California Senate Bill SB350 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 350AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JANUARY 12, 2010 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 31, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Yee FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to  amend Section 9875.1 of the Business and Professions   repeal   Chapter 20.1 (commencing with Section 9875) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, and to add Section 790.20 to the Insurance  Code, relating to motor vehicle insurance. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 350, as amended, Yee. Aftermarket crash parts. Existing law prohibits an insurer from requiring the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle unless the consumer is advised in a written estimate before repairs are made that nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts will be used. This bill would  , in addition,   instead  prohibit the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts unless  the insurer warrants that those   specified requirements are met, including  parts are at least equal to the original equipment manufacturer parts in terms of kind, quality, safety, fit, and performance  and shall pay   ; the insurer so warrants; the insurer pays  the cost of any modifications to those parts necessary to effect the repair  . The bill would also require   ; and  all original and nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts, manufactured on or after January 1,  2010,   2011,  when supplied by auto body repair shops  , to  contain specified identification. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:  SECTION 1.   Chapter 20.1 (commencing with Section 9875) of Division 3 of the   Business and Professions Code   is repealed.   SEC. 2.   Section 790.20 is added to the   Insurance Code   , to read:   790.20. (a) An insurer shall not require the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle, unless all of the following requirements are met: (1) The parts are at least equal to the original equipment manufacturer parts in terms of kind, quality, safety, fit, and performance. (2) The insurer specifying the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts shall pay the cost of any modifications to the parts that may become necessary to effect the repair. (3) The insurer specifying the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts shall warrant that those parts are of like kind, quality, safety, fit, and performance as original equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts. (4) All original and nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts, manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, when supplied by auto body repair shops, as defined in Section 9889.51 of the Business and Professions Code, shall carry sufficient permanent, nonremovable identification so as to identify the manufacturer. This identification shall be accessible to the greatest extent possible after installation. (b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply: (1) "Aftermarket crash part" means a replacement for any of the nonmechanical sheet metal or plastic parts that generally constitute the exterior of a motor vehicle, including inner and outer panels. (2) "Insurer" includes an insurance company and any person authorized to represent the insurer with respect to a claim. (3) "Nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash part" means aftermarket crash parts not made for or by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle. (c) Any violation of this section shall be enforced pursuant to Section 790.06.   SECTION 1.   Section 9875.1 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 9875.1. (a) No insurer shall require the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts in the repair of an insured's motor vehicle, unless all of the following requirements are met: (1) The insurer warrants that the nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts are at least equal to the original equipment manufacturer parts in terms of kind, quality, safety, fit, and performance. (2) The insurer shall pay the cost of any modifications to the parts that may become necessary to effect the repair. (3) The insurer shall advise the consumer in a written estimate of the use of nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts before repairs are made. In all instances where nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts are intended for use by an insurer: (A) The written estimate shall clearly identify each such part with the name of its nonoriginal equipment manufacturer or distributor. (B) A disclosure document containing the following information in 10-point type or larger type shall be attached to the insured's copy of the estimate: "This estimate has been prepared based on the use of crash parts supplied by a source other than the manufacturer of your motor vehicle. Any warranties applicable to these replacement parts are provided by the manufacturer or distributor of the parts, rather than by the original manufacturer of your vehicle." (b) All original and nonoriginal equipment manufacturer aftermarket crash parts, manufactured on or after January 1, 2010, when supplied by auto body repair shops, as defined in Section 9889.51, shall carry sufficient permanent, nonremovable identification so as to identify the manufacturer, and this identification shall be accessible to the greatest extent possible after installation.