H 3906 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H 3906 General Bill, By Fleming, Clyburn and Inabinett
A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 56-9-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
1976, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT AND DEFINITIONS
SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR "UNINSURED MOTORIST FUND"; TO AMEND CHAPTER
10, TITLE 56, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL SECURITY,
BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN UNINSURED
MOTORIST FUND.-SHORT TITLE
04/10/97 House Introduced and read first time HJ-63
04/10/97 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
Industry HJ-68
A BILL
TO AMEND SECTION 56-9-20, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS
OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE MOTOR
VEHICLE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT AND
DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO PROVIDE A DEFINITION FOR
"UNINSURED MOTORIST FUND"; TO AMEND CHAPTER 10,
TITLE 56, RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
AND FINANCIAL SECURITY, BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 SO AS
TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN UNINSURED
MOTORIST FUND; TO AMEND SECTION 38-73-470, AS
AMENDED, RELATING TO PROPERTY, CASUALTY, AND
INLAND MARINE INSURANCE, SURETY RATES,
RATE-MAKING ORGANIZATIONS, AND DISPOSITION OF
THE UNINSURED MOTORIST PREMIUM, SO AS TO, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, PROVIDE THAT ONE DOLLAR OF THE
YEARLY PREMIUM BE PLACED ON DEPOSIT WITH THE
STATE TREASURER IN THE "UNINSURED ENFORCEMENT
FUND"; TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-10, AS AMENDED,
RELATING TO THE DECLARATION OF THE PURPOSE OF
THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE LAW, SO AS TO DELETE
CERTAIN PROVISIONS AND LANGUAGE, AND PROVIDE,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT ONE OF THE PURPOSES IS
TO PROVIDE FOR AN ASSIGNED RISK PLAN KNOWN AS
THE "SOUTH CAROLINA AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE PLAN"
FOR CERTAIN PERSONS; BY ADDING SECTION 38-77-122 SO
AS TO PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT NO
INSURER OR AGENT SHALL REFUSE TO ISSUE AN
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY AS DEFINED IN
SECTION 38-77-30 BECAUSE OF THE APPLICANT'S AGE,
SEX, LOCATION OF RESIDENCE IN SOUTH CAROLINA,
RACE, COLOR, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, ANCESTRY,
MARITAL STATUS, INCOME LEVEL, PREVIOUS REFUSAL
OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE BY ANOTHER INSURER,
PRIOR PURCHASE OF INSURANCE THROUGH THE SOUTH
CAROLINA AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE PLAN, OR LAWFUL
OCCUPATION, INCLUDING MILITARY SERVICE; BY
ADDING SECTION 38-77-123 SO AS TO PROVIDE, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THAT NO INSURER SHALL REFUSE TO
RENEW AN AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICY BECAUSE
OF CERTAIN SPECIFIED FACTORS AND THAT NOTHING IN
THIS SECTION REQUIRES AN INSURER TO RENEW A
POLICY OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE WHERE THE
INSURED'S OCCUPATION HAS CHANGED SO AS TO
MATERIALLY INCREASE THE RISK; BY ADDING SECTION
38-77-124 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT NO INSURER OR AGENT
SHALL REFUSE TO ISSUE OR FAIL TO RENEW A POLICY OF
MOTOR VEHICLE LIABILITY INSURANCE SOLELY
BECAUSE OF THE AGE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE TO BE
INSURED SO LONG AS THE MOTOR VEHICLE IS LICENSED;
BY ADDING SECTION 38-77-151 SO AS TO PROVIDE, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THAT ALL FUNDS COLLECTED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE UNDER
CHAPTER 10, TITLE 56 MUST BE PLACED ON DEPOSIT WITH
THE STATE TREASURER AND HELD IN A SPECIAL FUND TO
BE KNOWN AS THE "UNINSURED MOTORISTS FUND" TO BE
DISBURSED AS PROVIDED BY LAW; BY ADDING SECTION
38-77-154 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE UNINSURED
MOTORISTS FUND SHALL BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION
AND CONTROL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE,
REQUIRE PAYMENTS FROM THIS FUND TO BE MADE ON
WARRANTS OF THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL ISSUED ON
VOUCHERS SIGNED BY A PERSON DESIGNATED BY THE
DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, AND SET
FORTH THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND; BY ADDING SECTION
38-77-155 SO AS TO PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THAT THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
INSURANCE SHALL DISTRIBUTE MONIES ANNUALLY
FROM THE UNINSURED MOTORISTS FUND AMONG THE
SEVERAL INSURERS WRITING MOTOR VEHICLE BODILY
INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LIABILITY INSURANCE
ON MOTOR VEHICLES REGISTERED IN SOUTH CAROLINA;
TO AMEND SECTION 38-77-530, AS AMENDED, RELATING
TO THE PLAN OF OPERATION OF THE REINSURANCE
FACILITY, SO AS TO PROVIDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
THAT THE PLAN MUST COMMENCE RECOUPMENT OF
FACILITY ASSESSMENTS BY WAY OF A SURCHARGE ON
PRIVATE PASSENGER AND COMMERCIAL AUTOMOBILE
BUSINESS ISSUED BY A MEMBER OR THROUGH THE
FACILITY, THAT THE SURCHARGE MUST BE A
PERCENTAGE OF THE PREMIUM ADOPTED BY THE
GOVERNING BOARD OF THE FACILITY, THAT THE
CHARGES DETERMINED ON THE BASIS OF THE
SURCHARGE MUST BE DISPLAYED AS A PART OF THE
APPLICABLE PREMIUM CHARGES, AND THAT THE
FACILITY SHALL CONVERT TO THE
PERCENTAGE-OF-PREMIUM BASIS OF RECOUPMENT BY
MARCH 1, 1998; TO AMEND CHAPTER 77, TITLE 38,
RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, BY ADDING
ARTICLE 8 SO AS TO ENACT PROVISIONS OF LAW
