HB4890 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB094 18018 LJB 53323 b

94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
HB4890

Introduced 1/19/2006, by Rep. Michael P. McAuliffe

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 5/143.29

from Ch. 73, par. 755.29

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that a motor vehicle accident prevention course that consists of less than the required 8 hours of classroom instruction may apply to the Secretary of State for a waiver of the hour requirement.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by changing Section 143.29 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/143.29) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.29)

Sec. 143.29. (a) The rates and premium charges for every policy of automobile liability insurance shall include appropriate reductions as determined by the insurer for any insured over age 55 upon successful completion of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course or a motor vehicle accident prevention course which is found by the Secretary of State to meet or exceed the standards of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course's 8 hour classroom safety instruction program. A motor vehicle accident prevention course that does not meet or exceed the hour requirement of the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course's 8 hour classroom safety instruction program may apply to the Secretary of State for a waiver of this requirement.

(b) The premium reduction shall remain in effect for the qualifying insured for a period of 3 years from the date of successful completion of the accident prevention course, except that the insurer may elect to apply the premium reduction beginning either with the last effective date of the policy or the next renewal date of the policy if the reduction will result in a savings as though applied over a full 3 year period. An insured who has completed the course of instruction prior to July 1, 1982 shall receive the insurance premium reduction for only the period remaining within the 3 years from course completion. The period of premium reduction for an insured who has repeated the accident prevention course shall be based upon the last such course the insured has successfully completed.

(c) Any accident prevention course approved by the Secretary of State under this Section shall be taught by an instructor approved by the Secretary of State, shall consist of at least 8 hours of classroom instruction and shall provide for a certificate of completion. Records of certification of course completion shall be maintained in a manner acceptable to the Secretary of State. An accident prevention course that consists of less than 8 hours of classroom instruction may apply to the Secretary of State for a waiver of the hour requirement.

(d) Any person claiming eligibility for a rate or premium reduction shall be responsible for providing to his insurance company the information necessary to determine eligibility.

(e) This Section shall not apply to:

(1) any motor vehicle which is a part of a fleet or is used for commercial purposes unless there is a regularly assigned principal operator.

(2) any motor vehicle subject to a higher premium rate because of the insured's previous motor vehicle claim experience or to any motor vehicle whose principal operator has been convicted of violating any of the motor vehicle laws of this State, until that operator shall have maintained a driving record free of accidents and moving violations for a continuous one year period, in which case such driver shall be eligible for a reduction the remaining 2 years of the 3 year period.

(3) any motor vehicle whose principal operator has had his drivers license revoked or suspended for any reason by the Secretary of State within the previous 36 months.

(4) any policy of group automobile insurance under which premiums are broadly averaged for the group rather than determined individually.

(Source: P.A. 82-920.)