| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to unfair insurance practices; amending s. |
| 3 | 626.9541, F.S.; providing that certain rate increases for |
| 4 | motor vehicle insurance for insureds on active military |
| 5 | service constitute unfair practices; providing penalties; |
| 6 | providing an effective date. |
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| 8 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
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| 10 | Section 1. Paragraph (cc) is added to subsection (1) of |
| 11 | section 626.9541, Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 12 | 626.9541 Unfair methods of competition and unfair or |
| 13 | deceptive acts or practices defined.-- |
| 14 | (1) UNFAIR METHODS OF COMPETITION AND UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE |
| 15 | ACTS.--The following are defined as unfair methods of |
| 16 | competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices: |
| 17 | (cc) Unfair rate increases for persons in military |
| 18 | service.--Charging an increased premium for reinstating a motor |
| 19 | vehicle insurance policy that was canceled or suspended by the |
| 20 | insured solely for the reason that he or she was transferred out |
| 21 | of this state while serving in the United States Armed Forces or |
| 22 | on active duty in the National Guard or United States Armed |
| 23 | Forces Reserve. It is also an unfair practice for an insurer to |
| 24 | charge an increased premium for a new motor vehicle insurance |
| 25 | policy if the applicant for coverage was previously insured with |
| 26 | a different insurer and canceled that policy solely for the |
| 27 | reason that he or she was transferred out of this state while |
| 28 | serving in the United States Armed Forces or on active duty in |
| 29 | the National Guard or United States Armed Forces Reserve. For |
| 30 | purposes of determining premiums, an insurer shall consider such |
| 31 | persons as having maintained continuous coverage. |
| 32 | Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |