PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1237 PRINTER'S NO. 2434
No. 1106 Session of 1979
INTRODUCED BY MESSRS. VROON, YOHN, F. TAYLOR, E. H. SMITH, HALVERSON, CORNELL, PYLES AND MACKOWSKI, APRIL 30, 1979
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, NOVEMBER l3, 1979
AN ACT
1 Providing for certain authorized agencies to receive from
2 insurance companies information relating to fire losses;
3 providing for insurance companies to notify authorized
4 agencies of suspicious fire losses, providing for immunity
5 for insurance companies that provide information under this
6 act; providing for the exchange and confidentiality of
7 information and providing penalties.
8 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
9 hereby enacts as follows:
10 Section 1. Short title.
11 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Arson
12 Reporting Immunity Act."
13 Section 2. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
15 have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
16 meanings given to them in this section:
17 "Action." Includes nonaction or the failure to take action.
18 "Authorized agencies."
19 (1) For the purposes of this act SHALL INCLUDE: <--
20 (i) the State Police Commissioner when authorized or <--
1 charged with the investigation of fires at the place 2 where the fire actually took place; 3 (ii) the Fire Commissioner or Fire Chief of all 4 first, second, second class A and third class cities; 5 (iii) the prosecuting attorney responsible for 6 prosecutions in the county where the fire occurred; or 7 (iv) the State's attorney responsible for the 8 prosecution in the county where the fire occurred. 9 (2) Solely for the purposes of section 3(a): 10 (i) the Federal Bureau of Investigation or Federal 11 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; or 12 (ii) the United States Attorney's Office when 13 authorized or charged with investigation or prosecution 14 of the fire in question. 15 "Insurance company." Includes the Pennsylvania Fair Plan 16 created pursuant to the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.738, No.233), 17 known as "The Pennsylvania Fair Plan Act." 18 "Relevant." Information having any tendency to make the 19 existence of any fact that is of consequence to the 20 investigation or determination of the issue more probable or 21 less probable than it would be without the evidence. 22 Section 3. Disclosure of information. 23 (a) Fire loss information.--Any authorized agency may, in 24 writing, require the insurance company at interest to release to 25 the requesting agency any or all relevant information or 26 evidence deemed important to the authorized agency which the 27 company may have in its possession, relating to the fire loss in 28 question. Material shall be deemed important, if within the sole 29 discretion of the authorized agency, such material is requested 30 by the authorized agency. Relevant information may include, 19790H1106B2434 - 2 -
1 without limitation herein: 2 (1) pertinent insurance policy information relevant to a 3 fire loss under investigation and any application for such a 4 policy; 5 (2) policy premium payment records which are available; 6 (3) history of previous claims made by the insured; and 7 (4) material relating to the investigation of the loss, 8 including statements of any person, proof of loss and any 9 other evidence relevant to the investigation. 10 (b) Notification for investigation.-- 11 (1) When an insurance company has reason to believe that 12 a fire loss in which it has an interest may be of other than 13 accidental cause, the company shall notify in writing an 14 authorized agency and provide it with any or all material 15 developed from the company's inquiry into the fire loss. Such 16 notification shall be sufficient notice for purposes of this 17 act. 18 (2) Nothing in section 3(b) shall abrogate or impair any 19 rights or duties created under section 3(a). 