South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

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Bill 4391

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Indicates New Matter

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

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 18, 2006

H. 4391

Introduced by Reps. Taylor, Bingham, Cato and Duncan

S. Printed 5/18/06--S.

Read the first time March 1, 2006.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING AND INSURANCE

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4391) to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Section 38-61-60 so as to authorize an insurance company to advertise a policy in a foreign, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

DAVID L. THOMAS for Committee.

            

STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON FEDERAL & OTHER FUND EXPENDITURES:

$0 (No additional expenditures or savings are expected)

EXPLANATION OF IMPACT:

The Department of Insurance states that this bill would have no impact on the General Fund of the State or on federal and/or other funds.

Approved By:

Don Addy

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 38-61-60 SO AS TO AUTHORIZE AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO ADVERTISE A POLICY IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE, BUT ONLY OFFER THE POLICY IN ENGLISH.

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

SECTION    1.    Chapter 61, Title 38 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 38-61-60.    (A)    If an insurer advertises an insurance policy, or the availability of a foreign language informational sheet, or the availability of a translation of an insurance policy in a language other than English, the insurer only needs to provide an English written insurance policy, so long as the advertisement clearly states that the insurance policy is only available in English. Notwithstanding the use of a language other than English in an advertisement, if there is a dispute, the insurance policy is controlling and an advertisement for an insurance policy, informational sheet, or translation may not be construed to modify or change the insurance policy.

(B)    Nothing in this section may be construed to require insurers to provide insurance related services, such as claim services, in a language other than English."

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

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