Prop 103: Insurance Rate Reduction and Reform Act

California Proposition 103, passed in 1988, requires insurance companies to get prior approval from the California Department of Insurance before implementing property and casualty insurance rates. The proposition also requires insurance companies to comply with the state's consumer protection and civil rights laws.

You can read the full text on the California Legislature website, but I've also created a reader-friendly version below.

Enjoy?

Section 1. Findings and declaration.

The people of California find and declare as follows:

Enormous increases in the cost of insurance have made it both unaffordable and unavailable to millions of Californians.

The existing laws inadequately protect consumers and allow insurance companies to charge excessive, unjustified and arbitrary rates.

Therefore, the people of California declare that insurance reform is necessary. First, property-casualty insurance rates shall be immediately rolled back to what they were on November 8, 1987, and reduced no less than an additional 20%.

Second, automobile insurance rates shall be determined primarily by a driver’s safety record and mileage driven. Third, insurance rates shall be maintained at fair levels by requiring insurers to justify all future increases. Finally, the state insurance commissioner shall be elected. Insurance companies shall pay a fee to cover the costs of administering these new laws so that this reform will cost
taxpayers nothing.

Section 2: Purpose.

The purpose of this chapter is to protect consumers from arbitrary insurance rates and practices, to encourage a competitive insurance marketplace, to provide for an accountable insurance commissioner, and to ensure that insurance is fair, available, and affordable for all Californians.

Section 3: Reduction and control of insurance rates.

Article 10, commencing with section 1861.01 is added to chapter 9 of part 2 of division 1 of the insurance code to read:

Insurance Rate Rollback

1861.01.(a) for any coverage for a policy for automobile and any other form of insurance subject to this chapter issued or renewed on or after November 8, 1988, every insurer shall reduce its charges to levels which are at least 20% less than the charges for the same coverage which were in effect on November 8, 1987.

(b) Between November 8, 1988, and November 8, 1989, rates and
premiums reduced pursuant to subdivision (a) may be only increased if
the commissioner finds, after a hearing, that an insurer is
substantially threatened with insolvency.

(c) Commencing November 8, 1989, insurance rates subject to this chapter must be approved by the commissioner prior to their use.

(d) For those who apply for an automobile insurance policy for the first time on or after November 8, 1988, the rate shall be 20% less than the rate which was in effect on November 8, 1987, for similarly situated risks.

(e) Any separate affiliate of an insurer, established on or after November 8, 1987, shall be subject to the provisions of this section and shall reduce its charges to levels which are at least 20% less than the insurer’s charges in effect on that date.

Automobile Rates & Good Driver Discount Plan

1861.02. (a) rates and premiums for an automobile insurance policy, as described in subdivision (a) of section 660, shall be determined by application of the following factors in decreasing order of importance:

(1) the insured’s driving safety record.

(2) the number of miles he or she drives annually.

(3) the number of years of driving experience the insured has had.

(4) those other factors that the commissioner may adopt by regulation and that have a substantial relationship to the risk of loss. The regulations shall set forth the respective weight to be given each factor in determining automobile rates and premiums. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the use of any criterion without approval shall constitute unfair discrimination.

(b) (1)  every person who meets the criteria of section 1861.025 shall be qualified to purchase a good driver discount policy from the insurer of his or her choice. An insurer shall not refuse to offer and sell a good driver discount policy to any person who meets the standards of this subdivision.

(2) the rate charged for a good driver discount policy shall comply with subdivision (a) and shall be at least 20% below the rate the insured would otherwise have been charged for the same coverage. Rates for good driver discount policies shall be approved pursuant to this article.

(3) (a) this subdivision shall not prevent a reciprocal insurer, organized prior to November 8, 1988, by a motor club holding a certificate of authority under chapter 2 (commencing with section 12160) of part 5 of division 2, and which requires membership in the motor club as a condition precedent to applying for insurance from requiring membership in the motor club as a condition precedent to obtaining insurance described in this subdivision.

