Jefferson City Update

September 2008

The legislative session has ended for this year and we were successful in keeping any changes from being made to the Missouri State Safety Inspection Program. When the next session begins it will be likely that new bills will be introduced to change or eliminate the Safety Inspection program. Scrap tires will be another issue because in the next session we need to have the program adjusted and continued. As it stands now the law will sunset in January 2010. We will reintroduce the collision bills and hopefully see them move through the system at a faster pace this session. With the election in November and a new governor things could be very different the next session.

HB1486 – WE STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS BILL, Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections Sponsor: Brown (30) – This bill exempts a motor vehicle newer than six years old from the motor vehicle safety inspection requirements when renewing or reregistering a license.

This bill never got out of committee.

HB1564 – WE STRONGLY OPPOSED THIS BILL, Motor Vehicle Safety Inspections Repeal Sponsor: LeVota – This bill repeals the laws requiring motor vehicle safety inspections effective January 1, 2009.

This bill never even got a hearing

HB2385 – WE SUPPORTED THIS BILL, Establishes a pro­cedure which allows automobile repair businesses to sell vehicles that have been abandoned by the owner at the repair shop.

This bill never even got a hearing

SB 936 - WE SUPPORTED THIS BILL, This act modifies the state emissions law to allow motorists to operate their vehicle for 30 days beyond the vehicle's registration expiration without a current state registration license for the purposes of resetting their vehicle's readiness monitors and passing the on-board diagnostic (OBD) retest. Motorists must keep a copy of the most recent failing OBD test results in their vehicle to present to law enforcement. Motorists would still be liable for late registration penalties. Passed Senate and sent to the House   http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/pdf-bill/perf/SB936.pdf

This bill passed and was signed into law by Governor 7/13/2008

SB775 – WE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THIS BILL – Under this act, an insurer shall inform a vehicle owner immediately on first contact that they have the right to choose the repair facility of their choice to repair their vehicle. The insurer shall halt any efforts to re-direct, refer or otherwise influence the vehicle owner in the choice of repair facility or program other than the repair facility chosen by the vehicle owner once the vehicle owner has stated they have chosen a repair facility.

http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=149

This bill did make it to the Senate Floor but it was on the last day of session

SB868 – WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THIS BILL – This act makes it an unfair practice for an insurance company not to follow all components of a repair manual when appraising a damaged vehicle. Specifically, it is an unfair trade practice for an automobile insurance company to:

1) Modify any published manual or any automated appraisal system relating to auto body repair without prior agreement between the parties.

http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=116

This bill did not make it out of committee

HB1920 – WE STRONGLY SUPPORTED THIS BILL – Prohibits insurance companies from acquiring any ownership interest in an auto body repair shop or offering an incentive for a referral to a specific auto body repair shop. Sponsor: Harris, Co-Sponsor: Daus.

http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/hb11920.htm

This bill did not make it out of committee.