2019 -- S 0850 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC002156/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE - MOTOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PARTS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Goodwin, Ruggerio, and McCaffrey

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 27-10.2-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-10.2 entitled "Motor

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Vehicle Replacement Parts" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     27-10.2-2. Aftermarket parts -- Time limit prohibition.

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     (a) Whenever an insurance company, in adjusting a claim for motor vehicle physical

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damage, intends to specify the use of aftermarket parts, it shall notify the vehicle owner in

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writing. Any auto body repair shop conducting business in the state of Rhode Island shall not use

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non-original equipment manufactured (OEM) parts, also referred to as aftermarket parts, in the

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repair of any person's automobile, without that person giving the repairer his or her express

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written consent.

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     (b) No insurance company may require the use of aftermarket parts when negotiating

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repairs with any repairer unless the repairer has written consent from the vehicle owner to install

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aftermarket parts. The provisions of this section shall apply only to automobiles that are less than

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forty-eight (48) months beyond the date of manufacture.

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     (c) For any automobile that is less than forty-eight (48) months beyond the date of

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manufacture, the insurer and the auto body repair shop must provide a written notice to the

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vehicle owner that: (i) He or she may require the insurer to pay for and the auto body shop to

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install "original equipment manufacturer parts" or "OEM parts" in the repair of a motor vehicle;

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or (ii) He or she may require the insurer to pay for and the auto body shop to install "non-original

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equipment manufacturer parts" (non-"OEM parts") in the repair of a motor vehicle. To comply

 

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with this provision, written notice may be provided on the appraisal written on behalf of the

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insurer and the estimate prepared by the auto body repair shop.

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     (d) When "OEM part(s)" are used in the repair of a motor vehicle, no insurance company

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may require any repairer to use repair procedures that are not in compliance with the

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recommendations of the original equipment manufacturer.

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     (e) This chapter shall not apply to the repair or replacement of motor vehicle glass

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performed by licensed motor vehicle glass repair shops for non-collision related damage pursuant

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to chapter 38.5 of title 5.

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     (1) The owner of the vehicle must be notified in writing or by electronic mail, when

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installation of replacement glass is due to non-collision related damage, in twelve (12) point bold

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font, as follows:

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     "Replacement of glass on your vehicle may require recalibration of advanced driver

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assistance systems, and other safety related systems. If these systems are not recalibrated, your

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vehicle may not function as designed."

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE - MOTOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PARTS

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     This act would require that the owner of a vehicle be notified in writing or by electronic

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mail that installation of aftermarket glass may require re-calibration of safety related systems, or

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the vehicle may not function as designed.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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