CONCERNING "ASSIGNMENT OF RISKS"; TO PROHIBIT
PLACING AN INSURED IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA
REINSURANCE FACILITY BASED ON, OR BECAUSE OF,
CERTAIN CRITERIA SO LONG AS THE FACILITY REMAINS
OPERATIONAL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS
OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND THE 1976 CODE BY ADDING
SECTION 56-10-285 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUANCE
AND USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE STICKERS OR DECALS
INDICATING THAT A VEHICLE IS AN INSURED VEHICLE,
PROVIDE FOR THE PROMULGATION OF REGULATIONS,
ESTABLISH A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE AND PENALTIES,
AND PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS; TO REPEAL
ARTICLE 5 CHAPTER 77, TITLE 38, RELATING TO THE
SOUTH CAROLINA REINSURANCE FACILITY AND
DESIGNATED PRODUCERS, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005;
AND TO REPEAL SECTION 38-73-450, RELATING TO THE
FAIRNESS OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATES OR
PREMIUM CHARGES AND BURDEN ON THE INSURER TO
PROVE FAIRNESS, SECTION 38-73-455, RELATING TO
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE RATES, SECTION 38-73-457,
RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT UPON AUTOMOBILE
INSURERS AND RATING ORGANIZATIONS TO FILE
INFORMATION ON BASE RATES, SECTION 38-73-460,
RELATING TO THE EFFECT OF GAINS AND LOSSES
INCURRED BY MEMBER INSURERS OF THE REINSURANCE
FACILITY ON RATES FOR AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE,
SECTION 38-73-465, RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE
INSURANCE AND UNFAIRLY DISCRIMINATORY,
EXCESSIVE, OR UNREASONABLE PROFITS OR RATES,
SECTION 38-73-720, RELATING TO INSURANCE, THE STATE
RATING AND STATISTICAL DIVISION, AND THE POWER TO
ESTABLISH RISK AND TERRITORIAL CLASSIFICATIONS,
SECTION 38-73-730, RELATING TO INSURANCE, THE STATE
RATING AND STATISTICAL DIVISION, AND RISK
CLASSIFICATION PLANS, SECTION 38-73-731, RELATING TO
INSURANCE, THE STATE RATING AND STATISTICAL
DIVISION, REMOVAL FROM THE YOUTHFUL DRIVER
CLASSIFICATION, AND REFUND OF EXCESS PREMIUM
PAID, SECTION 38-73-735, RELATING TO INSURANCE, THE
STATE RATING AND STATISTICAL DIVISION, AND THE
PLAN FOR CREDITS AND DISCOUNTS, SECTION 38-73-750,
RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT AUTOMOBILE
INSURERS FILE WITH THE STATE RATING AND
STATISTICAL DIVISION THEIR PLANS OR SYSTEMS FOR
ALLOCATING EXPENSES AND PROFIT AS RESPECTS THE
VARIOUS KINDS OR TYPES OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
RISKS AND THE CLASSES OF RISKS THEREUNDER,
SECTION 38-73-760, RELATING TO INSURANCE, THE
STATE-RATING AND STATISTICAL DIVISION, AND
UNIFORM STATISTICAL PLANS, SECTION 38-73-770,
RELATING TO INSURANCE AND THE REQUIREMENT THAT
EVERY CLASSIFICATION PLAN PROMULGATED BY THE
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE BE SO STRUCTURED AS TO
PRODUCE RATES OR PREMIUM CHARGES WHICH ARE
ADEQUATE, NOT EXCESSIVE, AND NOT UNFAIRLY
DISCRIMINATORY, SECTION 38-73-775, RELATING TO THE
ANNUAL FILING OF THE PHYSICAL DAMAGE LOSS
COMPONENT BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA REINSURANCE
FACILITY, SECTION 38-77-110, RELATING TO THE
"MANDATE TO WRITE", AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
COVERAGE, THE REQUIREMENT UPON INSURERS TO
INSURE, AND EXCEPTIONS, SECTION 38-77-111, RELATING
TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE POLICIES WHICH MAY BE
CEDED TO THE REINSURANCE FACILITY, SECTION
38-77-115, RELATING TO THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
LAW AND THE SIGNS REQUIRED IN AN AGENT'S PLACE OF
BUSINESS, SECTION 38-77-145, RELATING TO THE
AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE LAW AND THE PROVISION
THAT PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION COVERAGE IS NOT
MANDATED, SECTION 38-77-285, RELATING TO THE
REQUIREMENT THAT ALL AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
COVERAGES ARE TO BE IN ONE POLICY, SECTION
38-77-360, RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION AGAINST AN
INCREASE IN AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE PREMIUMS AFTER
CERTAIN FIRST-OFFENSE VIOLATIONS, SECTION 38-77-600,
RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AND THE
REINSURANCE FACILITY RECOUPMENT CHARGE, SECTION
38-77-605, RELATING TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE
REINSURANCE FACILITY RECOUPMENT CHARGE MUST BE
DISPLAYED IN A CERTAIN MANNER IN INSURANCE
PREMIUM NOTICES OR BILLS, SECTION 38-77-610,
RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AND THE FILING
OF REINSURANCE FACILITY RECOUPMENT CHARGES,
SECTION 38-77-620, RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE
INSURANCE AND THE INCLUSION OF FACILITY
RECOUPMENT CHARGES IN AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE
RATES, SECTION 38-77-625, RELATING TO THE PROVISION
THAT IF AN INSURED IS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
ACCIDENT WHERE HE IS NOT THE AT-FAULT DRIVER, HIS
REINSURANCE FACILITY RECOUPMENT CHARGE MAY
NOT BE INCREASED BY HIS INSURER BECAUSE OF THIS
OCCURRENCE, AND ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 77, TITLE 38,
RELATING TO THE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE LAW AND
CERTAIN UNLAWFUL ACTS.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South
Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 56-9-20 of the 1976 Code, as last amended
by Act 459 of 1996, is further amended by adding the following
appropriately-numbered item:
"( ) 'Uninsured Motorist Fund' means a fund established for fees
collected by the Director of the Department of Revenue from
registration of uninsured vehicles."
SECTION 2. Chapter 10 of Title 56 of the 1976 Code is amended
by adding:
"Article 5
Establishment of Uninsured Motorist Fund
Section 56-10-510. In addition to any other fees prescribed by
law, every person registering an uninsured motor vehicle, as defined
in Section 56-9-20, at the time of registering or reregistering the
uninsured vehicle, shall pay a fee of five hundred dollars. However,
if the uninsured motor vehicle is being registered for a period of less
than a full year, the uninsured motor vehicle fee must be prorated to
conform to the registration period. Every person applying for
registration of a motor vehicle and declaring it to be an insured motor
vehicle, under the penalties set forth in Section 56-10-520, shall
execute and furnish to the director his certificate that the motor
vehicle is an insured motor vehicle as defined by the laws of this
State, or that the director has issued to its owner, in accordance with
Section 56-9-60, a certificate of self-insurance applicable to the
vehicle sought to be registered. The director, or his designee, may
require any registered owner of a motor vehicle declared to be
insured or any applicant for registration of a motor vehicle to be an
insured to submit a certificate of insurance on a form prescribed by
the director. The director must forward the certificate of insurance
or bond to the insurance company or surety company, whichever is
applicable, for verification as to whether the policy or bond named in
the certificate is currently in force. At that time, and not later than
thirty days following receipt of the certificate of insurance, the
insurance company or surety company must cause to be filed with the
director a written notice if the policy or bond was not applicable as
to the named insured. The director must prescribe the manner in
which the written notice must be made. The refusal or neglect of any
owner within thirty days to submit the certificate of insurance when
required by the director or his designee or the notification by the
insurance company or surety company that the policy or bond named
in the certificate of insurance is not in effect, must require the director
to suspend any driver's license and all registration certificates and
license plates issued to the owner of the motor vehicle until the
person:
(1) has paid to the Director of the Department of Revenue a fee of
three hundred dollars to be disposed of as provided for in Sections
56-10-550 and 56-10-552 with respect to the motor vehicle
determined to be uninsured; and
(2) furnishes proof of financial responsibility for the future in the
manner prescribed in Section 56-10-10, et seq. of this chapter. An
order of suspension required by this section is not effective until the
director has offered the person an opportunity for an administrative
hearing to show cause why the order should not be enforced. Notice
of the opportunity for an administrative hearing may be included in
the order of suspension. When three years have elapsed from the
effective date of the suspension required in this section, the director
may relieve the person of the requirement of furnishing proof of
future financial responsibility. If the director determines that the fee
applicable to the registration of an uninsured motor vehicle has been
paid on the vehicle in question on or before the date that the
insurance certificate was requested, no suspension action must be
taken. The director shall suspend the driver's license and all
registration certificates and license plates of any person on receiving
a record of his conviction of a violation of any provisions of Section
56-10-520, but the director shall dispense with the suspension when
the person is convicted for a violation of Section 56-10-520 and the
department's records show conclusively that the motor vehicle was
insured or that the fee applicable to the registration of an uninsured
motor vehicle has been paid by the owner before the date and time of
the alleged offense.
Section 56-10-520. A person who owns an uninsured motor
vehicle:
(1) licensed in the State; or
(2) subject to registration in the State;
who operates or permits the operation of that motor vehicle without
first having paid to the director the uninsured motor vehicle fee
required by Section 56-10-510, to be disposed of as provided by
Section 56-10-550, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
A person who is the operator of such an uninsured motor vehicle
and not the titled owner, who knows that the required fee has not
been paid to the director, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
The director or his designee, having reason to believe that a motor
vehicle is being operated or has been operated on any specified date,
may require the owner of such motor vehicle to submit the certificate
of insurance provided for by Section 56-10-510. The refusal or
neglect of the owner who has not, before the date of operation, paid
the uninsured motor vehicle fee required by Section 56-10-510 as to
such motor vehicle, to furnish such certificate must be prima facie
evidence that the motor vehicle was an uninsured motor vehicle at the
time of such operation. A person who presents or causes to be
presented to the director a false certificate that a motor vehicle is an
insured motor vehicle or false evidence that a motor vehicle sought
to be registered is an insured motor vehicle, is guilty of a
misdemeanor.
However, the foregoing portions of this section must not be
applicable if it is established that the owner had good cause to believe
and did believe that such motor vehicle was an insured motor vehicle,
in which event the provisions of Section 56-10-245 must be
applicable.
Abstracts of records of conviction, as defined in this title, of any
violation of any of the provisions of this section must be forwarded
to the director as prescribed by Section 56-9-330. The director shall
suspend the driver's license and all registration certificates and
license plates of any titled owner of an uninsured motor vehicle upon
receiving a record of his conviction of a violation of any provisions
of this section, and he shall not thereafter reissue the driver's license
and the registration certificates and license plates issued in the name
of such person until such person pays the fee applicable to the
registration of an uninsured motor vehicle as prescribed in Section
56-10-510 and furnishes proof of future financial responsibility as
prescribed by Section 56-10-520, et seq. of this chapter. However,
when three years have elapsed from the date of the suspension herein
required, the director may relieve such person of the requirement of
furnishing proof of future financial responsibility. When such
suspension results from a conviction for presenting or causing to be
presented to the director a false certificate as to whether a motor
vehicle is an insured motor vehicle or false evidence that any motor
vehicle sought to be registered is insured, then the director shall not
thereafter reissue the driver's license and the registration certificates
and license plates issued in the name of such person so convicted for
a period of one hundred eighty days from the date of such order of
suspension, and only then when all other provisions of law have been
complied with by such person. The director shall suspend the
driver's license of any person who is the operator but not the titled
owner of a motor vehicle upon receiving a record of his conviction
of a violation of any provisions of this section and he shall not
thereafter reissue the driver's license until thirty days from the date
of such order of suspension.
Section 56-10-530. When it appears to the director from the
records of his office that an uninsured motor vehicle as defined in
Section 56-9-20, subject to registration in the State, is involved in a
reportable accident in the State resulting in death, injury, or property
damage with respect to which motor vehicle the owner thereof has
not paid the uninsured motor vehicle fee as prescribed in Section
56-10-510, the director shall, in addition to enforcing the applicable
provisions of Section 56-10-10, et seq. of this chapter, suspend such
owner's driver's license and all of his license plates and registration
certificates until such person has complied with those provisions of
law and has paid to the Director of the Department of Revenue a
reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-510, to be disposed
of as provided by Section 56-10-550, with respect to the motor
vehicle involved in the accident and furnishes proof of future
financial responsibility in the manner prescribed in Section 56-9-350,
et seq.. However, no order of suspension required by this section
must become effective until the director has offered the person an
opportunity for an administrative hearing to show cause why the
order should not be enforced. Notice of the opportunity for an
administrative hearing may be included in the order of suspension.
However, when three years have elapsed from the effective date of
the suspension herein required, the director may relieve such person
of the requirement of furnishing proof of future financial
responsibility. The presentation by a person subject to the provisions
of this section of a certificate of insurance, executed by an agent or
representative of an insurance company qualified to do business in
this State, showing that on the date and at the time of the accident the
vehicle was an insured motor vehicle as herein defined or,
presentation by such person of evidence that the additional fee
applicable to the registration of an uninsured motor vehicle had been
paid to the department before the date and time of the accident, must
be sufficient bar to the suspension provided for in this section.
Section 56-10-535. The director, upon receiving notice that a
titled owner of a motor vehicle has been convicted of one of the
following violations: disobedience of any official traffic device,
failure to stop for law enforcement officer when signaled,
disobedience to any officer directing traffic, failure to stop for a
school bus, leaving the scene of an accident where injury to person
or damage to property results, theft or unlawful taking of a vehicle,
racing on public highways, driving under the influence of
intoxicating liquor or narcotic drugs or where injury to a person of
over three hundred dollars per person or damage to property of the
insured or other person of over seven hundred fifty dollars results,
reckless driving where injury to a person of over three hundred
dollars per person or damage to property of the insured or other
person of over seven hundred fifty dollars results, homicide or assault
arising out of the operation of a motor vehicle, any felony involving
the use of a motor vehicle, the transporting of illegal whiskey or
unlawful drugs or other controlled or narcotic substances, reckless
homicide, wilful making of false statements in the application for
license or registration, impersonating an applicant for license or
registration, or procuring a license or registration through
impersonation whether for himself or another; then shall require the
owner to furnish proof of financial responsibility in the manner
prescriber in Section 56-9-350, et seq.
However, when three years have elapsed from the effective date of
any conviction for the above offenses, the director may relieve such
person of the requirement of furnishing proof of future financial
responsibility as required in Section 56-9-35, et seq.
Section 56-10-540. Whenever any proof of financial
responsibility filed by any person as required by this chapter no
longer fulfills the purpose for which required, the director shall
require other proof of financial responsibility as required by this
chapter and shall suspend such person's driver's license, registration,
certificates, and license plates and decals pending the furnishing of
proof as required.
A person whose driver's license or registration certificates, or
license plates and decals have been suspended as provided in this
chapter and have not been reinstated shall immediately return every
such license, registration certificate, and set of license plates and
decals held by him to the director. A person failing to comply with
this requirement shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and, upon
conviction, shall be punished as provided in Section 56-9-310, et seq.
Section 56-10-550. Except as provided in Section 56-10-552,
funds collected by the Director of the Department of Revenue under
the provisions of this chapter must be placed on deposit with the State
Treasurer and held in a special fund to be known as the 'Uninsured
Motorists Fund' to be disbursed as provided by law. The Director of
the Department of Insurance as provided in Sections 38-77-151 and
38-77-154 may expend monies from such funds for the
administration of Title 38.
Section 56-10-551. When any insurance policy certified under
this chapter is canceled or terminated, the insurer shall report the fact
to the director within fifteen days after the cancellation on a form
prescribed by the director.
Section 56-10-552. (A) All funds collected as provided in
Section 38-73-470 must be directed to the Director of the Department
of Public Safety for the establishment and maintenance of a special
fund, to be known as the 'Uninsured Enforcement Fund', to be used
by the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of enforcement
as required by this chapter.
(B) Fifty percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section
56-10-510(1) must be transferred by the Department of Revenue to
the Department of Public Safety and recorded to the Uninsured
Enforcement Fund to be used by the Department of Public Safety as
provided by subsection (A) of this section. The remaining fifty
percent of the reinstatement fee as provided by Section 56-10-510
must be retained in the Uninsured Motorist Fund to be used as
provided in Sections 56-10-550, 38-77-151, and 38-77-154.
