By Mr. Mariano of Quincy, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1003) of Ronald Mariano and Joyce A. Spiliotis relative to the payment of insurance claims for glass damage on motor vehicles and further regulating the use of specific companies for repairs.  Financial Services.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Ronald Mariano

Joyce A. Spiliotis

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act prohibiting motor vehicle insurance companies from directing insureds to specific auto glass companies for repair of vehicles.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 100A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, the following new chapter:—

CHAPTER 100B.
AUTO GLASS REPAIRS: RESTRICTIONS.

Section 1.  Notwithstanding any provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, no insurance company, third party biller, agent or adjuster for such insurance company that issues or renews in the commonwealth any policy of insurance covering in whole or in part any motor vehicle may require that any person insured under said policy use a particular company or location for the providing of automobile glass replacement or repair services of products insured in part by that policy.
Section 2.  No such insurance company, third party biller, agent or adjuster for such insurance company may engage in any act or practice of intimidation, coercion, threat or inducement for or against any such insured person to use a particular company or location to provide such services or products nor shall such insurance company, agent or adjuster provide for, allow or facilitate telephonic claims information directly to preferred automobile glass repair shops.
Section 3.  The provisions of Section 1 and Section 2 of this Act are applicable only to auto glass repair shops registered under the provisions of chapter 100A, and who will accept payment from insurance companies according to pricing discounts published and set from time to time by said insurance companies. Any violations of this chapter are subject to the provisions of chapter 93A.