20 (c) Release of information.--The authorized agency provided 21 with information pursuant to section 3(a) or 3(b) and in 22 furtherance of its own purposes, may release or provide such 23 information to any of the other authorized agencies. 24 (d) Furnishing of information to insurance company.--Any 25 insurance company providing information regarding a specific 26 fire loss to an authorized agency or agencies pursuant to 27 section 3(a) or 3(b), shall have the right to receive any 28 relevant information on that fire loss from the authorized 29 agency, within a period not to exceed 30 days. 30 (e) Immunity.--Any insurance company, or person designated 19790H1106B2434 - 3 -
1 to act in its behalf; or authorized agency who releases 2 information, whether oral or written, pursuant to section 3(a) 3 or 3(b) shall be immune from any liability arising out of a 4 civil action and from criminal prosecution unless there be 5 actual malice. 6 Section 4. Evidence. 7 (a) Confidential information.--Any authorized agency and 8 insurance company described in section 2 or 3 who receives any 9 information furnished pursuant to this act, shall hold the 10 information in confidence until such time as its release is 11 required pursuant to a criminal or civil proceeding. 12 (b) Testimony.--Any authorized agency or their personnel, 13 may be required to testify in any litigation in which the 14 insurance company at interest is named as a party. 15 Section 5. Penalty. 16 Any person who fails or refuses to release any information 17 required to be released under this act or who discloses 18 information required to be held in confidence, or who otherwise 19 violates any provision of this act shall, upon conviction 20 thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. 21 Section 6. Construction of act. 22 (a) Municipal ordinances.--The provisions of this act shall 23 not be construed to affect or repeal any ordinance of any 24 municipality relating to fire prevention or the control of 25 arson. 26 (b) Impairment of rights not intended.--With the exception 27 of section 3(e), all other provisions of this act shall not be 28 construed to impair any existing statutory or common law rights, 29 powers or duties. 30 Section 7. Effective date. 19790H1106B2434 - 4 -
1 This act shall take effect in 60 days. AND OTHER POLICE <--
2 OFFICERS CHARGED WITH THE INVESTIGATION OF FIRES AT THE PLACE
3 WHERE THE FIRE ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE;
4 (II) THE FIRE COMMISSIONER OR FIRE CHIEF OF ALL
5 FIRST, SECOND, SECOND CLASS A AND THIRD CLASS CITIES;
6 (III) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL;
7 (IV) THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY RESPONSIBLE FOR
8 PROSECUTIONS IN THE COUNTY WHERE THE FIRE OCCURRED;
9 (V) THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION;
10 (VI) THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND
11 FIREARMS;
12 (VII) THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY WHEN AUTHORIZED OR
13 CHARGED WITH INVESTIGATION OR PROSECUTION OF THE FIRE IN
14 QUESTION;
15 (VIII) DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES BUREAU
16 OF FORESTRY;
17 (2) SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 3(B), AN
18 APPROPRIATE AUTHORIZED AGENCY IS:
19 (I) THE STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER OR HIS AUTHORIZED
20 REPRESENTATIVE; OR
21 (II) THE FIRE COMMISSIONER OR FIRE CHIEF OF ALL
22 FIRST, SECOND, SECOND CLASS A AND THIRD CLASS CITIES AND
23 THE FIRE CHIEF OF ANY OTHER MUNICIPALITY WITH A PAID FIRE
24 DEPARTMENT WHEN THAT MUNICIPALITY IS NOT SERVICED BY THE
25 STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER OR HIS AUTHORIZED
26 REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATING FIRES.
27 "INSURANCE COMPANY." ANY INSURANCE COMPANY AUTHORIZED TO
