FINAL BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6644

                          C 254 L 00

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Making technical corrections to fire protection laws.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on State & Local Government (originally sponsored by Senators Goings, Prentice, Fairley, Rasmussen, Haugen and Costa).

Senate Committee on State & Local Government

House Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance

Background:  Under the Insurance Fraud Reporting Act, an insurer that has reason to believe a reported fire loss may be of other than accidental cause must so notify the chief of the Washington State Patrol through the director of Fire Protection.  The authorized agency receiving this notification may request all relevant information or evidence the insurer may have relating to criminal activity.  The insurer has immunity in any civil or criminal action arising from release of the information, unless actual malice is shown.

Summary:  The insurer may request that the authorized agency to which it made a report, provide relevant information on the fire loss that is in the agency=s possession.  The agency may release information to the insurer at the agency=s discretion.

Immunity from civil or criminal action is extended to the agency complying with the insurer=s request for information.

Non-mergeable double amendments to two sections of the act are merged and reenacted.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 430

House980

Effective:June 8, 2000