S-4511.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6494

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Financial Institutions, Insurance & Housing (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley, Prentice, Kohl and Oke)

Read first time 02/06/98.

Providing for consumer choices in automotive repair.

    AN ACT Relating to consumer choices in automotive repair; and adding a new section to chapter 48.30 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.30 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) In recognition of a claimant's right to choose a specific automotive repair shop, the insurer may not engage in any act causing or intended to cause a claimant to believe the claimant does not have the right to choose a specific automotive repair shop.

    (2) Nothing in this section is intended to prevent an insurer from recommending an automotive repair shop to the claimant, if:

    (a) The insurer does not violate the restrictions described in subsection (1) of this section; and

    (b) The insurer verbally makes the following disclosure during a conversation with the claimant:

YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE YOUR VEHICLE REPAIRED BY A PERSON OR BUSINESS WE SELECT OR RECOMMEND.

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