Bill Text: GA HB1424 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Insurance; Internet driver improvement programs; qualify for reduction; provide

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-03-22 - House Second Readers [HB1424 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-HB1424-Introduced.html

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10 LC 36 1615

House Bill 1424

By: Representatives Coan of the 101st, Rice of the 51st, Millar of the 79th, and Howard of the 121st

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of insurance rates, so as to provide that certain Internet driver improvement programs qualify as the driving courses that must be completed in order to be eligible for a reduction in premiums for certain private passenger motor vehicle insurance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Chapter 9 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of insurance rates, is amended by revising Code Section 33-9-42, relating to the reduction of premiums for motor vehicle liability, first-party medical, and collision coverages for certain named drivers, as follows:

"33-9-42.

(a) For each personal or family-type policy of private passenger motor vehicle insurance issued or issued for delivery in this state, there shall be offered by the insurer a reduction of not less than 10 percent in premiums for motor vehicle liability, first-party medical, and collision coverages to the policyholder if all named drivers, as listed or who should be listed on the policy application or provided in information subsequent to such application, of each motor vehicle covered by such policy satisfy the requirements of subsection (b) or subsection (c), as applicable, of this Code section.

(b) Reductions in premiums shall be available if all named drivers who are 25 years of age or older:

(1) Have committed no traffic offenses for the prior three years or since the date of licensure, whichever is shorter;

(2) Have had no claims based on fault against an insurer for the prior three years; and

(3) Complete one of the following types of driving courses:

(A) A course in defensive driving of not less than six hours from a driver improvement clinic or commercial or noncommercial driving school approved by and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Driver Services;

(B) An emergency vehicles operations course at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center;

(C) A course in defensive driving of not less than six hours from a driver improvement program which is administered by a nonprofit organization such as the American Association of Retired People, the American Automobile Association, the National Safety Council, or a comparable organization and which meets the standards promulgated by the Department of Driver Services pursuant to subsection (f) of this Code section; or

(D) A course in defensive driving of not less than six hours offered by an employer to its employees and their immediate families, which course has been approved by the Department of Driver Services.

(c) Reductions in premiums shall be available if all named drivers who are under 25 years of age:

(1) Have committed no traffic offenses for the prior three years or since the date of licensure, whichever is shorter;

(2) Have had no claims based on fault against an insurer for the prior three years; and

(3) Complete a preparatory course offered to new drivers of not less than 30 hours of classroom training and not less than six hours of practical training by a driver's training school approved by and under the jurisdiction of the Department of Driver Services or by an accredited secondary school, junior college, or college.

(d) Upon completion of one of the driving courses specified in paragraph (3) of subsection (b) or paragraph (3) of subsection (c), as applicable, of this Code section by each named driver, eligibility for reductions in premiums for such policy shall continue for a period of three years, provided any named driver under such policy does not commit a traffic offense or have a claim against the policy based on any such driver's fault.

(e) The Department of Driver Services shall assure through the supervision of driver improvement clinics, emergency vehicles operations courses, driver improvement programs administered by nonprofit organizations, and commercial or noncommercial driving schools approved by the Department of Driver Services that defensive driving courses shall be available and accessible wherever practicable as determined by the department to licensed drivers throughout the state.

(f) Each insurer providing premium discounts under this Code section shall provide, upon the request of the Commissioner, information regarding the amount of such discounts in a form acceptable to the Commissioner.

(g) The power of supervision granted to the Department of Driver Services over driver improvement programs administered by nonprofit organizations under this Code section shall be limited to the establishment of minimum standards and requirements relative to the content of specific courses offered by such programs and relative to investigation and resolution of any complaints directed towards the content or operation of any course by a person enrolled in such course. The Department of Driver Services may adopt rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this subsection. The Department of Driver Services shall not require a nonprofit organization to obtain a license or permit or to pay a fee in order to administer a driver improvement program in the state. The Department of Driver Services shall not require a commercial driving school licensed by such department to obtain an additional license to teach a defensive driving course, as described in subparagraph (b)(3)(A) or paragraph (3) of subsection (c) of this Code section, at any location in this state.

(h) Nothing in this Code section shall prevent an insurer from offering the reduction in premium specified in subsection (a) of this Code section to a driver who does not meet all of the requirements of subsection (b) or subsection (c), as applicable, of this Code section.

(i) Nothing in this Code section shall prevent a course offered by a driver improvement program administered by a nonprofit organization under this Code section from being conducted over the Internet, provided such a course meets the minimum standards and the requirements relative to the content of such courses established by the Department of Driver Services."

SECTION 2.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.