Section 56-10-553. (A) The Department of Public Safety shall
collect data and maintain statistics on the total number of vehicles
registered in the State as of June thirtieth of each year, the number of
motorists who voluntarily paid the five hundred dollar fee at the time
of registration during the fiscal year, the number of motorists who
paid the penalty fee after being detected by the Department of Public
Safety as being uninsured during the fiscal year, the number of
certificates of insurance filed during the fiscal year, the net revenue
collections for these fees by the fiscal year, the net funds available in
the Uninsured Motorist Fund, and the net funds received from the
Department of Insurance from the uninsured motorist fee during
fiscal year.
(B) The Department of Public Safety shall implement programs
designed to ensure full compliance with the financial responsibility
laws. These programs must include random sampling of licensed
drivers with moving violations requesting proof of insurance. Other
programs may be added.
(C) The Department of Public Safety shall provide an annual
report to the General Assembly containing the information required
in subsections (A) and (B) of this section."
SECTION 3. Section 38-73-470 of the 1976 Code, as last amended
by Section 783 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 38-73-470. One dollar of the yearly premium for
uninsured motorist coverage must be transferred is
directed to be paid to the South Carolina Department of Public
Safety to be placed on deposit with the State Treasurer in the
'Uninsured Enforcement Fund', payable on a quarterly basis, to
provide funds for the costs of enforcing and administering the
provisions of Article 3, Chapter 10, Title 56. Interest earned by
the 'Uninsured Fund' must be retained by that fund."
SECTION 4. Section 38-77-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended
by Act 326 of 1996, is further amended to read:
"Section 38-77-10. In order to effect a complete reform of
automobile insurance and insurance practices in South Carolina, the
purposes of this chapter are to provide:
(1) To provide that every automobile insurance risk which
is insurable on the basis of the criteria established in this chapter is
entitled to bodily injury liability and property damage liability
automobile insurance from the automobile insurer of the
applicant's choice on the basis of the same rates, policy forms, claims
service, and other services provided by the insurer to all other
applicants or insureds falling within the classification of risk and
territory under the applicable risk and territorial classification plan
promulgated by the department so long as all these applicants or
insureds have satisfied the same objective standards as established in
Sections 38-77-280 and 38-73-455;
(2) To provide a Reinsurance Facility for automobile insurers
in which all automobile insurers which provide bodily injury liability
insurance, property damage liability insurance, or both, must
participate to the end that the operating expenses and net profit or
loss of the facility may be shared equitably by all the insurers
transacting bodily injury liability and property damage liability
automobile insurance business in this State giving appropriate
consideration to degrees of utilization of the facility by the several
insurers of bodily injury liability and property damage liability
automobile insurance and to provide prohibitions or penalties in
respect to excessive utilization of the facility. for an assigned
risk plan, known as the South Carolina Automobile Insurance Plan,
for every person who is legally entitled to automobile insurance but
has not been able to obtain a motor vehicle liability policy to apply
to the Director of the Department of Insurance to have his risk
assigned to an insurance carrier licensed to write and writing motor
vehicle liability insurance in the State who shall issue a motor vehicle
liability policy which will meet at least the minimum requirements
for establishing financial responsibility in this chapter;
(3) To provide prohibitions and penalties in respect to
unfairly discriminatory or unfairly competitive practices having as
their purpose or effect evasion of the statutory mandate of
coverage provided in this chapter or imposing an undue or unfair
burden upon other automobile insurers through excessive utilization
of the Facility. of the coverages as provided in this chapter;
and
(4) To provide medical, surgical, funeral, and disability
insurance benefits without regard to fault to be offered under
automobile insurance policies that provide bodily injury and property
damage liability insurance, or other security, for motor vehicles
registered in this State."
SECTION 5. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 38-77-122. (A) No insurer or agent shall refuse to issue
an automobile insurance policy as defined in Section 38-77-30, or
shall increase insurance rates or premiums, because of any one or
more of the following factors: the age, sex, location of residence in
this State, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status,
income level, previous refusal of automobile insurance by another
insurer, prior purchase of insurance through the South Carolina
Automobile Insurance Plan, or lawful occupation, including the
military service, of the person seeking the coverage. Nor shall any
insurer increase insurance rates or premiums because a person has
received one citation for a moving violation or has been involved in
one traffic accident during the three-year period. Nothing in this
section prohibits any insurer from limiting the issuance of motor
vehicle insurance policies to those who are residents of this State nor
does this section prohibit any insurer from limiting the issuance of
motor vehicle insurance policies only to persons engaging in or who
have engaged in a particular profession or occupation, or who are
members of a particular religious sect.
Nothing in this section prohibits any insurer from setting rates in
accordance with relevant actuarial data.
(B) Any insurer or agent who violates this section shall be subject
to the penalties as provided in Section 38-2-10. If the Director of the
Department of Insurance or his designee finds that an insurer or agent
is participating in a pattern of unfair discrimination, the director or
his designee may impose a fine of up to two hundred thousand
dollars. The director or his designee at any time may examine an
insurer or agent to enforce this section.
