HOUSE BILL No. 5948

 

November 12, 2014, Introduced by Rep. Poleski and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

 

     A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

 

"The insurance code of 1956,"

 

by amending sections 1617 and 3020 (MCL 500.1617 and 500.3020),

 

section 1617 as added by 2002 PA 655 and section 3020 as amended by

 

2006 PA 106, and by adding section 3009a.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 1617. (1) Not later than 60 days after the termination of

 

creditor-placed insurance coverage, and in accordance with sections

 

2833(1)(h) and 3020(1)(c), 3020(1)(d), an insurer shall refund any

 

unearned premium or other identifiable charges.

 

     (2) Not later than 60 days after the termination date of

 

creditor-placed insurance coverage, the insurer shall provide to

 

the debtor a statement of refund disclosing the effective date, the

 

termination date, the amount of premium being refunded, and the

 


amount of premium charged for the coverage provided.

 

     (3) If coverage under this chapter is not provided, the entire

 

amount of premiums, minimum premiums, fees, or charges of any kind

 

shall be refunded.

 

     Sec. 3009a. An insurer shall not issue an automobile liability

 

or motor vehicle liability policy that has a term of less than 90

 

days.

 

     Sec. 3020. (1) A policy of casualty insurance, except worker's

 

compensation and mortgage guaranty insurance, including all classes

 

of motor vehicle coverage, shall not be issued or delivered in this

 

state by an insurer authorized to do business in this state for

 

which a premium or advance assessment is charged, unless the policy

 

contains the following provisions:

 

     (a) That, unless the policy provides automobile insurance as

 

defined in section 2102(2)(a) and (b), the policy may be canceled

 

at any time at the request of the insured, in which case the

 

insurer shall will refund the excess of paid premium or assessment

 

above the pro rata rates for the expired time, except as otherwise

 

provided in subsections (2), (3), and (4).

 

     (b) That, if the policy provides automobile insurance as

 

defined in section 2102(2)(a) and (b), subdivision (a) applies;

 

however, the policy will not be canceled unless the insured first

 

provides proof that the insured has obtained a replacement

 

automobile insurance policy covering the insured motor vehicle from

 

another insurer.

 

     (c) (b) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (d), (e),

 

that the policy may be canceled at any time by the insurer by

 


mailing to the insured at the insured's address last known to the

 

insurer or an authorized agent of the insurer, with postage fully

 

prepaid, a not less than 10 days' written notice of cancellation

 

with or without tender of the excess of paid premium or assessment

 

above the pro rata premium for the expired time.

 

     (d) (c) That the minimum earned premium on any policy canceled

 

pursuant to under this subsection, other than automobile insurance

 

as defined in section 2102(2)(a) and (b), shall will not be less

 

than the pro rata premium for the expired time or $25.00, whichever

 

is greater.

 

     (e) (d) That an insurer may refuse to renew a malpractice

 

insurance policy only by mailing to the insured at the insured's

 

address last known to the insurer or an authorized agent of the

 

insurer, with postage fully prepaid, a not less than 60 days'

 

written notice of refusal to renew. As used in this subdivision,

 

"malpractice insurance" means malpractice insurance as described in

 

section 624(1)(h).

 

     (2) An insurer may file a rule with the commissioner director

 

providing for a minimum retention of premium for automobile

 

insurance as defined in section 2102(2)(a) and (b). The rule shall

 

describe the circumstances under which the retention is applied and

 

shall set forth the amount to be retained, which is subject to the

 

approval of the commissioner. director. The rule shall include, but

 

need not be limited to, the following provisions:

 

     (a) That a minimum retention shall be applied only when the

 

amount exceeds the amount that would have been retained had the

 

policy been canceled on a pro rata basis.

 


     (b) That a minimum retention does not apply to renewal

 

policies.

 

     (c) That a minimum retention does not apply when a policy is

 

canceled for the following reasons:

 

     (i) The insured is no longer required to maintain security

 

pursuant to under section 3101(1).

 

     (ii) The insured has replaced the automobile insurance policy

 

being canceled with an automobile insurance policy from another

 

insurer and provides proof of the replacement coverage to the

 

canceling insurer.

 

     (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), an insurer may issue a

 

noncancelable, nonrefundable, 6-month prepaid automobile insurance

 

policy in order for an insured to meet the registration

 

requirements of section 227a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA

 

300, MCL 257.227a.

 

     (4) An insurer may provide for a short rate premium for

 

insurance on a motorcycle, watercraft, off-road vehicle, or

 

snowmobile. As used in this subsection:

 

     (a) "Motorcycle" means that term as defined in section 3101.

 

     (b) "Off-road vehicle" means an ORV as defined in section

 

81101 of the natural resources and environmental protection act,

 

1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81101.

 

     (c) "Snowmobile" means that term as defined in section 82101

 

of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA

 

451, MCL 324.82101.

 

     (d) "Watercraft" means that term as defined in section 80301

 

of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA

 


451, MCL 324.80301.

 

     (5) Cancellation as prescribed in this section is without

 

prejudice to any claim originating before the cancellation. The

 

mailing of notice is prima facie proof of notice. Delivery of

 

written notice is equivalent to mailing.

 

     (6) A notice of cancellation, including a cancellation notice

 

under section 3224, shall be accompanied by a statement that the

 

insured shall not operate or permit the operation of the vehicle to

 

which notice of cancellation is applicable, or operate any other

 

vehicle, unless the vehicle is insured as required by law.

 

     (7) An insurer who wishes to provide for a short rate premium

 

under subsection (4) shall file with the commissioner pursuant to

 

director under chapter 24 or 26 a rule establishing a short rate

 

premium. The rule shall must describe the circumstances under which

 

the short rate is applied and shall must set forth the amount or

 

percentage to be retained.

 

     (8) An insurer that issues a policy of automobile insurance as

 

defined in section 2102(2)(a) and (b) shall not cancel the policy

 

at the request of the insured unless the insured first provides

 

proof that the insured has obtained a replacement automobile

 

insurance policy covering the insured motor vehicle from another

 

insurer.