automobile Insurance.
22        (a)  There  is  created  the  Task  Force  on  Automobile
23    Insurance.   The  Task  Force  shall  consist  of  11 members
24    appointed as follows:
25             (1)  Two members of the Senate appointed one each by
26        the President of the Senate and the  Minority  Leader  of
27        the Senate.
28             (2)  Two  members  of  the  House of Representatives
29        appointed one  each  by  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of
30        Representatives  and  the Minority Leader of the House of
                            -2-                LRB9011624JSgc
 1        Representatives.
 2             (3)  Four members of the public appointed  one  each
 3        by  the  President  of the Senate, the Minority Leader of
 4        the Senate, the Speaker of the House of  Representatives,
 5        and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
 6             (4)  Two   public   members   representing  consumer
 7        interests appointed one each  by  the  President  of  the
 8        Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
 9             (5)  The  Director  of  Insurance  or the Director's
10        designee shall serve as an ex officio member of the  Task
11        Force.
12    All  members  of the Task Force on Automobile Insurance shall
13    be appointed no later than 90 days after the  effective  date
14    of this amendatory Act of 1998.
15        (b)  The  members  of  the Task Force shall serve without
16    compensation for their duties on the Task Force, but shall be
17    paid for their reasonable and necessary expenses incurred  in
18    the performance of their duties.  The Department of Insurance
19    shall  provide  support  services  to  the  Task  Force.  The
20    support services may include, but are  not  limited  to,  the
21    provision  of office space and technical, advisory, clerical,
22    and operational support.
23        (c)  The Task Force shall  examine  all  aspects  of  the
24    provision of automobile insurance to consumers in State.  The
25    Task  Force  shall  place  major  emphasis  on  the  cost  of
26    insurance.   The Task Force shall also study how premiums are
27    established and how geography  and  demographics  affect  the
28    premiums charged to consumers.  The Task Force shall identify
29    any trends or practices that affect rates in a discriminatory
30    manner.   In  addition,  the  Task  Force  shall  examine the
31    existing statutes and rules regulating  automobile  insurance
32    to determine whether they provide adequate protection for all
33    parties  involved  in automobile insurance transactions.  The
34    Task Force shall also examine whether  the  premiums  charged
                            -3-                LRB9011624JSgc
 1    for automobile insurance should be regulated by the State.
 2        (d)  The   Task  Force  shall  report  its  findings  and
 3    recommendations to the General Assembly on or before  October
 4    1, 1999.  The report must include a recommendation of whether
 5    the  rate  freeze  should  be  extended and whether the State
 6    should regulate premiums charged for automobile insurance.
 7        (e)  The Section is repealed December 31, 1999.
 8        Section 99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect  upon
 9    becoming law.

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