Through the efforts of Mihoko Ito, Esq. and Gary Slovin, Esq., the Hawaii State Bar Association is tracking variouscategories of legislation during the current session. Based upon Mihoko and Gary's efforts, below is a summary of the insurance related bills the legislature is considering.
HB 1688- The bill increases the minimum insurance coverage requirement for bodily injury liability coverage to $50,000 for bodily injury or death of one person and $100,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons.
HB 1736- Related to the Hawaii health insurance exchange, the bill specifies that the Hawaii health connector will establish a separate program and risk pool to serve the individual market and a separate program and risk pool to serve the small group market. It also establishes staggered terms for board members. The bill clarifies qualifications of and restrictions on navigators. Finally, the bill clarifies the role of the Department of Human Services in determining medicaid eligibility.
HB 1872- This legislation decreases hurricane property insurance rates to 1992 levels until the insurers draft a map based upon actual hurricane damage.
HB 1878 - The bill creates a driver exclusion endorsement to enable a named insured to exclude specified persons from being covered under a motor vehicle insurance policy.
HB 2105- Insurance coverage would be required for fertility preservation procedures for persons who are of reproductive age and are diagnosed with cancer that may, or whose treatment may, adversely affect their fertility.
HB 2730 - The legislation makes prepaid motor vehicle insurance policies nonrefundable except in cases of total loss, change in policy, sale of vehicle, or transportation of vehicle out-of-state. It also imposes the burden on the insured to prove one of the exceptions.
SB 2009 - This bill would regulate the use of claims history information by insurers for homeowners insurance.
SB 2168- The insurance commissioner would be directed to join the surplus lines insurance multi-state compliance compact and the bill would enact the compact into law.
SB 2265- This legislation increases the minimum bodily injury motor vehicle insurance to $100,000 for bodily injury or death of one person and $200,000 for bodily injury or death of two or more persons.
SB 2469 - The bill makes numerous amendments to Part II of Chapter 671, Haw. Rev. Stat., including making the medical claims conciliation process less adversarial and emphasizing inquiry, conciliation, and settlement. It also renames the panels as medical inquiry and conciliation panels.
We will report at the end of the session on those bills which are enacted into law.