28 TRANSACT THE BUSINESS OF INSURANCE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH AND
29 EMPOWERED TO ISSUE POLICIES OF INSURANCE AGAINST LOSS BY THE
30 PERILS OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION, INCLUDING THE PENNSYLVANIA FAIR
19790H1106B2434 - 5 -
1 PLAN CREATED PURSUANT TO THE ACT OF JULY 31, 1968 (P.L.738, 2 NO.233), KNOWN AS "THE PENNSYLVANIA FAIR PLAN ACT." 3 "FIRE LOSS." SHALL INCLUDE LOSS BY EXPLOSION. 4 "RELEVANT." ANY INFORMATION HAVING A TENDENCY TO MAKE THE 5 EXISTENCE OF ANY FACT THAT IS OF CONSEQUENCE TO THE 6 INVESTIGATION OR DETERMINATION OF THE ISSUE MORE OR LESS 7 PROBABLE THAN IT WOULD BE WITHOUT THE INFORMATION. 8 SECTION 3. DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION. 9 (A) FIRE LOSS INFORMATION.--ANY AUTHORIZED AGENCY MAY, IN 10 WRITING, REQUIRE ANY INSURANCE COMPANY AT INTEREST TO RELEASE TO 11 THE REQUESTING AUTHORIZED AGENCY ANY OR ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION 12 OR EVIDENCE DEEMED IMPORTANT TO THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY WHICH THE 13 INSURANCE COMPANY MAY HAVE IN ITS POSSESSION RELATING TO A FIRE 14 LOSS UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY. RELEVANT 15 INFORMATION MAY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION HEREIN: 16 (1) PERTINENT POLICY INFORMATION RELEVANT TO A FIRE LOSS 17 UNDER INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING ANY APPLICATION FOR SUCH A 18 POLICY; 19 (2) UNDERWRITING INFORMATION OR RISK INSPECTION REPORTS; 20 (3) POLICY PREMIUM PAYMENT RECORDS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE; 21 (4) HISTORY OF PREVIOUS CLAIMS MADE BY THE INSURED; AND 22 (5) MATERIAL RELATING TO THE INVESTIGATION OF THE LOSS, 23 INCLUDING STATEMENTS OF ANY PERSON, PROOF OF LOSS, AND ANY 24 OTHER INFORMATION RELEVANT TO THE INVESTIGATION BY THE 25 AUTHORIZED AGENCY. 26 (B) NOTIFICATION FOR INVESTIGATION.-- 27 (1) WHEN AN INSURANCE COMPANY HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT 28 A FIRE LOSS IN WHICH IT HAS AN INTEREST MAY BE OF OTHER THAN 29 A FORTUITOUS NATURE, THE COMPANY SHALL NOTIFY, IN WRITING, 30 THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORIZED AGENCY AND UPON THE REQUEST OF ANY 19790H1106B2434 - 6 -
1 AUTHORIZED AGENCY, SHALL PROVIDE THE REQUESTING AUTHORIZED 2 AGENCY WITH SUCH FIRE LOSS INFORMATION DEVELOPED FROM THE 3 COMPANY'S INQUIRY INTO THE FIRE LOSS AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY 4 THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY; 5 (2) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION SHALL ABROGATE OR IMPAIR 6 ANY RIGHTS OR DUTIES CREATED UNDER SUBSECTION (A). 7 (C) NOTIFICATION TO POLICYHOLDER.--WHEN INFORMATION IS 8 REQUESTED OF ANY INSURANCE COMPANY BY AN AUTHORIZED AGENCY 9 PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (A) OR (B): 10 (1) THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHALL SEND WRITTEN NOTICE TO 11 THE POLICYHOLDER OR POLICYHOLDERS ABOUT WHOM THE INFORMATION 12 PERTAINS, EXCEPT IF THE INSURANCE COMPANY RECEIVES NOTICE 13 THAT THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY FINDS, BASED ON SPECIFIC FACTS, 14 THAT THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT SUCH INFORMATION WILL 15 RESULT IN: 16 (I) ENDANGERMENT TO THE LIFE OR PHYSICAL SAFETY OF 17 ANY PERSON. 18 (II) FLIGHT FROM PROSECUTION. 19 (III) DESTRUCTION OF OR TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE. 20 (IV) INTIMIDATION OF ANY POTENTIAL WITNESS OR 21 WITNESSES. 22 (V) OBSTRUCTION OF OR SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZING AN 23 INVESTIGATION. 24 (2) THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHALL SEND WRITTEN NOTICE NOT 25 SOONER THAN 45 NOR MORE THAN 60 DAYS FROM THE TIME THE 26 INFORMATION IS FURNISHED TO AN AUTHORIZED AGENCY EXCEPT WHEN 27 THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY SPECIFIES THAT A NOTICE SHOULD NOT BE 28 SENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXCEPTIONS ENUMERATED UNDER 29 PARAGRAPH (1) IN WHICH EVENT THE INSURANCE COMPANY SHALL SEND 30 WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE POLICYHOLDER NOT SOONER THAN 180 DAYS 19790H1106B2434 - 7 -