(b) this subdivision shall not prevent an insurer which requires membership in a specified voluntary, nonprofit organization, which was in existence prior to NovemberNovember 8, 1988, as a condition precedent to applying for insurance issued to or through those membership groups, including franchise groups, from requiring such membership as a condition to applying for the coverage offered to members of the group, provided that it or an affiliate also offers and sells coverage to those who are not members of those membership groups.

(c) however, all of the following conditions shall be applicable to the insurance authorized by subparagraphs (a) and (b):

(i) membership, if conditioned, is conditioned only on timely payment of membership dues and other bona fide criteria not based upon driving record or insurance, provided that membership in a motor club may not be based on residence in any area within the state.

(ii) membership dues are paid solely for and in consideration of the membership and membership benefits and bear a reasonable relationship to the benefits provided. The amount of the dues shall not depend on whether the member purchases insurance offered by the membership organization. None of those membership dues or any portion thereof shall be transferred by the membership organization to the insurer, or any affiliate of the insurer, attorney-in-fact, subsidiary, or holding company thereof, provided that this provision shall not prevent any bona fide transaction between the membership organization and those entities.

(iii) membership provides bona fide services or benefits in addition to the right to apply for insurance. Those services shall be reasonably available to all members within each class of membership.

Any insurer that violates clause (i), (ii), or (iii) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1861.14.

(c) the absence of prior automobile insurance coverage, in and of itself, shall not be a criterion for determining eligibility for a good driver discount policy, or generally for automobile rates, premiums, or insurability.

(d) an insurer may refuse to sell a good driver discount policy insuring a motorcycle unless all named insureds have been licensed to drive a motorcycle for the previous three years.

(e) this section shall become operative on November 8, 1989. The commissioner shall adopt regulations implementing this section and insurers may submit applications pursuant to this article which comply with such those regulations prior to that date, provided that no such application shall be approved prior to that date.

1861.025. A person is qualified to purchase a good driver discount policy if he or she meets all of the following criteria:

(a) he or she has been licensed to drive a motor vehicle for the previous three years.

(b) during the previous three years, he or she has not done any of the following:

(1) had more than one violation point count determined as provided by subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (g), or (h) of section 12810 of the vehicle code, but subject to the following modifications:

A. For the purposes of this section, the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident for which he or she was principally at fault that resulted only in damage to property shall receive one violation point count, in addition to any other violation points which may be imposed for this accident.

B. If under section 488 or 488.5 an insurer is prohibited from increasing the premium on a policy on account of a violation, that violation shall not be included in determining the point count of the person.

C. If a violation is required to be reported under section 1816 of the vehicle code, or under section 784 of the welfare and institutions code, or any other provision requiring the reporting of a violation by a minor, the violation shall be included for the purposes of this section in determining the point count in the same manner as is applicable to adult violations.

(2) had more than one dismissal pursuant to section 1803.5 of the vehicle code that was not made confidential pursuant to section 1808.7 of the vehicle code, in the 36-month period for violations that would have resulted in the imposition of more than one violation point count under paragraph (1) if the complaint had not been dismissed.

(3) was the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident that resulted in bodily injury or in the death of any person and was principally at fault. The commissioner shall adopt regulations setting guidelines to be used by insurers for the their determination of fault for the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(c) during the period commencing on january 1, 1999, or the date 10 years prior to the date of application for the issuance or renewal of the good driver discount policy, whichever is later, and ending on the date of the application for the issuance or renewal of the good driver discount policy, he or she has not been convicted of a violation of section 23140, 23152, or 23153 of the vehicle code, a felony violation of section 23550 or 23566, or former section 23175 or a violation of section 191.5 or *** subdivision (a) of section 192.5 of the penal code.

