STAND. COM. REP. NO.546-02

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2002

RE: H.B. No. 1700

H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1700 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE POLICIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to allow advertising, translations, and information pertaining to insurance policies to be provided in languages other than English.

State Farm Insurance testified in support of this measure and suggested an amendment. The Hawaii Independent Insurance Agents Association supported the intent of the bill. The Insurance Division of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs expressed concern over the potentially harmful impact of this measure on consumers.

Your Committee finds that this bill would allow the use of non-English language summaries, translations, and advertisements by insurers and their agents while providing that in the case of a dispute, the English policy is controlling. This would benefit non-English speaking consumers by allowing insurers to describe the terms of a policy in the language in which the consumer is most comfortable.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion; and

(2) Making nonsubstantive, technical amendments for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1700, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1700, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce,

 

____________________________

KENNETH T. HIRAKI, Chair