South Carolina General Assembly
124th Session, 2021-2022

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A14, R20, H3587

STATUS INFORMATION

General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Sandifer and Hardee
Document Path: l:\council\bills\jn\3291ph21.docx

Introduced in the House on January 12, 2021
Introduced in the Senate on February 3, 2021
Passed by the General Assembly on March 24, 2021
Governor's Action: April 12, 2021, Signed

Summary: Reduction in coverage

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1/12/2021  House   Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 249)
   1/12/2021  House   Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry 
                        (House Journal-page 249)
   1/28/2021  House   Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and Industry 
                        (House Journal-page 3)
    2/2/2021  House   Read second time (House Journal-page 28)
    2/2/2021  House   Roll call Yeas-114  Nays-0 (House Journal-page 28)
    2/3/2021  House   Read third time and sent to Senate 
                        (House Journal-page 12)
    2/3/2021  Senate  Introduced and read first time (Senate Journal-page 37)
    2/3/2021  Senate  Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance 
                        (Senate Journal-page 37)
   2/25/2021  Senate  Committee report: Favorable Banking and Insurance 
                        (Senate Journal-page 13)
   3/23/2021  Senate  Read second time (Senate Journal-page 15)
   3/23/2021  Senate  Roll call Ayes-44  Nays-0 (Senate Journal-page 15)
   3/24/2021  Senate  Read third time and enrolled (Senate Journal-page 14)
    4/8/2021          Ratified R  20
   4/12/2021          Signed By Governor
   4/15/2021          Effective date  04/12/21
   4/15/2021          Act No.  14

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

1/12/2021
1/28/2021
2/25/2021


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A14, R20, H3587)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-30, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE DEFINITION OF "REDUCTION IN COVERAGE", SO AS TO PROHIBIT AN INSURER FROM TREATING A CORRECTION OF A TYPOGRAPHICAL OR SCRIVENER'S ERROR AS A REDUCTION IN COVERAGE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-120, RELATING TO NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR CANCELLATION OR THE REFUSAL TO REVIEW A POLICY, SO AS TO MAKE CONFORMING CHANGES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

Definitions

SECTION    1.    Section 38-77-30(12.5) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 174 of 2020, is further amended to read:

"(12.5)    'Reduction in coverage' means a change made by the insurer which results in a removal of coverage, diminution in scope or less coverage, or the addition of an exclusion. Reduction in coverage does not include any change, reduction, or elimination of coverage made at the request of the insured. The correction of a typographical or scrivener's error or the application of mandated legislative changes is not a reduction in coverage."

Requirements for notice of cancellation or refusal to renew policy

SECTION    2.    Section 38-77-120(b) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 174 of 2020, is further amended to read:

"(b)    Subsection (a) does not apply if the:

(1)    insurer has manifested to the insured its willingness to renew or to renew with a reduction in coverage by actually issuing or offering to the insured to issue a renewal policy, certificate, or other evidence of renewal, or has manifested such intention to the insured by any other means; provided, however, that in the case of a reduction in coverage, the insurer provides notice of a reduction in coverage to the named insured in a separate document entitled the 'Notice of Reduction in Coverage' no less than fifteen days prior to the effective date of the renewal that includes the proposed reduction in coverage. This notice must:

(i)     inform the insured of the reduction or elimination by the coverage section in the renewal policy or certificate; and

(ii)    provide that it is a notice of coverage changes.

The Notice of Reduction in Coverage does not amend, extend, or alter coverage provided in a policy. An insurer's Notice of Reduction in Coverage must be provided to the director or his designee upon request when investigating a consumer complaint or when otherwise requested. The director or his designee may direct the insurer to provide the renewal without the reduction in coverage if the insurer fails to meet the requirements of this section. The director or his designee may issue guidance to an insurer or to the industry regarding the form and contents of the Notice of Reduction in Coverage in response to consumer inquiries or complaints;

(2)    named insured has demonstrated by some overt action to the insurer or its agent that he expressly intends that the policy be canceled or that it not be renewed."

Time effective

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

Ratified the 8th day of April, 2021.

Approved the 12th day of April, 2021.

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This web page was last updated on May 3, 2021 at 3:26 PM