Section 38-77-123. (A)(1) No insurer shall refuse to renew an
automobile insurance policy because of any one or more of the
following factors:
(a) age;
(b) sex;
(c) location of residence in this State;
(d) race;
(e) color;
(f) creed;
(g) national origin;
(h) ancestry;
(i) marital status;
(j) income level;
(k) lawful occupation, including the military service;
(l) lack of driving experience, or number of years of driving
experience;
(m) lack of supporting business or lack of the potential for
acquiring such business;
(n) one or more accidents or violations that occurred more
than thirty-six months immediately preceding the upcoming
anniversary date;
(o) one or more claims submitted under the uninsured
motorists coverage of the policy where the uninsured motorist is
known or there is physical evidence of contact;
(p) single claim by a single insured submitted under the
medical payments coverage or medical expense coverage due to an
accident for which the insured was neither wholly nor partially at
fault;
(q) one or more claims submitted under the comprehensive
or towing coverages. However, nothing in this section prohibits an
insurer from modifying or refusing to renew the comprehensive or
towing coverages at the time of renewal of the policy on the basis of
one or more claims submitted by an insured under those coverages,
provided that the insurer mails or delivers to the insured at the
address shown in the policy written, notice of the change in coverage
at least forty-five days before the renewal; or
(r) two or fewer motor vehicle accidents within a three-year
period unless the accident was caused either wholly or partially by
the named insured, a resident of the same household, or other
customary operator.
(2) Nothing in this section requires an insurer to renew a policy
for an insured where the insured's occupation has changed so as to
materially increase the risk. Nothing contained in subsection
(A)(1)(p), (q), and (r) of this subsection prohibits an insurer from
refusing to renew a policy where a claim is false or fraudulent.
Nothing in this section prohibits an insurer from setting rates in
accordance with relevant actuarial data except that no insurer may set
rates based in whole or in part on race, color, creed, national origin,
ancestry, income level, or place of residence at any level smaller than
a county.
(B) No insurer shall cancel a policy except for one or more of the
following reasons:
(1) The named insured or any other operator who either resides
in the same household or customarily operates a motor vehicle
insured under the policy has had his driver's license suspended or
revoked during the policy period or, if the policy is a renewal, during
its policy period or the ninety days immediately preceding the last
anniversary of the effective date.
(2) The named insured fails to pay the premium for the policy
or any installment of the premium, whether payable to the insurer or
its agent either directly or indirectly under any premium finance plan
or extension of credit.
(C) There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action
of any nature shall arise against the director or his designees; any
insurer, its authorized representatives, its agents, or its employees; or
any person furnishing to the insurer information as to reasons for
cancellation or refusal to renew, for any statement made by any of
them in complying with this section or for providing information
pertaining to the cancellation or refusal to renew. For the purposes
of this section, no insurer shall be required to furnish a notice of
cancellation or refusal to renew to anyone other than the named
insured, any person designated by the named insured, any other
person to whom such notice is required to be given by the terms of
the policy and the director.
(D) Within fifteen days of receipt of the notice of cancellation or
refusal to renew, any insured or his attorney shall be entitled to
request in writing to the director that he review the action of the
insurer in canceling or refusing to renew the policy of the insured.
Upon receipt of the request, the director shall promptly begin a
review to determine whether the insurer's cancellation or refusal to
renew complies with the requirements of this section and of Section
38-77-120 if the notice was sent by mail. The policy must remain in
full force and effect during the pendency of the review by the director
except where the cancellation or refusal to renew is for the reason set
forth in subitem (2) of subsection (B) of this section, in which case
the policy terminates as of the effective date stated in the notice.
Where the director finds from the review that the cancellation or
refusal to renew has not complied with the requirements of this
section or of Section 38-77-120, he shall immediately notify the
insurer, the insured, and any other person to whom such notice was
required to be given by the terms of the policy that the cancellation
or refusal to renew is not effective. Nothing in this section authorizes
the director to substitute his judgment as to underwriting for that of
the insurer.
(E) Each insurer shall maintain for at least three years, records of
cancellation and refusal to renew and copies of every notice or
statement referred to in Section 38-77-120 of this section that it sends
to any of its insureds.
(F) The provisions of this section do not apply to any insurer that
limits the issuance of policies of motor vehicle liability insurance to
one class or group of persons engaged in any one particular
profession, trade, occupation, or business. Nothing in this section
requires an insurer to renew a policy of automobile insurance if the
insured does not conform to the occupational or membership
requirements of an insurer who limits its writings to an occupation or
membership of an organization. No insurer is required to renew a
policy if the insured becomes a nonresident of South Carolina.
(G) Any insurer who violates this section shall be subject to the
penalties as provided in Section 38-2-10. If the Director of the
Department of Insurance or his designee finds that an insurer, agent,
or broker is participating in a pattern of unfair discrimination, the
director or his designee may impose a fine of up to two hundred
thousand dollars. The director or his designee at any time may
examine an insurer, agent, or broker to enforce this section.
Section 38-77-124. No insurer or agent shall refuse to issue or fail
to renew a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance solely because
of the age of the motor vehicle to be insured, provided the motor
vehicle is licensed.
Section 38-77-151. All funds collected by the Director of the
Department of Revenue under the provisions of Chapter 10 of Title
56 must be placed on deposit with the State Treasurer and held in a
special fund to be known as the 'Uninsured Motorists Fund' to be
disbursed as provided by law. Interest earned by the 'Uninsured
Motorists Fund' must be retained by that fund. The Director of the
Department of Insurance, as provided in Sections 38-77-154 and
38-77-155, may expend such funds, for the administration of this
chapter; provided, however, that the Department of Insurance shall
retain ten percent of the Uninsured Motorists Fund to be used by the
Department of Insurance to enforce the provisions of Title 38,
including Sections 38-77-112, 38-77-122, and 38-77-123, to publish
for consumers an automobile insurance buyer's guide, a brochure
comparing automobile insurance premiums with a section comparing
automobile insurance premiums, and to provide for a public
awareness campaign.
Section 38-77-154. The Uninsured Motorists Fund shall be under
the supervision and control of the Department of Insurance.
