CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3154Introduced by Assembly Member ChenFebruary 16, 2024 An act to amend Section 657 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3154, as introduced, Chen. Motor vehicle liability insurance refusals.Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including motor vehicle liability insurance. Existing law requires an admitted insurer licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies or a licensed agent to provide, upon request as specified, a written explanation of a refusal to accept an application for, or refusal to issue, a motor vehicle liability policy. An insurer or agent who willfully violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.This bill would increase that maximum penalty to $1,500 and would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 657 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 3154Introduced by Assembly Member ChenFebruary 16, 2024 An act to amend Section 657 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 3154, as introduced, Chen. Motor vehicle liability insurance refusals.Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including motor vehicle liability insurance. Existing law requires an admitted insurer licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies or a licensed agent to provide, upon request as specified, a written explanation of a refusal to accept an application for, or refusal to issue, a motor vehicle liability policy. An insurer or agent who willfully violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.This bill would increase that maximum penalty to $1,500 and would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20232024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 3154
Introduced by Assembly Member ChenFebruary 16, 2024
Introduced by Assembly Member Chen
February 16, 2024
An act to amend Section 657 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3154, as introduced, Chen. Motor vehicle liability insurance refusals.
Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including motor vehicle liability insurance. Existing law requires an admitted insurer licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies or a licensed agent to provide, upon request as specified, a written explanation of a refusal to accept an application for, or refusal to issue, a motor vehicle liability policy. An insurer or agent who willfully violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.This bill would increase that maximum penalty to $1,500 and would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.
Existing law generally regulates classes of insurance, including motor vehicle liability insurance. Existing law requires an admitted insurer licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies or a licensed agent to provide, upon request as specified, a written explanation of a refusal to accept an application for, or refusal to issue, a motor vehicle liability policy. An insurer or agent who willfully violates this provision is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.
This bill would increase that maximum penalty to $1,500 and would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 657 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 657 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
SECTION 1. Section 657 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:
### SECTION 1.
657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.
657. (a) Where any If an admitted insurer, licensed to issue motor vehicle liability policies as defined in Section 16450 of the Vehicle Code, or any a licensed insurance agent refuses to accept an application for such a motor vehicle liability policy or refuses to issue such a policy when a written application has been made, the refusing agent or refusing insurer shall furnish to the applicant for insurance a written statement explaining the reason or reasons relied upon for such action the refusal if within 30 days of such the refusal the applicant requests in writing, from the agent or insurer who has refused to accept the application or to issue the policy, such a written explanation. Such The statement shall be furnished within 30 days of receipt of such the request.
(b) Any An insurer or agent willfully violating any provisions of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and is punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,000) ($1,500) for each violation thereof.
(c) There shall be no liability on the part of, and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against, the Insurance Commissioner or against any an insurer, its authorized representative, its agents, its employees, or any a firm, person person, or corporation furnishing to the insurer information as to the reasons for such a refusal, for any a statement made by any of them in any a written notice of reasons for refusing to accept the application or issue the policy or in any other communication, oral or written, specifying the reasons for such action the refusal or the providing of the information pertaining thereto, to the refusal, or for statements made or evidence submitted in any hearings conducted in connection therewith. with the refusal.