Big ‘I’ Summarizes Pending Ga. Bills

The Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia are keeping track of a number of issues now before the Georgia Legislature.

A proposal by Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine to reduce the state’s premium tax has been introduced by Rep. Earl Ehrhart (Powder Springs). H.B. 1387 would reduce the state’s 2.25 percent .5 percent per year to an eventual level of .5 percent. Cities’ and counties’ tax of 2.5 percent (applicable to P&C) would be reduced gradually to 1 percent. The local 1 percent tax on life premiums would remain. Current status: This bill is in the Ways and Means Committee.

H.B. 1359 (Rep. Forster, Ringgold), a bill to create the “Georgia Assignment Pool Underwriting Authority,” was favorably reported by the House Insurance Committee on Feb. 23. The bill would create an assigned risk plan for individual health insurance which all payors (insurers and self-insurers) would support.

Previously reported bills:

H.B. 425 (Rep. Harbin, Evans) would amend the anti-rebate law to clarify that insurers, agents and their employees can pay for business meals and entertainment without running afoul of the law. Current status: Favorably reported by the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee and awaiting action by Senate Rules.

H. B. 827 (Rep. Debbie Buckner, Columbus) would authorize the Department of Administrative Services to procure group professional liability insurance for hospitals providing emergency room services. Current status: The bill has been favorably reported by Committee and awaits action by House Rules IIAG has met with the author to discuss market conditions. IIAG believes it has demonstrated to the author that the bill is unnecessary and that insurance is available through traditional channels.

H.B. 1240 (Rep. Coan, Lawrenceville) is the routine annual revision to the workers’ compensation law, the so called “Board bill” developed by the Board of Workers’ Compensation’s advisory committee and introduced at the Board’s request. Changes include raising the death benefit to $150,000 and amending the provisions related to return to work. Current status: Passed by House and assigned to Senate Insurance & Labor Committee.

H.B. 1242 (Rep. Bordeaux, Savannah) would change the definition of “insured” for automobile insurance to include a foster child or ward living in the household. Current status: Assigned to House Insurance Committee.

H.B. 1257 (Rep. Knox, Cumming) would make changes in administrative procedures. Agents would not have to pay a filing fee for a change of address if the change is made on-line. The bill would also amend the requirements for a counselor’s license. Current status: Favorably reported by House Insurance Committee. A substitute includes changes requested by IIAG to ensure appropriate standards for counselors.

H.B. 1311 (Rep. Gardner, Atlanta) would require that health insurance plans covering treatment for mental illness contain the same out-of-pocket caps for mental illness as for physical illness. Current status: Assigned to House Insurance Committee.

S.B. 384 (Sen. Hudgens, Comer) would enact the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact under which states would establish an interstate compact to regulate designated insurance products. Current status: Passed by Senate and assigned to House Insurance Committee.

S.B. 444 (Sen. Shafer, Duluth) is identical to H.B. 1257. No action has been taken yet. Current status: The bill remains in the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee.

S.B. 509 (Sen. Shafer, Duluth) remains in the Insurance & Labor Committee. The bill would create a scheme of rate regulation for individual health insurance when certain conditions are met and when the Commissioner finds that the market is “not functioning in an efficient, competitive manner.”

S.B. 306 (Sen. Hamrick, Carrollton) would impose a time limit on doctors and hospitals filing liens against a patient’s insurance settlement. Current status: Assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

S.B. 531 (Sen. Rogers, Woodstock) would change certain provisions relating to damages recoverable by an insured under uninsured motorist coverage. Current status: Favorably reported by the Senate Insurance & Labor Committee on Feb. 23.

Topics Agencies Georgia