H-3821.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2430

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By House Committee on Financial Institutions & Insurance (originally sponsored by Representatives Dyer, Zellinsky, Kessler, Romero, Jones and Springer; by request of Insurance Commissioner)

Read first time 01/31/94.

Correcting an error concerning midwifery and birth center malpractice insurance.

    AN ACT Relating to making technical corrections related to the policy limits of the midwifery joint underwriting association; amending RCW 48.87.050; and declaring an emergency.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 48.87.050 and 1993 c 112 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:

    A licensee may apply to the association to purchase midwifery and birth center malpractice insurance and the association shall offer a policy with liability limits of one million dollars per ((individual)) claim and three million dollars per ((occurrence)) annual aggregate, or such other minimum level of mandated coverage as determined by the department of health.  The insurance commissioner shall require the use of a rating plan for midwifery malpractice insurance that permits rates to be modified according to practice volume.  Any rating plan for midwifery malpractice insurance used under this section must be based on sound actuarial principles.  Coverage may not exclude midwives who engage in home birth or birth center deliveries.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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