Bill
Number

Bill
Title

Bill
Sponsor

Synopsis

Committee &
Status

HB1

Maryland Trauma System Funding Act

Busch & Hurson

Establishing the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund; stating the purpose of the Fund; specifying the manner in which expenditures may be made from the Fund; specifying criteria for developing reimbursement methodology, for reimbursement to trauma physicians, and for filing a report from the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Health Services Cost Review; etc.  (suggests carriers pay a $2.00 fee multiplied by the total number of motor vehicles registered in the state insured by the carrier during the year).

Health and Government Operations

Crossfiled SB479

OPPOSE

Hearing 1/30-1PM
Favorable w/ amendments
Second Reading Passed w/amendments
Third Reading Passed w/amendments 110-23

HB2

Small Business Health Insurance Affordability Act

Busch and Hurson

Specifying the manner in which small group health insurance benefits must be offered to the employers; lowering the cap for small group health insurance benefits; requiring the Maryalnd Health Care Commission and the MIA to study aspects of the administrative cost of health plans in the small group market, etc.

HGO

Crossfiled SB477

MONITOR

Hearing 2/11-1pm
Favorable w/ amendments
Third Reading Passed 139-0

HB4

Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance-Payment of Claims-Notice to Named Insured

Pendergrass

Requiring an insurer to send specified written notice to a named insured if the insurer pays a specified claim under a motor vehicle liability insurance policy under specified circumstances; and generally relating to payment of claims under motor vehicle liability insurance policies.

Economic Matters

MONITOR

Hearing 2/6-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB63

Vehicle Laws-Use of Hand-Held Telephone While Driving-Prohibition

Arnick and Mandel

Prohibiting the driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion from using a telephone that is held by the driver; providing specified exceptions; and providing a penalty for the use of a telephone under prohibited circumstances

Economic Matters

MONITOR

Hearing 2/4-1pm

Unfavorable Report

HB83

Insurance-Professional Liability Insurers-Reporting Requirements

Brown

Requiring insurers providing professional liability insurance to a health care provider in the State to submit specified information to the Maryland Insurance Commissioner; authorizing the Commissioner to require specified insurers to submit specified reports; requiring the Commissioner to submit a report to the Legislative Policy Committee on or before a specified date each year, providing for the termination of the Act; etc.

Economic Matters

MONITOR

Hearing 2/6-1pm

Unfavorable Report

HB84

Insurance-Personal Injury Protection- Notice of Claim

Brown

Increasing from 12 months to 3 years the period of time within which an original claim for personal injury protection benefits must be filed with specified motor vehicle liability insurers.

Economic Matters

OPPOSE

Hearing 2/6-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB114

Insurance-Reinsurance Ceding Insurers

Fulton

Altering the circumstances under which credit, as an asset or deduction from liability, may be allowed to a ceding insurer for reinsurance; repealing a provision of law that prohibits the Maryland Insurance Commissioner from approving or accepting reinsurance by a ceding domestic insurer under specified circumstances; requiring specified payments made by a reinsurer to be made directly to the ceding insurer or its domiciliary receiver except under specified circumstances, etc.

Health and Government Operations

Crossfiled SB165

Hearing 2/20-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Second Reading Passed w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 138-1

Senate
Favorable Report

HB197

Title Insurance-Converted or Misappropriated Trust Moneys-Responsibility of Title Insurer

Chairman-EMC at Request of MIA

Requiring title insurers under specified circumstances to be responsible for trust moneys converted or misappropriated by title insurance producers while acting on behalf of the title insurer or while providing escrow, closing or settlement services on behalf of the title insurer.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/20-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB200

Insurance-Regulation of Insurance Producers

Chairman-EMC at Request of MIA

Altering provisions regarding the reporting of appointments and terminations of insurance producers to the MIA; repealing specified fees; authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to appoint specified advisory boards and review continuing education courses; requiring insurers to maintain information regarding appointments and terminations of insurance producers; etc.

