SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1443        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 459

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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AN ACT TO FACILITATE THE RESOLUTION OF AUTO INSURANCE CLAIMS IN EMERGENCIES..

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

Section 8G of chapter 26 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following: -

Upon the declaration of an emergency in any area of the commonwealth by the governor or upon a declaration by the commissioner of insurance that severe weather conditions or other circumstances have resulted in a claims emergency, any insurer shall have the right to appoint temporary appraisers to facilitate the prompt resolution of claims arising out of such emergency.  Such persons shall be deemed to be licensed for all purposes of this section, and such status shall terminate upon a determination by the commissioner of insurance that temporary appraisers are no longer required to facilitate the resolution of such claims.