Hawaii 2025 2025 Regular Session

Hawaii House Bill HB220 Amended / Bill

Filed 02/10/2025

                    HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   H.B. NO.   220     THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025   H.D. 1     STATE OF HAWAII                                A BILL FOR AN ACT     RELATING TO MOPED INSURANCE.     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:   

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B. NO. 220
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

220

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO MOPED INSURANCE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

      SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to require that persons operating mopeds in the State carry an insurance policy.      SECTION 2.  Section 431:10C-304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10C-304  Obligation to pay personal injury protection benefits.  For purposes of this section, the term "personal injury protection insurer" includes personal injury protection self-insurers.  Every personal injury protection insurer shall provide personal injury protection benefits for accidental harm as follows:      (1)  Except as otherwise provided in section 431:10C‑305(d), in the case of injury arising out of a motor vehicle accident, the insurer shall pay, without regard to fault, to the provider of services on behalf of the following persons who sustain accidental harm as a result of the operation, maintenance, or use of the vehicle, an amount equal to the personal injury protection benefits as defined in section 431:10C‑103.5(a) payable for expenses to that person as a result of the injury:           (A)  Any person, including the owner, operator, occupant, or user of the insured motor vehicle;           (B)  Any pedestrian, including a bicyclist;          [(C)  Any user or operator of a moped as defined in section 249-1;] or         [(D)] (C)  Any user or operator of an electric foot scooter as defined in section 249-1;           provided that this paragraph shall not apply in the case of injury to or death of any operator or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2 arising out of a motor vehicle accident, unless expressly provided for in the motor vehicle policy;      (2)  Payment of personal injury protection benefits shall be made as the benefits accrue, except that in the case of death, payment of benefits under section 431:10C-302(a)(5) may be made immediately in a lump sum payment, at the option of the beneficiary;      (3)  (A)  Payment of personal injury protection benefits shall be made within thirty days after the insurer has received reasonable proof of the fact and amount of benefits accrued, and demand for payment thereof.  All providers shall produce descriptions of the service provided in conformity with applicable fee schedule codes;           (B)  If the insurer elects to deny a claim for benefits in whole or in part, the insurer shall, within thirty days, notify the claimant in writing of the denial and the reasons for the denial.  The denial notice shall be prepared and mailed by the insurer in triplicate copies and be in a format approved by the commissioner.  In the case of benefits for services specified in section 431:10C-103.5(a) the insurer shall also mail a copy of the denial to the provider; and           (C)  If the insurer cannot pay or deny the claim for benefits because additional information or loss documentation is needed, the insurer shall, within the thirty days, forward to the claimant an itemized list of all the required documents.  In the case of benefits for services specified in section 431:10C-103.5(a) the insurer shall also forward the list to the service provider;      (4)  Amounts of benefits that are unpaid thirty days after the insurer has received reasonable proof of the fact and the amount of benefits accrued, and demand for payment thereof, after the expiration of the thirty days, shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent per month;      (5)  No part of personal injury protection benefits paid shall be applied in any manner as attorney's fees in the case of injury or death for which the benefits are paid.  The insurer shall pay, subject to section 431:10C-211, in addition to the personal injury protection benefits due, all attorney's fees and costs of settlement or suit necessary to effect the payment of any or all personal injury protection benefits found due under the contract.  Any contract in violation of this provision shall be illegal and unenforceable.  It shall constitute an unlawful and unethical act for any attorney to solicit, enter into, or knowingly accept benefits under any contract;      (6)  Disputes between the provider and the insurer over the amount of a charge or the correct fee or procedure code to be used under the workers' compensation supplemental medical fee schedule shall be governed by section 431:10C-308.5; and      (7)  Any insurer who violates this section shall be subject to section 431:10C-117(b) and (c)."      SECTION 3.  Section 431:10C-305, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:      "(d)  The following persons are not eligible to receive payment of personal injury protection benefits:      (1)  Occupants of a motor vehicle other than the insured motor vehicle;      (2)  Operator or user of a motor vehicle engaging in criminal conduct which causes any loss; or      (3)  Operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2. This subsection shall not preclude recovery in other capacities under a motor vehicle insurance policy covering a vehicle which the person did not occupy at the time of the accident."      SECTION 4.  