Economic Matters

Prior Year HB450/02

SUPPORT W/ AMENDMENTS

Hearing 2/13-1pm
Favorable w/ amendments
Third Reading Passed 138-0

HB 206

Civil Actions-Enforcement of Prompt Payment of Claims

Brown

Clarifying that a specified provision of law requiring payment of interest on specified claims that remain unpaid after a specified period of time may be enforced by filing specified civil actions; prohibiting a person that files a specified action from filing a specified complaint with the Insurance Commissioner; requiring the award of specified attorney fees; and generally related to civil remedies.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/25-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB286

Insurance-Premium Financing-Return of Unearned Premiums on Cancellation of Insurance Contract

Kach and Love

Limiting to a specified amount the administrative fee that may be excluded from gross unearned premiums that are due under an insurance contract and that must be returned to a premium finance company by an insurer when the insurance contract is cancelled; and altering the items that may be excluded from the gross unearned premiums.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/13-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB312

Insurers-Third Party Claimants-Notice of Payment to Claimant's Attorney

Krysiak and Kirk

Requiring an insurer to provide written notice to specified third party claimants of payment of $2,000 or more if the third party liability claim is delivered to the claimant's attorney by check, draft, or other means; and altering the time period within which the notice must be mailed to a third party claimant.

Economic Matters

Prior Year SB147/01

WITHDRAWN

Crossfiled SB69

Hearing 2/13-1pm

HB418

Insured Workers Insurance Fund- Risk Based Capital- Exemption from Excessive Premium Growth Charge

Wood and Minnick

Exempting the Injured Workers Insurance Fund from the excessive premium growth charge or other penalty associated with premium growth in any risk based capital calculation.

Economic Matters

MONITOR

Crossfiled SB85

SUPPORT W/ AMENDMENTS

Hearing 2/27-1pm
Favorable w/ amendments
Third Reading Passed 138-0

Senate
Favorable Report

HB431

Insurance- Premium Finance Companies- Financial Requirements

Minnick

Establishing specified financial requirements for premium finance companies that file an initial application for registration on or after June 1, 2003.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/20-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB494

Insurance- Public Adjusters- Regulation

Chairman, Economic Matters

Requiring individuals and entities to obtain a license from the Insurance Commissioner before acting as a public adjuster; establishing specified qualifications for licensure as a public adjuster; establishing examination requirements; authorizing the Commissioner to deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew licensure under specified circumstances; etc.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/13-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB502

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Liability- Coverage for Claims of Family Members

Drysiak, Conroy, Gordon, Jameson, Kirk, Love, McHale, Minnick, Moe, Taylor and Wood

Requiring a policy of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance to provide liability coverage for claims of family members in the same amount as the liability coverage for claims made by nonfamily member under the policy; requiring an insurer to offer to the first named insured under a policy or binder of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance liability coverage for claims made by family members in the same amount as the liability coverage for claims made by nonfamily members; etc.

Economic Matters

OPPOSE

Hearing 3/4-1pm

Crossfiled SB517

HB599

Health Insurance- Small Group Market- Coverage- Preexisting Conditions

Redmer, Boteler, Costa, Elliott, McDonough, Oaks, Shank and Weldon

Allowing a carrier that offers a specified health benefit plan in small group market to limit coverage under the plan for not more than 12 consecutive months for a preexisting condition of an enrollee during the 6 month period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage, subject to specified exceptions; clarifying the applicability, to specified late enrollees, of a prohibition on the exclusion of coverage for specified health care services, etc.

Health and Government Operations

Crossfiled SB164

Hearing 2/21-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB641

Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance- Valuation of Motor Vehicles

Kach and Hutchins

Requiring an insurer that issues or delivers a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance in the State to use a specified value from the National Automobile Dealer's Association used car guide to determine the fair market value of a motor vehicle that is totally destroyed on a motor vehicle accident; establsihing that the determination of fair market value is subject to specified adjustments; requiring the determination of fair market value to take into consideration the reasonable cost of specified repairs; etc.

