VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 542 Requesting the Bureau of Insurance to study exclusive agreements between insurance companies and repair or replacement facilities or claims processing centers (networks) and the effect these arrangements have on the ability of an insured or a claimant to choose a repair or replacement facility.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 31, 1997 Agreed to by the Senate, February 19, 1997

WHEREAS, exclusive agreements between insurance companies and repair or replacement facilities or claims processing centers (networks) have been adopted by a growing number of insurance companies within the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the existence of such exclusive arrangements systematically results in consumers being denied the right to use the repair or replacement facility of their choice; and

WHEREAS, allowing consumers the right to choose the repair or replacement facility helps preserve the existence of small, independent businesses; and

WHEREAS, preventing insurance companies from implementing exclusive repair or replacement facilities arrangements reduces the potential for pressure, intimidation, and coercion against the insured or claimant and promotes competition; and

WHEREAS, the Bureau of Insurance can use its resources and data to analyze the scope of the problems associated with exclusive arrangements and can provide timely and effective recommendations to prevent the erosion of competition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Bureau of Insurance be requested to study exclusive agreements between insurance companies and repair or replacement facilities or claims processing centers (networks) and the effect these arrangements have on the ability of an insured or a claimant to choose a repair or replacement facility. The Bureau of Insurance should examine available information to determine the scope of the problem within the Commonwealth and develop recommendations designed to prevent a coercive and anti-competitive environment in the repair and replacement market. The Bureau of Insurance is requested to include and encourage participation by consumers, repair facilities, and insurance companies while conducting this study.

All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Bureau of Insurance for this study, upon request.

The Bureau of Insurance shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.