Section 431:10C-408, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:      "(c)  Any person eligible for benefits under this part, and who becomes eligible to file a claim or an action against the mandatory bodily injury liability or property damage liability policies, shall, upon the bureau's determination of eligibility, be entitled to:      (1)  The full personal injury protection benefits as if the victim had been covered as an insured at the time of the accident producing the accidental harm, but not including an owner, operator, or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter, as defined in section 286-2, or a pedestrian incurring accidental harm arising out of a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident, as defined in section 431:10G-101; and      (2)  The rights of claim and action against the insurer, assigned under section 431:10C-403, with reference to the mandatory bodily injury liability policy for accidental harm, and with reference to the mandatory property damage liability policy for property damage sustained. Any claims of an eligible assigned claimant against either mandatory bodily injury liability or property damage liability policies, or the basic personal injury protection policy, shall be filed with the insurer assigned and shall be subject to all applicable conditions and provisions of this subpart and subpart A, except that the date of notification of the assignment shall, where applicable, be substituted for the date of the accident for purposes of section 431:10C-315."      SECTION 5.  Chapter 431, Article 10G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read as follows: "ARTICLE 10G MOPED, MOTORCYCLE, AND MOTOR SCOOTER INSURANCE"      SECTION 6.  Section 431:10G-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:      1.  By adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read:      ""Moped" has the same meaning as in section 286-2.      "Moped accident" means an accident arising out of the operation, maintenance, or use of a moped, but not involving a motor vehicle."      2.  By amending the definition of "accidental harm" to read:      ""Accidental harm" means bodily injury, death, sickness, or disease caused by a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident to a person."      3.  By amending the definition of "owner" to read:      ""Owner" means a person who holds the legal title to a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter; except that when a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter is the subject of a security agreement or lease with a term of not less than one year, with the debtor or lessee having the right of possession, [the term owner] "owner" shall mean the debtor or lessee.  Whenever transfer of title to a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter occurs, the seller shall be considered the owner until delivery of the executed title to the buyer.  Upon delivery of the executed title, the buyer holding the equitable title shall be considered the owner."      SECTION 7.  Section 431:10G-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-102  Conditions of operation and registration of mopeds, motorcycles, and motor scooters.  No person shall drive a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter upon any public street, road, or highway of this State at any time unless [such] the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter is insured at all times under a liability policy as provided in section 431:10G-301; provided that this article shall not apply to any [antique] motorcycle or motor scooter that is an antique motor vehicle as defined in section 249-1."      SECTION 8.  Section 431:10G-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-103  [Motorcycle] Moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter self-insurance.  The moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter insurance required by section 431:10G-102 may be satisfied by any owner of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter if:      (1)  [Such] The owner provides proof of qualifications as a self-insurer, and a surety bond or other securities affording security substantially equivalent to that afforded under a policy meeting the requirements of section 431:10G-301 and providing coverage at all times for the entire moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter registration period, as determined and approved by the commissioner under rules; and      (2)  The commissioner is satisfied that in case of injury, death, or property damage, any claimant would have the same rights against [such] the owner as the claimant would have had if a policy meeting the requirements of section 431:10G-301 had been applicable to [such] the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter."      SECTION 9.  Section 431:10G-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:      "(a)  Any person seeking to obtain the liability coverage required by this part after June 7, 1989, shall first:      (1)  Have obtained a valid moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter license; or      (2)  Have obtained a valid moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter learner's permit and, for a person operating a motorcycle or motor scooter, have taken and passed a motorcycle education course approved by the department of transportation."      SECTION 10.  Section 431:10G-105, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-105  Tort liability.  (a)  With respect to accidental harm incurred in or arising out of a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident, tort liability is not abolished.      (b)  Any owner or operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter involved in a motor vehicle accident as defined in section 431:10C-103 and who incurs accidental harm as defined in section 431:10C-103, including [such] the person's representative or legal guardian, shall have a cause of action in tort as provided in section 431:10C-306."      SECTION 11.  Section 431:10G-106, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-106  Verification of insurance.  Every insurer shall issue to each of its insureds a paper or electronic proof of insurance card for each moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter for which a liability policy under this article is written.  The electronic proof of insurance card may be accessed directly through the licensed insurer's website, application, or database.  The proof of insurance card shall show the following:      (1)  Name, make, year, and factory or serial number of the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter; provided that insurers of five or more mopeds, motorcycles, or motor scooters that are under common registered ownership and used in the regular course of business shall not be required to indicate the name, make, year, and the factory or serial number of each moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter;      (2)  Policy number;      (3)  Names of the insured and the insurer; and      (4)  Effective dates of coverage including the expiration date. The proof of insurance card shall be carried on, or accessible on a mobile electronic device, as defined in section 291C-137, by the person operating the insured moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter at all times and shall be exhibited to a law enforcement officer upon demand."      