HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1738        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 826

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mark J. Cusack

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act requiring the Commissioner of Insurance to study the labor rates paid by auto insurers for the repair of damaged motor vehicles.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1738        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 826

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act requiring the Commissioner of Insurance to study the labor rates paid by auto insurers for the repair of damaged motor vehicles.

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.  The commissioner of insurance shall conduct an investigation and study relating to the repair of damaged motor vehicles. Such investigation and study shall encompass the following matters, and such other related matters determined to be relevant by the Commissioner:

1) for the most recent five-year period, the hourly labor rates paid by auto insurers to registered motor vehicle repair shops in connection with the repair of damaged motor vehicles and how those labor rates relate to the labor rates paid in other New England states and in other states and the causes for differences in the rates paid in Massachusetts compared to other states;

2) for the most recent five-year period, the number of registered motor vehicle repair shops in Massachusetts compared to the number of repair shops in other New England states and in other states, the numbers of such repair shops relative to the number of physical damage claims, and the impact any such differences in the number of such repair shops in Massachusetts may have on the hourly labor rate paid to registered motor vehicle repair shops;

3) for the most recent five-year period, the amount of time it takes registered motor vehicle shops to repair damaged motor in relation to the repair times in other states;

4) for the most recent five-year period, the average number of days of use of rental cars in connection with the repair of damaged motor vehicles;

5) the laws governing the repair of damaged motor vehicles in relation to such laws in other states, particularly with respect to their impact on the times taken to complete repairs, the rental car times, and the hourly labor rates paid by insurers to registered motor vehicle repair shops.

The commissioner shall prepare a report containing his findings, analysis, conclusions and recommendations for legislation, if any, based on such investigation and study and shall file his report with the chairs of the Joint Committee on Financial Services no later than December 31, 2016.

SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect on passage.