Economic Matters

Hearing 3/4-1pm

Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 138-0

HB658

Vehicle Laws- License Restrictions for a Minor- Restrictions Against Minors as Passengers

Mandel, et al

Requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to impose specified restriction on the original driver's license of a minor that prohibits the minor from transporting individuals under the age of 18 for a specified time period; requiring the Administration to impose a specified restriction on the original drivers' license of a minor that prohibits the minor from transporting more than one individual under the age of 18 for a specified time period; providing an exception to the passenger restriction, etc.

Environmental Matters

Hearing 3/4-1pm

Favorable w/amendments
Recommit to Environmental Matters

HB694

Vehicle Laws - Speed Monitoring Systems -Radar Cameras

Bronrott, Barkley Barve, Bobo, Burns, Cane, V. Clagett, Cryor, Dumais, Feldman, Franchost, Frush, Goldwater, Hixson, Holmes, Hubbard, Hurson, Lee, Mandel, Marriott, Montgomery, Parket Ross, and Stern

Authorizing specified law enforcement agencies to mail a citation to the owner of a motor vehicle that is recorded by a speed monitoring system to be in violation of specified laws regarding the operation of a motor vehicle in excess of specified speed limits; establishing the content of a citation; authorizing the sending of a warning in lieu of a citation; authorizing reissuance of a citation to a driver of a vehicle under specified circumstances; requiring a citation to be mailed within a specified time period; etc.

Environmental Matters

Crossfiled SB455

Prior Yr. SB565/02

Hearing 3/11-1pm

HB711

Insurance Other than Life Insurance, Health Insurance, and Annuities- Offers of Educational or Promotional Materials

Harrison

Prohibiting a person from knowingly offering, promising, or giving valuable consideration not specified in a policy of insurance other than life insurance, health insurance, or annuities except for educational materials, promotional materials, or articles of merchandise that cost less than $10.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/20-1pm

Favorable w/amendments
Second Reading Passed w/amendments
Third Reading Passed (138-0)

Senate
Favorable Report

HB717

Insurance- Premium Finance Agreements

Barve, Feldman and Taylor

Providing that a premium finance agreement, in addition to financing the premium of a surplus lines insurance contract may include specified premium receipts taxes and fees charged by a surplus lines broker; and altering the manner in which a finance charge is computed.

Economic Matters

Crossfiled SB167

Hearing 2/20-1pm
Favorable Report
Second Reading Passed
Third Reading Passed 139-1

Senate
Favorable w/amendments

HB742

Vehicle Laws- Uninsured Motorists- Waiver of Right to Noneconomic Damages

Kach, et al

Establishing that an owner of a motor vehicle who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle is not covered by insurance and who is injured in a vehicular accident while operating the vehicle is deemed to have waived the right to recover noneconomic damages in an action against an individual operating an insured vehicle; establishing exceptions; and establishing a rebuttable presumption that  a person knows that a motor vehicle is not covered by insurance under specified circumstances.

Economic Matters

SUPPORT

Hearing 3/4-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB749

Insurance- Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund- Premium Rates

Love

Repealing a provision of law that requires the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, in reviewing premium rates filed by the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, to consider not only specified rating principles, but also a specified purpose of the Fund; and making a conforming change.

Economic Matters

Hearing 3/4-1pm

WITHDRAWN

HB750

Insurance- Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund- Policies Issued by Fund- Cancellation

Love

Requiring any unearned premium that is due to an insured on cancellation of a policy issued by the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund to be calculated on a pro rata basis; and providing that any minimum premium, expense constant, or similar charge imposed by the Fund on cancellation of a policy issued by the Fund may not exceed $75.

Economic Matters

Hearing 3/4-1pm

WITHDRAWN

HB802

Title Insurance- Trust Money Protection

Fulton

Requiring title insurers to provide reimbursement for actual loss of trust money sustained as a result of conversion or misappropriation by specified persons to specified sellers, purchasers, borrowers and lenders in connection with specified real estate transactions; establishing specified limitations on the provision of reimbursement; providing for the allocation of liability for losses resulting from conversion or misappropriation of specified trust money under specified circumstances, etc.