SECTION 12.  Section 431:10G-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-108  Penalties.  Any person who violates this article shall be subject to a citation by the police and shall be subject to a nonsuspendable fine of [not] no less than $100 [nor] and no more than $1,000, thirty days imprisonment, a one year driver's license suspension, or any combination thereof, for each violation.      Any person cited under this section shall have an opportunity to present a good faith defense, including but not limited to lack of knowledge or proof of insurance.  The general penalty provision of this section shall not apply to:      (1)  Any operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter owned by another person if the operator's own insurance covers such driving;      (2)  Any operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter owned by that person's employer during the normal scope of that person's employment; or      (3)  Any operator of a borrowed moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter if the operator holds a reasonable belief that the subject vehicle is insured."      SECTION 13.  Section 431:10G-201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:      "§431:10G-201  Making of moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance rates.  (a)  All premium rates for moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:      (1)  Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory;      (2)  Due consideration shall be given to:           (A)  Past and prospective loss experience within and outside this State, catastrophe hazards, if any, reasonable margin for profit, and contingencies, dividends, savings, or unabsorbed premium deposits allowed or returned by insurers to their policyholders, members, or subscribers;           (B)  Past and prospective expenses both country-wide and those specially applicable to this State in the sale and administration of moped, [motorcycles] motorcycle, and motor [scooters] scooter insurance; and           (C)  Investment income from reserves, unearned insurance premiums, and other unearned proceeds received on account of moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance sold, and all other factors that may be deemed relevant, if they are established to have a probable effect upon losses, expense, or rates, [such as] including but not limited to types of vehicles, occupations, and involvement in past accidents;      (3)  The systems of expense provisions included in the rates for use by any insurer or group of insurers may differ from those of other insurers or groups of insurers to reflect the requirements of the operating methods of any insurer or group with respect to any class of insurance, or with respect to any subdivision or combination thereof for which subdivision or combination separate expense provisions are applicable; and      (4)  Risks may be grouped by classifications for the establishing of rates and minimum premiums.  Classification rates may be modified to produce rates for individual risks in accordance with rating plans which establish standards for measuring variations in hazards or expense provisions, or both.  The standards may measure any differences among risks that can be demonstrated to have a probable effect upon losses or expenses."      SECTION 14.  Section 431:10G-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:      "(a)  Every insurer shall file with the commissioner every manual of classification, rule, rate, rating plan, designation of rating territories, or standard for moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter insurance which it proposes to use.  Every filing shall state the proposed effective date of the filing and the character and extent of the coverage contemplated."      SECTION 15.  Section 431:10G-206, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:      "§431:10G-206  Rate administration.  Except as otherwise provided in this article, the commissioner shall implement and evaluate moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance rates in compliance with article 14."      SECTION 16.  Section 431:10G-301, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:      1.  By amending its title and subsection (a) to read:      "§431:10G-301  Required moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter policy coverage.  (a)  An insurance policy covering a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter shall provide insurance in the following amounts to pay, on behalf of the owner or any operator of the insured moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter, sums that the owner or any operator may legally be obligated to pay for injury, death, or damage to the property of others, except property owned by, being transported by, or in charge of the insured that arise out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or use of the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter:      (1)  Liability coverage of [not] no less than $20,000 per person, with an aggregate limit of $40,000 per accident, for all damages arising out of accidental harm sustained as a result of any one accident; and      (2)  Liability coverage of [not] no less than $10,000 for all damages arising out of injury to or destruction of property, including mopeds, motorcycles, or motor scooters and including the loss of use thereof, but not including property owned by, being transported by, or in the charge of the insured, as a result of any one accident."       2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:      "(c)  Any operator or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2 who receives injuries or dies in a motor vehicle accident may not claim personal injury protection benefits under a motor vehicle insurance policy, unless expressly provided for in the motor vehicle policy."      SECTION 17.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.      SECTION 18.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000. 