(d) any person who claims that he or she meets the criteria of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) based entirely or partially on a driver’s license and driving experience acquired anywhere other than in the united states or Canada is rebuttably presumed to be qualified to purchase a good driver discount policy if he or she has been licensed to drive in the united states or Canada for at least the previous 18 months and meets the criteria of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) for that period.

Prohibition on UInfair Insurance Practices

1861.03 (a) the business of insurance shall be subject to the laws of California applicable to any other business, including, but not limited to, the unruh civil rights act (sections 51 through 53, inclusive, of the civil code), and the antitrust and unfair business practices laws (parts 2 (commencing with section 16600) and 3 (commencing with section 17500) of division 7 of the business and professions code).

(b) nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit (1) any agreement to collect, compile and disseminate historical data on paid claims or reserves for reported claims, provided such data is contemporaneously transmitted to the commissioner, or (2) participation in any joint arrangement established by statute or the commissioner to assure availability of insurance.,

(3) any agent or broker, representing one or more insurers, from obtaining from any insurer it represents information relative to the premium for any policy or risk to be underwritten by that insurer, (4) any agent or broker from disclosing to an insurer it represents any quoted rate or charge offered by another insurer represented by that agent or broker for the purpose of negotiating a lower rate, charge, or term from the insurer to whom the disclosure is made, or (5) any agents, brokers, or insurers from utilizing or participating with multiple insurers or reinsurers for underwriting a single risk or group of risks.

(c) (1)notwithstanding any other provision of law, a notice of cancellation or non-renewal of a policy for automobile insurance shall be effective only if it is based on one or more of the following reasons:

(a) non-payment of premium;

(b) fraud or material misrepresentation affecting the policy or insured;

(c) a substantial increase in the hazard insured against.

(2) this subdivision shall not prevent a reciprocal insurer, organized prior to November 8, 1988, by a motor club holding a certificate of authority under chapter 2 (commencing with section 12160) of part 5 of division 2, and which requires membership in the motor club as a condition precedent to applying for insurance, from issuing an effective notice of nonrenewal based solely on the failure of the insured to maintain membership in the motor club. This subdivision shall also not prevent an insurer which issues private passenger automobile coverage to members of groups that were in existence prior to November 8, 1988, whether membership, franchise, or otherwise, and to those who are not members of groups from issuing an effective notice of nonrenewal for coverage provided to the insured as a member of the group based solely on the failure of the insured to maintain that membership if (i) the insurer offers to renew the coverage to the insured on a nongroup basis, or (ii) to transfer the coverage to an affiliated insurer. The rates charged by the insurer or affiliated insurer shall have been adopted pursuant to this article. However, all of the following conditions shall be applicable to that
insurance:

(a) membership, if conditioned, is conditioned only on timely payment of membership dues and other bona fide criteria not based upon driving record or insurance, provided that membership in a motor club may not be based on residence in any area within the state.

(b) membership dues are paid solely for and in consideration of the membership and membership benefits and bear a reasonable relationship to the benefits provided. The amount of the dues shall not depend on whether the member purchases insurance offered by the membership organization. None of those membership dues or any portion thereof shall be transferred by the membership organization to the insurer, or any affiliate of the insurer, attorney-in-fact, subsidiary, or holding company thereof, provided that this provision shall not prevent any bona fide transaction between the membership organization and those
entities.

(c) membership provides bona fide services or benefits in addition to the right to apply for insurance. Those services shall be reasonably available to all members within each class of membership.

Any insurer that violates subparagraphs (a), (b), or (c) shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1861.14.

Full Disclosure of Insurance Information

1861.04. (a) upon request, and for a reasonable fee to cover costs, the commissioner shall provide consumers with a comparison of the rate in effect for each personal line of insurance for every insurer.

Approval of Insurance Rates

1861.05. (a) no rate shall be approved or remain in effect which is excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of this chapter. In considering whether a rate is excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, no consideration shall be given to the degree of competition and the commissioner shall consider whether the rate mathematically reflects the insurance company’s investment income.

