HOUSE BILL No. 5425

 

November 7, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Corriveau, Scott, Virgil Smith, Byrnes, Leland, Hood, Johnson, Melton, Constan, Young, Lemmons, Farrah, Coulouris, Alma Smith, Polidori, Vagnozzi, Tobocman, Condino and Dean and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

 

     A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

 

"The insurance code of 1956,"

 

by amending section 3340 (MCL 500.3340), as amended by 1986 PA 10.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 3340. (1) As agent for participating members, the

 

facility shall file with the commissioner every manual of

 

classification, every manual of rules and rates, every rating plan

 

and every modification of a manual of classification, manual of

 

rules and rates, or rating plan proposed for use for private

 

passenger nonfleet automobile insurance placed through the

 

facility. The facility may incorporate by reference in its filings

 

other material on file with the commissioner. The classifications,

 

rules, and rates and any amendments thereof shall be subject to

 

prior written approval by the commissioner. Except as provided in

 


this chapter, rates filed by the facility for private passenger

 

nonfleet automobile insurance shall be in accordance with chapter

 

21 and rates by the facility for all other automobile insurance

 

shall be filed in accordance with chapter 24.

 

     (2) Every participating member designated to act on behalf of

 

the facility shall be authorized to use the rates and rules

 

approved by the commissioner for use by the facility on business

 

placed through the facility and shall not use other rates for

 

automobile insurance placed through the facility.

 

     (3) Laws relating to rating organizations or advisory

 

organizations shall not apply to functions provided for under this

 

section.

 

     (4) Private passenger nonfleet automobile rates for the

 

facility shall comply with the following requirements:

 

     (a) The territories for the facility shall be defined as those

 

of the principal rating organization for the voluntary market.

 

     (b) The base rates for the facility shall be derived from the

 

weighted average of the base rates currently charged in each

 

facility territory by the 5 10 largest insurer groups insurers,

 

determined by voluntary net direct automobile insurance car years

 

written in the state for the calendar year ending December 31 of

 

the second prior year as reported to the statistical agent.

 

     (c) The base rates as determined in subdivision (b) in each

 

facility territory shall be modified as follows:

 

     (i) One hundred percent of the weighted average in each

 

territory in the highest rated territory or territories in the

 

state within a single political subdivision.

 


     (ii) From 105% to 125% of the weighted average for all other

 

facility territories, with the highest rated such territories

 

receiving the lowest surcharge and increasing to the highest

 

surcharge in the lowest rated facility territories in 5 percentage

 

point increments. In no event, however, shall any such rate exceed

 

the rate established in subdivision (i). Discounts shall be

 

incorporated in the rating plan including discounts for senior

 

citizens in conformity with the standards established in section

 

2111(6), and discounts for absence of claims during the past 3

 

years, antilock brakes, air bags, security systems, seat belt

 

usage, completion of a driver improvement course, and any

 

additional discounts as required or authorized by the commissioner

 

by order or rule.

 

     (d) The facility shall adjust its rates at least once each

 

year or whenever changes in private competitive insurance market

 

rate levels would produce a change in excess of 5% in the facility

 

rate for any facility territory. However, changes shall not be made

 

more often than quarterly.

 

     (e) In the event that underwriting losses and administrative

 

expenses resulting from the operation of the facility at rates

 

established pursuant to this subsection would exceed an amount

 

equal to 5% of the net direct private passenger nonfleet automobile

 

premiums for this state, the levels specified in subdivision (c)(i)

 

and (ii) shall be proportionately increased in an amount to produce

 

underwriting losses and administrative expenses that do not exceed

 

5%.