Scroll to History Page
Scroll to Previous Versions Links List
Scroll to Full Text
Download This Bill in Microsoft Word format

Bill 641

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      641
Type of Legislation:              General Bill GB
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20010426
Primary Sponsor:                  Thomas
All Sponsors:                     Thomas and Martin
Drafted Document Number:          l:\council\bills\skb\18450som01.doc
Residing Body:                    Senate
Current Committee:                Banking and Insurance Committee 02 SBI
Subject:                          Insured responding to emergencies as 
                                  member of police, fire, law enforcement; Motor 
                                  vehicle insurance policy of


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20010426  Introduced, read first time,           02 SBI
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

TO AMEND CHAPTER 77, TITLE 38, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE, SO AS TO ADD SECTION 38-77-915 TO PROVIDE THAT AN INSURER MAY NOT CANCEL OR REFUSE TO RENEW A POLICY, INCLUDE IN THE PREMIUM A CHARGE OR SURCHARGE, ASSIGN POINTS FOR, OR DENY A DISCOUNT TO AN INSURED FOR THE INSURED'S INVOLVEMENT IN AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING AS THE RESULT OF THE OPERATION OF AN AUTOMOBILE IN RESPONSE TO AN EMERGENCY IF, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE OPERATOR INSURED WAS RESPONDING TO A CALL OF DUTY AS A PAID OR VOLUNTEER MEMBER OF A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRST AID SQUAD, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT AN INSURER MAY NOT INCLUDE A CHARGE OR SURCHARGE IN THE PREMIUM PAID BY AN INSURED OR DENY A DISCOUNT TO AN INSURED BECAUSE THE INSURED RESPONDS TO EMERGENCIES AS A PAID OR VOLUNTEER MEMBER OF A POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT, FIRST AID SQUAD, OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 77, Title 38 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-77-915. (A) An insurer may not cancel or refuse to renew a policy, or include, directly or indirectly, in premiums any charges or surcharges, or assign points for, or deny a discount to an insured for the insured's involvement in an accident occurring as the result of the operation of an automobile in response to an emergency if, at the time of the accident, the operator insured was responding to a call of duty as a paid or volunteer member of any police or fire department, first aid squad, or law enforcement agency. This exception does not include an accident occurring after the emergency situation ceases or after the private passenger motor vehicle ceases to be used in response to the emergency.

(B) An insurer may not include a charge or surcharge in the premium paid by an insured for automobile insurance or deny the insured a discount because the insured responds to emergencies as a paid or volunteer member of a police or fire department, first aid squad, or law enforcement agency."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

This web page was last updated on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 11:13 A.M.