(b) every insurer which desires to change any rate shall file a complete rate application with the commissioner. A complete rate application shall include all data referred to in sections 1857.7, 1857.9, 1857.15, and 1864 and such other information as the commissioner may require. The applicant shall have the burden of proving that the requested rate change is justified and meets the requirements of this article.

(c) the commissioner shall notify the public of any application by an insurer for a rate change. The application shall be deemed approved sixty days after public notice unless (1) a consumer or his or her representative requests a hearing within forty-five days of public notice and the commissioner grants the hearing, or determines not to grant the hearing and issues written findings in support of that decision, or (2) the commissioner on his or her own motion determines to hold a hearing, or (3) the proposed rate adjustment exceeds 7% of the then applicable rate for personal lines or 15% for commercial lines, in which case the commissioner must hold a hearing upon a timely request. In any event, a rate change application shall be deemed approved 180 days after the rate application is received by the commissioner (a) unless that application has been disapproved by a final order of the commissioner subsequent to a hearing, or (b) extraordinary circumstances exist. For purposes of this section, “received” means the date delivered to the department.

(d) for purposes of this section, extraordinary circumstances include the following:

(1) rate change application hearings commenced during the 180-day period provided by subdivision (c). If a hearing is commenced during the 180-day period, the rate change application shall be deemed approved upon expiration of the 180-day period or 60 days after the close of the record of the hearing, whichever is later, unless disapproved prior to that date.

(2) rate change applications that are not approved or disapproved within the 180-day period provided by subdivision (c) as a result of a judicial proceeding directly involving the application and initiated by the applicant or an intervenor. During the pendency of the judicial proceedings, the 180-day period is tolled, except that in no event shall the commissioner have less than 30 days after conclusion of the judicial proceedings to approve or disapprove the application. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing shall preclude the commissioner from disapproving an application

Without a hearing if a stay is in effect barring the commissioner from holding a hearing within the 180-day period.

(3) the hearing has been continued pursuant to section 11524 of the government code. The 180-day period provided by subdivision (c) shall be tolled during any period in which a hearing is continued pursuant to section 11524 of the government code. A continuance pursuant to section 11524 of the government code shall be decided on a case by case basis. If the hearing is commenced or continued during the 180-day period, the rate change application shall be deemed approved upon the expiration of the 180-day period or 100 days after the case is submitted, whichever is later, unless disapproved prior to that date.

1861.055. (a) the commissioner shall adopt regulations governing hearings required by subdivision (c) of section 1861.05 on or before 120 days after the enactment of this section. Those regulations shall, at the minimum, include timelines for scheduling and commencing hearings, and procedures to prevent delays in commencing or continuing hearings without good cause.

(b) the sole remedy for failure by the commissioner to adopt the regulations required by subdivision (a) within the prescribed period or to abide by those regulations once adopted shall be a writ of mandate by any aggrieved party in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel the commissioner to adopt those regulations, or commence or resume hearings.

(c) nothing in this section shall preclude the commissioner from commencing hearings required by subdivision (c) of section 1861.05 prior to adopting the regulations required by this section.

(d) the administrative law judge shall render a decision within 30 days of the closing of the record in the proceeding.

1861.06. Public notice required by this article shall be made through distribution to the news media and to any member of the public who requests placement on a mailing list for that purpose.

1861.07. All information provided to the commissioner pursuant to this article shall be available for public inspection, and the provisions of section 6254(d) of the government code and section 1857.9 of the insurance code shall not apply thereto.

1861.08. Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 5 (commencing with section 11500) of part 1 of division 3 of title 2 of the government code, except that:

(a) hearings shall be conducted by administrative law judges for purposes of sections 11512 and 11517, chosen under section 11502 or appointed by the commissioner.

(b) hearings are commenced by a filing of a notice in lieu of sections 11503 and 11504.

