Budget Amendment ID: FY2017-S4-668

ECO 668

Gender equity in the purchasing of insurance policies

Messrs. Lewis and Moore, Ms. O'Connor Ives, Ms. Gobi, Mr. Eldridge and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended bill by inserting, after section X, the following new section:-

"section  X.  Chapter 175 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 108J the following section:-

Section 108K. No company, and no officer or agent thereof, shall make or permit any distinction, classification, discrimination, or otherwise recognize any difference, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, or national origin, in the amount or payment of premiums or rate charges, or in the benefits payable, or in any of the other terms or conditions of any group or individual disability, accident or sickness insurance contract issued or delivered within or without the commonwealth on or after January 1, 2011 which covers one or more residents of the commonwealth. As used in this section, sex includes, but is not limited to, conditions unique to one sex, such as pregnancy. Any violation of this section shall constitute an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of chapter 176D.”