     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to require that persons operating mopeds in the State carry an insurance policy.

     SECTION 2.  Section 431:10C-304, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10C-304  Obligation to pay personal injury protection benefits.  For purposes of this section, the term "personal injury protection insurer" includes personal injury protection self-insurers.  Every personal injury protection insurer shall provide personal injury protection benefits for accidental harm as follows:

     (1)  Except as otherwise provided in section 431:10C‑305(d), in the case of injury arising out of a motor vehicle accident, the insurer shall pay, without regard to fault, to the provider of services on behalf of the following persons who sustain accidental harm as a result of the operation, maintenance, or use of the vehicle, an amount equal to the personal injury protection benefits as defined in section 431:10C‑103.5(a) payable for expenses to that person as a result of the injury:

          (A)  Any person, including the owner, operator, occupant, or user of the insured motor vehicle;

          (B)  Any pedestrian, including a bicyclist;

         [(C)  Any user or operator of a moped as defined in section 249-1;] or

        [(D)] (C)  Any user or operator of an electric foot scooter as defined in section 249-1;

          provided that this paragraph shall not apply in the case of injury to or death of any operator or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2 arising out of a motor vehicle accident, unless expressly provided for in the motor vehicle policy;

     (2)  Payment of personal injury protection benefits shall be made as the benefits accrue, except that in the case of death, payment of benefits under section 431:10C-302(a)(5) may be made immediately in a lump sum payment, at the option of the beneficiary;

     (3)  (A)  Payment of personal injury protection benefits shall be made within thirty days after the insurer has received reasonable proof of the fact and amount of benefits accrued, and demand for payment thereof.  All providers shall produce descriptions of the service provided in conformity with applicable fee schedule codes;

          (B)  If the insurer elects to deny a claim for benefits in whole or in part, the insurer shall, within thirty days, notify the claimant in writing of the denial and the reasons for the denial.  The denial notice shall be prepared and mailed by the insurer in triplicate copies and be in a format approved by the commissioner.  In the case of benefits for services specified in section 431:10C-103.5(a) the insurer shall also mail a copy of the denial to the provider; and

          (C)  If the insurer cannot pay or deny the claim for benefits because additional information or loss documentation is needed, the insurer shall, within the thirty days, forward to the claimant an itemized list of all the required documents.  In the case of benefits for services specified in section 431:10C-103.5(a) the insurer shall also forward the list to the service provider;

     (4)  Amounts of benefits that are unpaid thirty days after the insurer has received reasonable proof of the fact and the amount of benefits accrued, and demand for payment thereof, after the expiration of the thirty days, shall bear interest at the rate of one and one-half per cent per month;

     (5)  No part of personal injury protection benefits paid shall be applied in any manner as attorney's fees in the case of injury or death for which the benefits are paid.  The insurer shall pay, subject to section 431:10C-211, in addition to the personal injury protection benefits due, all attorney's fees and costs of settlement or suit necessary to effect the payment of any or all personal injury protection benefits found due under the contract.  Any contract in violation of this provision shall be illegal and unenforceable.  It shall constitute an unlawful and unethical act for any attorney to solicit, enter into, or knowingly accept benefits under any contract;

     (6)  Disputes between the provider and the insurer over the amount of a charge or the correct fee or procedure code to be used under the workers' compensation supplemental medical fee schedule shall be governed by section 431:10C-308.5; and

     (7)  Any insurer who violates this section shall be subject to section 431:10C-117(b) and (c)."

     SECTION 3.  Section 431:10C-305, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:

     "(d)  The following persons are not eligible to receive payment of personal injury protection benefits:

     (1)  Occupants of a motor vehicle other than the insured motor vehicle;

     (2)  Operator or user of a motor vehicle engaging in criminal conduct which causes any loss; or

     (3)  Operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2.

This subsection shall not preclude recovery in other capacities under a motor vehicle insurance policy covering a vehicle which the person did not occupy at the time of the accident."

     SECTION 4.  Section 431:10C-408, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

     "(c)  Any person eligible for benefits under this part, and who becomes eligible to file a claim or an action against the mandatory bodily injury liability or property damage liability policies, shall, upon the bureau's determination of eligibility, be entitled to:

     (1)  The full personal injury protection benefits as if the victim had been covered as an insured at the time of the accident producing the accidental harm, but not including an owner, operator, or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter, as defined in section 286-2, or a pedestrian incurring accidental harm arising out of a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident, as defined in section 431:10G-101; and

     (2)  The rights of claim and action against the insurer, assigned under section 431:10C-403, with reference to the mandatory bodily injury liability policy for accidental harm, and with reference to the mandatory property damage liability policy for property damage sustained.

Any claims of an eligible assigned claimant against either mandatory bodily injury liability or property damage liability policies, or the basic personal injury protection policy, shall be filed with the insurer assigned and shall be subject to all applicable conditions and provisions of this subpart and subpart A, except that the date of notification of the assignment shall, where applicable, be substituted for the date of the accident for purposes of section 431:10C-315."

