S-912                 _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 5495

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Senators Bender, Owen, McMullen, Hansen, Conner and DeJarnatt

Read first time 1/26/89 and referred to Committee on   Financial Institutions & Insurance.

AN ACT Relating to automobile insurance rate reductions; adding a new section to chapter 48.19 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 43.24 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 48.19 RCW to read as follows:

          Any schedule of rates or rating plan for automobile liability and physical damage insurance submitted to or filed with the commissioner shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges except for underinsured motorist coverage for an insured for a three-year period after successfully completing a motor vehicle accident prevention course, known as the defensive driving course, approved by the department of licensing.  This section does not apply to attendance at a program as a result of a traffic infraction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 43.24 RCW to read as follows:

          The department of licensing, after consultation with the state traffic safety commission, shall adopt rules for the approval of defensive driving courses under section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     This act shall take effect January 1, 1990, and applies to all schedules of rates and rating plans filed after December 31, 1989.