Payments from the Uninsured Motorists Fund shall be made on
warrants of the Comptroller General issued on vouchers signed by a
person designated by the director. The purpose of the Uninsured
Motorists Fund is to reduce the cost of the insurance required by
Section 38-77-150 and to protect and educate consumers as provided
by Section 38-77-151.
Section 38-77-155. The director shall distribute monies annually
from the Uninsured Motorists Fund among the several insurers
writing motor vehicle bodily injury and property damage liability
insurance on motor vehicles registered in this State. Monies must be
distributed in the proportion that each insurer's premium income for
the basic uninsured motorists limits coverage bears to the total
premium income for basic uninsured motorists limits coverage
written in this State during the preceding year. Premium income
must be gross premiums less cancellation and return premiums for
coverage required by Section 38-77-150. Only insurers that maintain
records satisfactory to the director shall receive any payment from the
Uninsured Motorists Fund. Records must be considered satisfactory
if they adequately disclose the loss experience for the coverage."
SECTION 6. Section 38-77-530 of the 1976 Code, as last amended
by Section 818 of Act 181 of 1993, is further amended to read:
"Section 38-77-530. The plan of operation of the facility is subject
to the approval of the director or his designee which may be granted
only if the plan provides for equitable apportionment of the operating
expenses and profits or losses among the members. The plan may,
if the director or his designee considers it feasible and equitable,
make provision for separate apportionments between private
passenger automobile insurance business and commercial automobile
insurance business, or, alternatively or in addition to that
division, the plan may make provision for separate apportionments
between automobile liability insurance business, including medical
payments and uninsured motorist insurance, and automobile physical
damage insurance business. Any such apportionments shall
must give consideration to a comparison between the
writings or car-year exposures of each insurer of automobile
insurance and the total writings or car-year exposures of all
automobile insurers or, in the case of any separate apportionments
approved by the director or his designee, a comparison between the
writings or car-year exposures of each insurer within the applicable
category of automobile insurance and the writings or car-year
exposures of all insurers within that category.
In connection with his approval of the plan, the director or his
designee may require that the plan make provision for such
comparisons for a one-year period or for a longer period not to
exceed five years and may provide for weighing the experience so as
to attach a greater weight to the more recent experience.
In connection with the approval of the plan's provisions respecting
equitable apportionment of the operating expenses or gains or losses
of the facility, the director or his designee may require that the plan
make provision for a comparison between each insurer's percentage
of the aggregate written premiums or car-year exposures respecting
automobile insurance or any such category thereof and the insurer's
percentage of total cessions to the facility of such insurance or
category thereof so as to provide that the insurer's portion of the
operating expenses or gains or losses must be the average of the two
percentages; or the director or his designee may approve or require
any other similar or comparable provision for the apportionment of
the expenses or gains or losses of the facility which relates insurers'
shares to their respective utilization of the facility.
The plan of operation, provided that insurers writing liability
and physical damage coverages to include nonowners, must
commence recoupment of facility assessments by way of a surcharge
on private passenger and commercial automobile business issued by
a member or through the facility. Such surcharge must be a
percentage of the premium adopted by the governing board of the
facility; and the charges determined on the basis of the surcharge
must be displayed as a part of the applicable premium charges. The
surcharge for recoupment must be shown as a separate charge.
(1) Any recoupment charge paid by policyholders must be
considered premium for the purpose of calculating premium taxes
and commissions and is subject to normal policy cancellation
procedures.
(2) Any net operating gains resulting from the operation of the
facility must be retained by the facility, and the gains and any
investment income derived from the gains must be used to offset
future operating losses.
(3) The total funds recouped by all insurers less commission and
premium tax expenses and time value of money considerations must
be paid to the Reinsurance Facility in accordance with the plan of
operation. The governing board shall redistribute the funds to the
insurers based upon each insurer's share of the Reinsurance Facility
losses. Recoupment must be used solely for the purpose of
recovering past facility operating deficits. The plan of operation
must provide that the amount ultimately received by an individual
company is not more than the company's share of the Reinsurance
Facility losses, plus the time value of money.
(4) The Reinsurance Facility shall convert to the
percentage-of-premium basis of recoupment by March 1, 1998."
SECTION 7. Title 38, Chapter 77 of the 1976 Code is amended by
adding:
"Article 8
Assignment of Risks
Section 38-77-810. The director may promulgate reasonable
standards for the assignment of risks to insurance carriers and
servicing carriers, and an assigned risk plan must be established by
March 1, 1998. More than one assigned risk plan may be established.
The director may make reasonable regulations for the assignment of
risks to insurance carriers. He shall establish rate classifications,
rating schedules, rates, and regulations to be used by insurance
carriers issuing assigned risk, policies of motor vehicle liability,
physical damage, and underinsured and uninsured motorist insurance
in accordance with this chapter as appear to it to be proper in the
establishment of rate classifications, rating schedules, rates, and
regulations, it shall be guided by the principles and practices which
have been established under its statutory authority to regulate motor
vehicle liability, physical damage, and medical payments insurance
rates and it may act in conformity with its statutory discretionary
authority in such matters.
The servicing carriers for the assigned risk plan may be
competitively bid as provided for in this section. If the assigned risk
plan is competitively bid, then the director or his designee shall
appoint a committee or committees of individuals as he considers
qualified to establish standards and procedures for the consideration
and evaluation of bids. Insurers, or other vendors in conjunction with
a licensed automobile insurer, may submit bids. The committee or
committees shall evaluate and award contracts pursuant to the
bidding process established by the committee or committees, subject
to the final approval of the director or his designee. The director may
require a bid fee to cover the expenses of implementing this section.
