Current Status Introducing Body:Senate Bill Number:1053 Primary Sponsor:Bryan Committee Number:02 Type of Legislation:GB Subject:Insurance Consumer Advocate Office Residing Body:Senate Current Committee:Banking and Insurance Computer Document Number:BBM/9570.JM Introduced Date:Sep 23, 1991 Last History Body:Senate Last History Date:Sep 23, 1991 Last History Type:Introduced, read first time, referred to Committee Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Bryan Type of Legislation:General Bill
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN
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1053 Senate Sep 23, 1991 Introduced, read first time, 02
referred to Committee
View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS THE OFFICE OF INSURANCE CONSUMER ADVOCATE, PROVIDE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT, SALARY, QUALIFICATIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE INSURANCE CONSUMER ADVOCATE, AND PROVIDE FOR THE DUTIES OF THE STATE INSURANCE COMMISSION AND THE CHIEF INSURANCE COMMISSIONER WITH RESPECT TO THE INSURANCE CONSUMER ADVOCATE.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. There is established within the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs the Office of Insurance Consumer Advocate. The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall be employed by the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs and shall serve at the pleasure of the Administrator. The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall receive such salary as is appropriated by the General Assembly. The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall have no connection of any kind, either direct or indirect, except as a policyholder, with any insurance company or agency.
The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall review all rate increase requests filed by insurance companies doing business in this State. The State Insurance Commission and the Chief Insurance Commissioner shall provide the Insurance Consumer Advocate a copy of all requests for rate increases and all associated papers and documents of any kind whatsoever filed in connection with the requested rate increases. The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall render a written report containing his opinion as to each separate rate increase and setting forth the pertinent facts and his reasons as to why he considers the requested rate increase to be meritorious or not meritorious or as to whether the requested rate increase should be granted in part, as the case may be. The Insurance Consumer Advocate shall deliver a copy of his report to the State Insurance Commission and the Chief Insurance Commissioner prior to such time as a decision is required by law to be rendered regarding the particular rate increase request. The report of the Insurance Consumer Advocate is a public document and may be obtained by any person upon the payment of the reasonable costs for copying, as determined by the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs, and during regular business hours.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect ninety days after approval by the Governor and applies to all requests for rate increases by insurance companies doing business in this State pending on the effective date of this act and to all insurance rate increase requests submitted, in accordance with law, on and after the effective date of this act.