BILL NUMBER: AB 2677	CHAPTERED  09/24/04

	CHAPTER  765
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 24, 2004
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 24, 2004
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 16, 2004
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 10, 2004
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 22, 2004
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 19, 2004

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ridley-Thomas

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2004

   An act to add Chapter  10.27 (commencing with Section 672) to Part
1 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code, relating to insurance.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2677, Ridley-Thomas.  Auto insurance:  cost estimates.
   Under existing law, the Insurance Commissioner generally regulates
automobile insurers.
   This bill would require an insurer licensed to sell personal
automobile insurance to provide consumers of that insurance with a
cost estimate for its lowest priced personal automobile insurance
policy at the limits the consumer has requested and for which the
consumer is eligible.  It would require an insurer to meet this
requirement by maintaining a toll-free telephone number or an
Internet Web site, as specified.  The bill would require an insurer
to provide the toll-free telephone number or the Internet Web site
address to the commissioner, and would require the commissioner to
make this information available on the department's Internet Web site
and through the department's consumer toll-free telephone line.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Chapter 10.27 (commencing with Section 672) is added to
Part 1 of Division 1 of the Insurance Code, to read:

      CHAPTER 10.27.  AVAILABILITY OF COST ESTIMATES

   672.  (a) Every admitted insurer or insurer group licensed to sell
automobile insurance shall provide consumers of personal automobile
insurance, as described in Section 660, with a cost estimate for its
lowest priced personal automobile insurance policy at the limits the
consumer has requested and for which the consumer is eligible.
   (b) The insurer shall meet this requirement by either or both of
the following:
   (1) Maintaining a toll-free telephone number available to
consumers in any geographic area in which the insurer is authorized
or approved to write business in California.  Upon request, the
insurer shall provide the consumer with a cost estimate, or shall
refer the consumer to an insurer representative or insurance
broker-agent who shall, upon request, provide such an estimate based
upon information provided by the consumer.  The insurer shall make
this toll-free number available to the consumer by maintaining a
listing in the toll-free telephone directory.
   (2) Maintaining an Internet Web site where consumers can obtain a
cost estimate online, or be referred to an insurer representative or
insurance broker-agent who shall, upon request, provide the cost
estimate based upon information provided by the consumer.
   (c) Each insurer shall provide the toll-free number or the
Internet Web site address, or both, to the commissioner, who shall
make the information available on the department's Internet Web site
and through the department's consumer toll-free telephone line.