     SECTION 5.  Chapter 431, Article 10G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title to read as follows:

"ARTICLE 10G

MOPED, MOTORCYCLE, AND MOTOR SCOOTER INSURANCE"

     SECTION 6.  Section 431:10G-101, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By adding two new definitions to be appropriately inserted and to read:

     ""Moped" has the same meaning as in section 286-2.

     "Moped accident" means an accident arising out of the operation, maintenance, or use of a moped, but not involving a motor vehicle."

     2.  By amending the definition of "accidental harm" to read:

     ""Accidental harm" means bodily injury, death, sickness, or disease caused by a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident to a person."

     3.  By amending the definition of "owner" to read:

     ""Owner" means a person who holds the legal title to a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter; except that when a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter is the subject of a security agreement or lease with a term of not less than one year, with the debtor or lessee having the right of possession, [the term owner] "owner" shall mean the debtor or lessee.  Whenever transfer of title to a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter occurs, the seller shall be considered the owner until delivery of the executed title to the buyer.  Upon delivery of the executed title, the buyer holding the equitable title shall be considered the owner."

     SECTION 7.  Section 431:10G-102, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-102  Conditions of operation and registration of mopeds, motorcycles, and motor scooters.  No person shall drive a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter upon any public street, road, or highway of this State at any time unless [such] the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter is insured at all times under a liability policy as provided in section 431:10G-301; provided that this article shall not apply to any [antique] motorcycle or motor scooter that is an antique motor vehicle as defined in section 249-1."

     SECTION 8.  Section 431:10G-103, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-103  [Motorcycle] Moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter self-insurance.  The moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter insurance required by section 431:10G-102 may be satisfied by any owner of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter if:

     (1)  [Such] The owner provides proof of qualifications as a self-insurer, and a surety bond or other securities affording security substantially equivalent to that afforded under a policy meeting the requirements of section 431:10G-301 and providing coverage at all times for the entire moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter registration period, as determined and approved by the commissioner under rules; and

     (2)  The commissioner is satisfied that in case of injury, death, or property damage, any claimant would have the same rights against [such] the owner as the claimant would have had if a policy meeting the requirements of section 431:10G-301 had been applicable to [such] the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter."

     SECTION 9.  Section 431:10G-104, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Any person seeking to obtain the liability coverage required by this part after June 7, 1989, shall first:

     (1)  Have obtained a valid moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter license; or

     (2)  Have obtained a valid moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter learner's permit and, for a person operating a motorcycle or motor scooter, have taken and passed a motorcycle education course approved by the department of transportation."

     SECTION 10.  Section 431:10G-105, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-105  Tort liability.  (a)  With respect to accidental harm incurred in or arising out of a moped accident, motorcycle accident, or motor scooter accident, tort liability is not abolished.

     (b)  Any owner or operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter involved in a motor vehicle accident as defined in section 431:10C-103 and who incurs accidental harm as defined in section 431:10C-103, including [such] the person's representative or legal guardian, shall have a cause of action in tort as provided in section 431:10C-306."

     SECTION 11.  Section 431:10G-106, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-106  Verification of insurance.  Every insurer shall issue to each of its insureds a paper or electronic proof of insurance card for each moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter for which a liability policy under this article is written.  The electronic proof of insurance card may be accessed directly through the licensed insurer's website, application, or database.  The proof of insurance card shall show the following:

     (1)  Name, make, year, and factory or serial number of the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter; provided that insurers of five or more mopeds, motorcycles, or motor scooters that are under common registered ownership and used in the regular course of business shall not be required to indicate the name, make, year, and the factory or serial number of each moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter;

     (2)  Policy number;

     (3)  Names of the insured and the insurer; and

     (4)  Effective dates of coverage including the expiration date.

The proof of insurance card shall be carried on, or accessible on a mobile electronic device, as defined in section 291C-137, by the person operating the insured moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter at all times and shall be exhibited to a law enforcement officer upon demand."

     SECTION 12.  Section 431:10G-108, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-108  Penalties.  Any person who violates this article shall be subject to a citation by the police and shall be subject to a nonsuspendable fine of [not] no less than $100 [nor] and no more than $1,000, thirty days imprisonment, a one year driver's license suspension, or any combination thereof, for each violation.