Economic Matters

Hearing 2/20-1pm
Unfavorable Report

HB964

Property and Casualty Insurance- Insurance Commissioner's Data Request

McHale

Authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to excuse property and casualty insurers from responding to the Commissioner's request for specified data if the insurers demonstrates to the Commissioner that the data would be of marginal use or if the collection of the data would be an undue burden on the insurer based on the size of the insurer; etc.

Economic Matters

Hearing 3/6-1pm

WITHDRAWN

HB965

Insurers- Assets and Investments- Location

McHale

Altering the exceptions to the types of assets that domestic insurers with their home or executive offices in the State are required to keep in the State; repealing the 15% limitation on the amount of admitted assets that a domestic insurer may keep outside of the State; and altering the conditions under which the reserve investments of a life insurer may include derivative transactions.

Health & Government Operations

Hearing 3/18-1pm

HB966

Homeowner's Insurance - Cancellation

McHale

Authorizing an insurer to cancel a specified policy of homeowner's insurance under specified circumstances; and generally relating to the cancellation of a policy of homeowner's insurance.

Economic Matters

Hearing 3/6-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 140-0

HB1125

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance- Underwriting Standards- Statistical Validation

Burns

Expanding a provision of current law relating to underwriting standards for private passenger motor vehicle insurance by providing that specified underwriting standards include a conviction of the named insured or a covered driver of a violation of specified prohibitions against driving while under the influence of alcohol per se or while impaired by alcohol, drugs, drugs and alcohol, or specified controlled dangerous substances.

Rules

Crossfiled SB725

HB1153

Insurance- Maryland Property Insurance Availability Act

Wood

Altering the maximum limit of liability on specified real or personal property under the program of operation adopted by the Governing Committee of the Joint Insurance Association; and altering the number of buildings subject to the maximum limit of liability

House Rules and Executive Nominations

Hearing 3/18-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 135-0

HB1170

Courts-Abatement or Dismissal of Civil Action Against Insurer- Interpretation of Insurance Article

Redmer

Requiring a court to abate or dismiss a specified civil action against an insurer authorized to do business in the State under specified circumstances; authorizing a court to abate or dismiss the civil action under specified circumstances; requiring the court to refer specified issues or claims to the Insurance Commissioner; providing that the statute of limitations for civil action is tolled for a specified period of time, etc.

Rules

Hearing 3/19-1pm
Unfavorable Report

SB15

Insurance Policies-Cancellation or Nonrenewal Notices-Mailing Requirements

Rubin

Requiring insurers that intend to cancel or refuse to renew insurance policies issued or delivered in the State to provide the policyholder specified notice of cancellation or nonrenewal by certified mail, return receipt requested; and generally relating to the mailing of notice requirements when insurance policies are canceled or nonrenewed.

Finance

Prior Yr. SB462/98

Hearing 2/4-1pm

Unfavorable Report

SB54

Task Force to Study Pinhole Leaks in Copper Plumbing

Frosh & Ruben

Establishing a Task Force to Study Pinhole Leaks in Copper Plumbing; specifying the membership and duties of the Task Force; providing for the appointment of the chairman of the Task Force; providing for the staffing of the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving compensation for serving on the Task Force; authorizing a member of the Task Force to receive reimbursement for specified expenses; requiring that a report be submitted to the General Assembly by December 31, 2003, etc.

Education, Health and Environmental Affairs

Favorable with Amendments

Third Reading Passed (42-0)

SB58

Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund-Small Businesses-Commercial Vehicles

Conway, Britt, Exum, Forehand, Gladden, Hollinger, Hughes, Kelley, Lawlah, McFadden

Alterning the purpose of the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund to include providing specified financial security for commercial vehicles owned by a small business; altering eligibility requirements for the Fund to include a small business that owns a commercial vehicle; etc.

