Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee

HB 1566

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Background:

The Commissioner regulates insurance in this state. This includes oversight of rates, forms, financial conditions, claims practices, and other matters related to the business of insurance. The Commissioner has the general authority to make reasonable rules and regulations to effectuate any provision of the insurance code. The Commissioner has a number of other specific grants of authority, including the ability to adopt rules that define methods of competition and acts and practices to be unfair or deceptive.

The Commissioner may also adopt emergency rules if the Commissioner finds that the "immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest or that state or federal law or federal rule or a federal deadline for state receipt of federal funds requires immediate adoption of a rule." An emergency rule adopted is effective upon filing with the Code Reviser, unless a later date is specified in the order of adoption. An emergency rule may not remain in effect for longer than 120 days after filing. Identical or substantially similar emergency rules may not be adopted successively unless conditions have changed or there is the Commissioner has filed to begin a permanent rule-making and is actively undertaking the appropriate procedures to adopt a permanent rule.

After finding that a public disorder, disaster, energy emergency, or riot exists within this state, which affects life, health, property, or the public peace, the Governor may proclaim a state of emergency in the affected area. The powers granted to the Governor during a state of emergency are effective only within the area described in the proclamation.

Under the Administrative Procedures Act, an "order," is defined as a "written statement of particular applicability that finally determines the legal rights, duties, privileges, immunities, or other legal interests of a specific person or persons."

Summary of Bill:

When the Governor declares a state of emergency, the Commissioner may issue an order that addresses any or all of the following matters related to insurance policies:

reporting requirements for claims;
grace periods for payment of insurance premiums and performance of other duties by insureds;
temporary postponement of cancellations and renewals; and
medical coverage to ensure access to care.

An order by the Commissioner is effective for up to 30 days. The Commissioner may extend the termination date for the order for an additional period of up to 30 days or for subsequent additional periods of up to than 30 days. The Commissioner may extend the order if, in the Commissioner's judgment, the circumstances warrant an extension. The order must specify, by line of insurance:

the geographic area in which the order applies. The geographic area must be the same as or within the geographic area where the Governor has proclaimed a state of emergency;
the date on which the order becomes effective; and
the date on which the order terminates.

The Commissioner may adopt rules that establish general criteria for orders issued under and may adopt emergency rules applicable to a specific proclamation of a state of emergency by the Governor. This rule-making authority does not limit or affect other rule-making authority granted to the Commissioner.