(c) the commissioner shall adopt, amend or reject a decision only under section 11518.5 and subdivisions (b), (c), and (e) of section 11517 and solely on the basis of the record; as provided in section 11425.50 of the government code.

(d) notwithstanding section 11501, section 11430.30 and subdivision (b) of section 11430.70 shall not apply in these hearings.

(e) discovery shall be liberally construed and disputes determined by the administrative law judge. As provided in section 11507.7 of the government code.

1861.09. Judicial review shall be in accordance with section 1858.6. For purposes of judicial review, a decision to hold a hearing is not a final order or decision; however, a decision not to hold a hearing is final.

Consumer Participation

1861.10. (a) any person may initiate or intervene in any proceeding permitted or established pursuant to this chapter, challenge any action of the commissioner under this article, and enforce any provision of this article.

(b) the commissioner or a court shall award reasonable advocacy and witness fees and expenses to any person who demonstrates that (1) the person represents the interests of consumers, and, (2) that he or she has made a substantial contribution to the adoption of any order, regulation or decision by the commissioner or a court. Where such advocacy occurs in response to a rate application, the award shall be paid by the applicant.

Emergency Athority

1861.11. In the event that the commissioner finds that (a) insurers have substantially withdrawn from any insurance market covered by this article, including insurance described by section 660, and (b) a market assistance plan would not be sufficient to make insurance available, the commissioner shall establish a joint underwriting authority in the manner set forth by section 11891, without the prior creation of a market assistance plan.

Group Insurance Plans

1861.12. Any insurer may issue any insurance coverage on a group plan, without restriction as to the purpose of the group, occupation or type of group. Group insurance rates shall not be considered to be unfairly discriminatory, if they are averaged broadly among persons insured under the group plan.

Application

1861.13. This article shall apply to all insurance on risks or on operations in this state, except those listed in section 1851.

Enforcement & Penalties

1861.14. Violations of this article shall be subject to the penalties set forth in section 1859.1. In addition to the other penalties provided in this chapter, the commissioner may suspend or revoke, in whole or in part, the certificate of authority of any insurer which fails to comply with the provisions of this article.

Section 4. Elected commissioner.

Section 12900 is added to the insurance code to read:

(a) the commissioner shall be elected by the people in the same time, place and manner and for the same term as the governor not to exceed two four-year terms.

Section 5. Insurance company filing fees.

Section 12979 is added to the insurance code to read:

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12978, the commissioner shall establish a schedule of filing fees to be paid by insurers to cover any administrative or operational costs arising from the provisions of article 10 (commencing with section 1861.01) of chapter 9 of part 2 of division 1.

Section 6. Transitional adjustment of gross premiums tax.

Section 12202.1 is added to the revenue & taxation code to read:

Notwithstanding the rate specified by section 12202, the gross premiums tax rate paid by insurers for any premiums collected between November 8, 1988 and January 1, 1991 shall be adjusted by the board of equalization in January of each year so that the gross premium tax revenues collected for each prior calendar year shall be sufficient to compensate for changes in such revenues, if any, including changes in anticipated revenues, arising from this act. In calculating the
necessary adjustment, the board of equalization shall consider the growth in premiums in the most recent three year period, and the impact of general economic factors including, but not limited to, the inflation and interest rates.

Section 7. Repeal of existing law.

Sections 1643, 1850, 1850.1, 1850.2, 1850.3, 1852, 1853, 1853.6, 1853.7, 1857.5, 12900, article 3 (commencing with section 1854) of chapter 9 of part 2 of division 1, and article 5 (commencing with section 750) of chapter 1 of part 2 of division 1, of the insurance code are repealed.

Section 8. Technical matters.

(a) this act shall be liberally construed and applied in order to fully promote its underlying purposes.

(b) the provisions of this act shall not be amended by the legislature except to further its purposes by a statute passed in each house by roll call vote entered in the journal, two-thirds of the membership concurring, or by a statute that becomes effective only when approved by the electorate.

(c) if any provision of this act or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.