Finance

MONITOR

Hearing 2/4-1pm

SB63

Vehicle Laws-License Restriction for a Minor- Prohibition Against Minors as Passengers

Dyson, Astle, DeGrange, Della, Et al

Requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to impose a restriction on the original driver's license of a minor that prohibits the minor from transporting individuals under a specified age; requiring the restriction to be in effect for a specified time period; exempting specified passengers from the provisions of the Act; authorizing a police officer to enforce the Act only as a secondary violation; and providing that  a violation of the Act is a moving violation for the purpose of awarding points against a driver's license.

Judicial Proceedings

Prior Year SB527/02

MONITOR

Hearing 2/4-1pm
Favorable w/ amendments
Laid Over
Adopted
Third Reading Passed (33-14)

SB69

Insurers-Third Party Claimants-Notice of Payment to Claimant's Attorney

Kelley, Conway, Exum, Garagiola, Hafer, Hogan, Hughes, Jones, Klausmeier, Kramer, Ruben, Stone, Teitelbaum

Requiring an insurer to provide written notice to specified third party claimants of payment of $2,000 or more if the third party liability claims is delivered to the claimant's attorney by check, draft, or other means; and altering the time period within which the notice must be mailed to a third party claimant.

Finance

Prior Yr. SB147/01

MONITOR

Hearing 2/4-1pm

Unfavorable Report

SB72

Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance-Minimum Required Security and Maximum Payments from MAIF-Claims for Bodily Injury or Death

Stone

Increasing specified maximum amounts payable from the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund for claims on account of injury or death; increasing the amount of the minimum required security for the payment of claims for bodily injury or death arising from a motor vehicle accident; and generally relating to payments for claims for bodily injury or death under motor vehicle liability insurance.

Finance

Prior Yr. SB141/02

SUPPORT

Hearing 2/4-1pm

Unfavorable Report

SB73

Motor Vehicle Liability-Personal Injury Protection Coverage-Minimum Benefits

Stone

Increasing the minimum medical, hospital, and disability benefits under personal injury protection coverage that specified insurers must provide in motor vehicle liability insurance policies.

Finance
Prior Yr. SB139/02

OPPOSE

Hearing 2/4-1pm
Unfavorable Report

SB76

Uninsured Motorist Insurers-Settlement Offers-Consent or Refusal to Consent to Acceptance

Hollinger

Altering the method by which an uninsured motorist insurer is required to provide a written consent to acceptance, or a written refusal to consent to acceptance, of a settlement offer to specified injured persons.

Finance

Prior Yr. SB270/02

MONITOR

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 36-11

SB84

Labor & Employment Unemployment Insurance- Weekly Benfits Calculation

Kelly, et al

Modifying the method for calculating an individual's unemployment insurance weekly benefits under specified circumstances; prohibiting wages used for a specified calculation from being used under specified circumstances.

Finance

WITHDRAWN

SB85

IWIF-Risk Based Capital-Exemption from Excessive Growth Charge

Astle

Exempting the Injured Workers Insurance Fund from the Excessive premium growth charge or penalty associated with premium growth in any risk based capital calculation.

Finance

SUPPORT W/ AMENDMENTS

Hearing 3/4-1pm
Favorable w/ amendments
Third Reading Passed 45-0

SB164

Health Insurance- Small Group Market-Coverage-Preexisting Conditions

Astle

Allowing a carrier that offers a specified health benefit plan in the small group market to limit coverage under the plan for not more than 12 consecutive months for a preexisting condition of an enrollee during the 6 month period immediately preceding the effective date of coverage, subject to specified exceptions; clarifying the applicability, to specified late enrollees, of a prohitibiton on the exclusion of coverage for specified health care services, etc.