     Any person cited under this section shall have an opportunity to present a good faith defense, including but not limited to lack of knowledge or proof of insurance.  The general penalty provision of this section shall not apply to:

     (1)  Any operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter owned by another person if the operator's own insurance covers such driving;

     (2)  Any operator of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter owned by that person's employer during the normal scope of that person's employment; or

     (3)  Any operator of a borrowed moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter if the operator holds a reasonable belief that the subject vehicle is insured."

     SECTION 13.  Section 431:10G-201, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending its title and subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-201  Making of moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance rates.  (a)  All premium rates for moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance shall be made in accordance with the following provisions:

     (1)  Rates shall not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory;

     (2)  Due consideration shall be given to:

          (A)  Past and prospective loss experience within and outside this State, catastrophe hazards, if any, reasonable margin for profit, and contingencies, dividends, savings, or unabsorbed premium deposits allowed or returned by insurers to their policyholders, members, or subscribers;

          (B)  Past and prospective expenses both country-wide and those specially applicable to this State in the sale and administration of moped, [motorcycles] motorcycle, and motor [scooters] scooter insurance; and

          (C)  Investment income from reserves, unearned insurance premiums, and other unearned proceeds received on account of moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance sold, and all other factors that may be deemed relevant, if they are established to have a probable effect upon losses, expense, or rates, [such as] including but not limited to types of vehicles, occupations, and involvement in past accidents;

     (3)  The systems of expense provisions included in the rates for use by any insurer or group of insurers may differ from those of other insurers or groups of insurers to reflect the requirements of the operating methods of any insurer or group with respect to any class of insurance, or with respect to any subdivision or combination thereof for which subdivision or combination separate expense provisions are applicable; and

     (4)  Risks may be grouped by classifications for the establishing of rates and minimum premiums.  Classification rates may be modified to produce rates for individual risks in accordance with rating plans which establish standards for measuring variations in hazards or expense provisions, or both.  The standards may measure any differences among risks that can be demonstrated to have a probable effect upon losses or expenses."

     SECTION 14.  Section 431:10G-202, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Every insurer shall file with the commissioner every manual of classification, rule, rate, rating plan, designation of rating territories, or standard for moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter insurance which it proposes to use.  Every filing shall state the proposed effective date of the filing and the character and extent of the coverage contemplated."

     SECTION 15.  Section 431:10G-206, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§431:10G-206  Rate administration.  Except as otherwise provided in this article, the commissioner shall implement and evaluate moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter insurance rates in compliance with article 14."

     SECTION 16.  Section 431:10G-301, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending its title and subsection (a) to read:

     "§431:10G-301  Required moped, motorcycle, and motor scooter policy coverage.  (a)  An insurance policy covering a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter shall provide insurance in the following amounts to pay, on behalf of the owner or any operator of the insured moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter, sums that the owner or any operator may legally be obligated to pay for injury, death, or damage to the property of others, except property owned by, being transported by, or in charge of the insured that arise out of the ownership, operation, maintenance, or use of the moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter:

     (1)  Liability coverage of [not] no less than $20,000 per person, with an aggregate limit of $40,000 per accident, for all damages arising out of accidental harm sustained as a result of any one accident; and

     (2)  Liability coverage of [not] no less than $10,000 for all damages arising out of injury to or destruction of property, including mopeds, motorcycles, or motor scooters and including the loss of use thereof, but not including property owned by, being transported by, or in the charge of the insured, as a result of any one accident."

      2.  By amending subsection (c) to read:

     "(c)  Any operator or passenger of a moped, motorcycle, or motor scooter as defined in section 286-2 who receives injuries or dies in a motor vehicle accident may not claim personal injury protection benefits under a motor vehicle insurance policy, unless expressly provided for in the motor vehicle policy."

     SECTION 17.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 18.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

      Report Title: Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Required Insurance; Mopeds   Description: Requires that moped operators carry an insurance policy by incorporating mopeds into the insurance laws governing motorcycles and motor scooters, including with respect to provisions concerning required licensure, the relationship with tort law, proof of insurance card, penalties, rate regulation, and minimum coverage levels.  Makes conforming amendments.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)       The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.   

 

 

Report Title:

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; Required Insurance; Mopeds

 

Description:

Requires that moped operators carry an insurance policy by incorporating mopeds into the insurance laws governing motorcycles and motor scooters, including with respect to provisions concerning required licensure, the relationship with tort law, proof of insurance card, penalties, rate regulation, and minimum coverage levels.  Makes conforming amendments.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.