HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2515        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1007

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to automobile insurers and appraisers..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 34O of Chapter 90 of the General Laws is here by amended by inserting at the end of the sixteenth paragraph the following :-

 However, no insurer shall place into effect any plan, program or practice which has the purpose of effect of : (1) sponsoring, endorsing or otherwise recommending any appraiser of damage to automobile vehicles, as defined in M.G.L. 26 sec 8G:  (2) directing, advising or otherwise suggesting that any person or firm do business or refuse to do business with (a) any appraiser of damage to automobile vehicles with respect to the appraisal of such damage, or (b) any repair facility registered under M.G.L. 100A; (3) exercising any control over the activities of any independent appraiser contracted to assess damage to automotive vehicles; (4) fixing, establishing, maintaining or otherwise controlling the prices to be paid for appraisal of damage to automotive vehicles, or to be charged by any repair facility registered under M.G.L. 100A for the repair of damage to automotive vehicles for labor or replacement parts in connection therewith, whether by coercion, boycott or intimidation or by the use of flat rate or parts manuals or otherwise.