Finance

Crossfiled HB599

MONITOR

Hearing 2/12-1pm
Unfavorable Report

SB165

Insurance-Reinsurance -Ceding Insurers

Astle

Altering the circumstances under which credit, as an asset or deduction from liability, may be allowed to a ceding insurer for reinsurance; repealing a provision of law that prohibits the Maryland Insurance Commissioner from approving or accepting reinsurance by a ceding domestic insurer under specified circumstances; requiring specified payments made by a reinsurer to be made directly to the ceding insurer or its domiciliary receiver except under specified circumstances; etc.

Finance

Crossfiled HB114

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Unfavorable Report

SB167

Insurance-Premium Finance Agreements

Astle

Providing that a premium finance agreement, in addition to financing the premium of a surplus lines insurance contract, may include specified receipts taxes and fees charged by a surplus lines broker, and altering the manner in which a finance charge is computed.

Finance

MONITOR

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 46-0

SB174

Property and Casualty Insurance-Use of Credit History

Jacobs, Colburn, Hooper and Stone

Requiring an insurer, with respect to homeowners and motor vehicle insurance, to obtain specified approval to use credit history to rate a risk based on specified credit history; prohibiting an insurer, with respect to specified insurance, from using a specified factor on a specified credit history; requiring a specified insurer to advise a specified applicant or insured about a specified credit history; prohibiting an insurer from using specified factors in rating a specified policy; etc.

Finance

OPPOSE

WITHDRAWN

Hearing 3/11-1pm

SB182

Insurance-Viatical Settlement Providers and Viatical Settlement Brokers

Kelley

Requiring viatical settlement providers and viatical settlement brokers to register with the Maryland Insurance Commissioner; establishing registration requirements; applying the Act to a viatical settlement contract between a viator and a viatical settlement provider; authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to deny a registration to an applicant or refuse to renew, suspend, or revoke a registration; requiring the Maryalnd Insurance Administration to report to the General Assembly; etc.

Finance

Prior Year SB165/02

SUPPORT

Hearing 2/6-1pm
Favorable with amendments
Second Reading Passed w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 45-0

SB314

Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance-Valuation of Motor Vehicles

Stone

Requiring an insurer that issues or delivers a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance in the State to use a specified value or average price to determine the fair market value of a motor vehicle that is totally destroyed in an accident; and establishing that the determination of fair market value is subject to specified adjustments.

Finance

OPPOSE

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 47-0

SB382

Health Insurance- Small Group Market - Basic Health Benefit Plan

Middleton

Requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission to adopt regulations that specify a Basic Health ABenefit Plan for the small group health insurance market; requiring the Commission to exclude or limit benefits or adjust cost-sharing arrangements in the Basic Plan if the average rate for the Basic Plan exceeds 8% of the average annual wage in the State; and requiring the Commission to determine the average rate for the Basic Plan by using the average rate submitted by each carrier that offers the Basic Plan.

Hearing 2/12-1pm

Unfavorable Report

SB443

Vehicle Laws-Uninsured Motorists- Waiver of Right to Noneconomic Damages

Schrader

Establishing that an owner of a motor vehicle who knows or has reason to know that the vehicle accident while the vehicle is not covered by insurance and who is injured in a vehicular accident while operating the vehicle is deemed to have waived the right to recover noneconomic damages in an action against an individual operating an insured vehicle; establishing exceptions; and establishing a rebuttable presumption that a person knows that a motor vehicle is not covered by insurance under specified conditions.

Crossfiled HB742

SUPPORT

Hearing 2/18-1pm

SB444

Motor Vehicle Insurance- Use of Credit History- Surcharge Repeal

Exum, Della and Kelley

Repealing the actuarially justified surcharge on the rate applied to new policies of private passenger motor vehicle insurance for specified applicants; repealing a specified termination provision relating to specified private passenger motor vehicle insurance; etc.