Section 38-77-820. Every person who has been unable to obtain
a motor vehicle liability policy shall have the right to apply to the
director to have his risk assigned to an insurance carrier licensed to
write and writing motor vehicle liability insurance in the State and
the insurance carrier, whether a stock or mutual company, reciprocal,
or interinsurance exchange, or other type or form of insurance
organization, as provided in this chapter shall issue a motor vehicle
liability policy which will meet at least the minimum requirements
for establishing financial responsibility as provided in this chapter,
and in addition shall provide, at the option of the insured, reasonable
motor vehicle physical damage and medical payments coverages,
(both as defined in Chapter 77, Title 38) in the same policy. Every
person who has otherwise obtained a motor vehicle liability insurance
policy, or who has been afforded motor vehicle liability insurance
under the laws of this State, but who was not afforded motor vehicle
medical payments insurance or motor vehicle physical damage
insurance in the same policy, or who was not afforded such coverages
under the provisions of that section, shall have the right to apply to
the director to have his risk assigned to an insurance carrier, as
provided above, licensed to write and writing either or both
coverages, and the insurance carrier shall issue a policy providing the
coverage or coverages applied for.
Section 38-77-830. Insurance carriers may satisfy their assigned
risk plan obligations by joining with other insurers to establish an
Assigned Risk Pool whereby one or more insurers accepts the
assignments of other insurers and in return, the other insurers agree
to be responsible for any assessment necessary to pay losses
associated with the servicing carrier's pool policies. These
agreements are subject to approval by the director.
Section 38-77-840. The director may in its discretion, after
reviewing all information pertaining to the applicant or policyholder
available from its records, the records of the department, or from
other sources:
(1) refuse to assign an application;
(2) approve the rejection of an application by an insurance carrier;
(3) approve the cancellation of a policy of motor vehicle liability,
physical damage, and medical payments insurance by an insurance
carrier; or
(4) refuse to approve the renewal or the reassignment of an
expiring policy.
Section 38-77-850. Any information filed with the director by an
insurance carrier in connection with an assigned risk must be
confidential and solely for the information of the director and its staff
and must not be disclosed to any person, including an applicant,
policyholder, and any other insurance carrier.
Section 38-77-860. (A) The director is not required to disclose
to any person, including the applicant or policyholder, its reasons for:
(1) refusing to assign an application;
(2) approving the rejection of an application by an insurance
carrier;
(3) approving the cancellation of a policy of motor vehicle
liability, physical damage, and medical payments insurance by an
insurance carrier; or
(4) refusing to approve the renewal or the reassignment of an
expiring policy.
(B) The director or anyone acting for him is not held liable for any
act or omission in connection with the administration of the duties
imposed upon it by the provisions of this chapter, except upon proof
of actual malfeasance.
Section 38-77-870. The provisions of this chapter relevant to
assignment of risks must be available to nonresidents who are unable
to obtain a policy of motor vehicle liability, physical damage, and
medical payments insurance with respect only to motor vehicles
registered and used in the State.
Section 38-77-880. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the provisions of this chapter relating to assignment of risks must be
available to carriers by motor vehicle who are required by law to
carry public liability and property damage insurance for the
protection of the public."
SECTION 8. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act or
other law of this State, so long as the South Carolina Reinsurance
Facility remains operational, in accordance with the provisions of this
act, no insured's policy of automobile insurance may be ceded to the
facility because of (1) the insured's age, (2) the type of motor vehicle
insured by the policy of insurance, or (3) the fact that the insured has
been involved in one traffic accident or received one citation for a
moving violation in a three-year period.
SECTION 9. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 56-10-285. (A) The Department of Insurance shall issue
motor vehicle stickers or decals which indicate that the vehicle for
which such a sticker or decal has been issued is an insured vehicle in
accordance with the laws of this State. Each sticker or decal must be
issued to the insurer of the vehicle, and the insurer shall forward the
sticker or decal to the owner of the vehicle. The owner shall affix the
sticker or decal to the interior of the front windshield, driver's side.
The sticker or decal shall clearly indicate the period of time, by
beginning and ending dates, covered by the insurance policy for the
particular vehicle. On the ending date shown on the sticker or decal,
the sticker or decal must be removed by the owner and discarded. If
the vehicle is transferred by the owner to another person while the
insurance coverage is in effect, the sticker or decal must be removed
and discarded by the transferor, and the new owner shall obtain a new
sticker or decal in his own name to be affixed by him to the vehicle
in accordance with the section.
(B) The Director of the Department of Insurance shall promulgate
regulations for the administration of the provisions of this section.
(C) It is lawful to operate any motor vehicle which (1) does not
have properly displayed the sticker or decal provided for in this
section or (2) which displays an expired sticker or decal. A person
who acts in violation of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, must be punished by a fine not to exceed five
hundred dollars or by imprisonment not to exceed sixty days, or both.
(D) The penalties provided for in subsection (C) are in addition to,
and not in lieu of, any other penalty whether criminal, civil, or
administrative, provided by law for operating an uninsured motor
vehicle."
SECTION 10. Article 5 of Chapter 77, Title 38 of the 1976 Code is
repealed effective January 1, 2005.
SECTION 11. Sections 38-73-450, 38-73-455, 38-73-457,
38-73-460, 38-73-465, 38-73-720, 38-73-730, 38-73-731, 38-73-735,
38-73-750, 38-73-760, 38-73-770, 38-73-775, 38-77-110, 38-77-111,
38-77-115, 38-77-145, 38-77-285, 38-77-360, 38-77-600, 38-77-605,
38-77-610, 38-77-620, and 38-77-625 and Article 9 of Chapter 77 of
Title 38 of the 1976 Code are repealed.
SECTION 12. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided in
this act, this act takes effect July 1, 1998.
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