Hearing 3/11-1pm

MONITOR

Unfavorable Report

SB455

Vehicle Laws- Spped Monitoring Systems- Radar Cameras

Forehand

Authorizing specified law enforcement agencies to mail a citation to the owner of a motor vehicle that is recorded by a speed monitoring system to be in violation of specified laws regarding the operation of a motor vehicle in excess of specified speed limits; establishing the content of a citation; authorizing the sending of a warning in lieu of a citation; authorizing reissuance of a citation to a driver of a vehicle under specified circumstances; requiring a citation to be mailed within a specified time period; etc.

Hearing 2/13-1pm
Favorable w/amendments

SB477

Small Business Health Insurance Affordability Act

Astle

Specifying the manner in which small group health insurance benefits must be offered to employers; lowering the rate cap for small group health insurance benefits; requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Maryland Insurance Administration to study aspects of the administrative cost of health plans in the small group market; etc.

Crossfiled HB2

Hearing 2/12-1pm

Favorable with Amendments
Second Reading Passed
Third Reading Passed (47-0)

SB479

Maryland Trauma System Funding Act

Astle

Establishing the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund; stating the purpose of the Fund; specifying the manner in which expenditures may be made from the Fund; specifying criteria for developing reimbursement methodology, for reimbursement to trauma physicians, and for filing a report from the Maryland Health Care Commission and the Health Services Cost Review; etc.  (suggests carriers pay a $2.00 fee multiplied by the total number of motor vehicles registered in the state insured by the carrier during the year).

Crossfiled HB1

OPPOSE

Hearing 2/19-1pm

SB517

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance-Coverage for Claims of Family Members 

Gladden, Currie, Giannetti, Kelley, McFadden, Miller and Teitelbaum

Requiring a policy of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance to provide liability coverage for claims of family members in the same amount as the liability coverage for claims made by a nonfamily member under the policy; requiring an insurer to offer to the first named insured under a policy or binder of private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance liability coverage for claims made by family members in the same amount as the liability coverage for claims made by nonfamily members; etc.

OPPOSE

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Laid Over (Senator Haines) Adopted

SB587

Maryland Trauma Services Funding Act

Lawlah, Currie, Hogan, McFadden and Teitelbaum

Establishing the Maryland Trauma Services Fund; stating the purpose of the Fund; specifying the manner in which expenditures may be made from the Fund; specifying criteria to be taken into account in developing a specified reimbursement methodology; providing for the administration of the Fund; requiring  specified trauma centers and trauma physicians to apply to the Fund for reimbursement in a specified manner; etc.

OPPOSE

Hearing 2/19-1pm

SB632

Insurance-Other than Life Insurance, Health Insurance and Annuities- Offers of Educational or Promotional Materials

Astle

Prohibiting a person from knowingly offering, promising, or giving valuable consideration not specified in a policy of insurance other than life insurance, health insurance, or annuities except for educational materials, promotional materials or articles of merchandise that cost less than $10.

Hearing 3/11-1pm
Favorable w/amendments
Third Reading Passed 45-0

SB652

Insurers- Assets and Investments - Location

Astle

Altering the exceptions to the types of assets that domestic insurers with their home or executive offices in the State are required to keep in the State; repealing the 15% limitation on the amount of admitted assets that a domestic insurer may keep outside of the State; and altering the conditions under which the reserve investments of a life insurer may include derivative transactions.

Hearing 2/28-1pm
Favorable Report
Third Reading Passed 46-0

SB658

Life Insurance- Prohibited Use of Terrorism Exclusions

Chairman, Finance Committee

Prohibiting delivery or issuance for delivery in the State of a group policy of life insurance if the policy, under specified circumstances, excludes or restricts liability for death that is a result of terrorism; etc.

SB725

Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance - Underwriting Standards- Statistical Validation

Kelley

Expanding a provision of current law relating to underwriting standards for private passenger motor vehicle insurance by providing that specified underwriting standards include a conviction of the named insured or a covered driver of a violation of specified prohibitions against driving while under the influence of alcohol per se or while impaired by alcohol, drugs, drugs and alcohol, or specified controlled dangerous substances.

Crossfiled HB1125

Hearing 3/18-1pm
Favorable Report
Third Reading Passed 47-0