1 NOR MORE THAN 190 DAYS FOLLOWING THE DATE SUCH INFORMATION IS 2 FURNISHED TO AN AUTHORIZED AGENCY. 3 (3) EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY OR AUTHORIZED AGENCY AND ANY 4 PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN INSURANCE COMPANY OR AUTHORIZED 5 AGENCY COMPLYING WITH OR ATTEMPTING IN GOOD FAITH TO COMPLY 6 WITH PARAGRAPHS (1) AND (2) SHALL BE ABSOLUTELY IMMUNE FROM 7 ANY CIVIL LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF ANY ACTS OR OMISSIONS IN 8 SO DOING. 9 (4) NOTHING IN THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO 10 CREATE ANY RIGHTS TO PRIVACY OR CAUSES OF ACTION ON BEHALF OF 11 POLICYHOLDERS WHICH ARE NOT IN EXISTENCE AS OF THE EFFECTIVE 12 DATE OF THIS ACT. 13 (D) RELEASE OF INFORMATION.--AN AUTHORIZED AGENCY THAT IS 14 PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (A) OR (B) MAY, 15 AT ITS DISCRETION, IN GOOD FAITH, RELEASE OR PROVIDE ORALLY OR 16 IN WRITING SUCH INFORMATION THAT IT MAY POSSESS IN WHOLE OR IN 17 PART TO ANY OTHER AUTHORIZED AGENCY OR INSURANCE COMPANY IN 18 FURTHERANCE OF THE AUTHORIZED AGENCY'S OWN INVESTIGATIVE 19 PURPOSES. 20 SECTION 4. IMMUNITY. 21 ANY INSURANCE COMPANY, OR PERSON DESIGNATED TO ACT IN ITS 22 BEHALF; OR ANY AUTHORIZED AGENCY OR PERSON AUTHORIZED TO ACT ON 23 ITS BEHALF, WHO SHALL RELEASE INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR 24 WRITTEN, PURSUANT TO SECTION 3(A), (B) OR (D) SHALL BE IMMUNE 25 FROM LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF A CIVIL ACTION AND FROM CRIMINAL 26 PROSECUTION WITH RESPECT TO THE RELEASE OF SUCH INFORMATION, 27 UNLESS THERE BE ACTUAL MALICE. 28 SECTION 5. EVIDENCE. 29 EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 3(D), ANY AUTHORIZED AGENCY OR 30 INSURANCE COMPANY DEFINED IN SECTION 2 WHO RECEIVES ANY 19790H1106B2434 - 8 -
1 INFORMATION FURNISHED PURSUANT TO THIS ACT, SHALL HOLD THE 2 INFORMATION IN STRICT CONFIDENCE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS ITS RELEASE 3 IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO A CRIMINAL OR CIVIL PROCEEDING. 4 SECTION 6. PENALTY. 5 (A) DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.--ANY PERSON WHO SHALL FAIL OR 6 REFUSE TO RELEASE ANY INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE RELEASED UNDER 7 THIS ACT OR WHO DISCLOSES INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN 8 CONFIDENCE, OR WHO OTHERWISE VIOLATES ANY PROVISION OF THIS ACT 9 (EXCEPT SECTION 3(C)(1) AND (2)) SHALL, UPON CONVICTION THEREOF, 10 BE GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OF THE THIRD DEGREE. 11 (B) IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.--ANY PERSON WHO SHALL RELEASE 12 OR DISCLOSE INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE 13 PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 (OTHER THAN AS PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 14 3(A), (B) OR (D)) SHALL NOT BE AFFORDED THE PROTECTION OF 15 IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF A CIVIL ACTION OR 16 CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 4. 17 SECTION 7. CONSTRUCTION OF ACT. 18 (A) MUNICIPAL ORDINANCES.--THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL 19 NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT OR REPEAL ANY ORDINANCES OF ANY 20 MUNICIPALITY RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION OR THE CONTROL OF 21 ARSON. 22 (B) IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS NOT INTENDED.--WITH THE EXCEPTION 23 OF SECTION 4, ALL OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT SHALL NOT BE 24 CONSTRUED TO IMPAIR ANY EXISTING STATUTORY OR COMMON LAW RIGHTS, 25 POWERS OR DUTIES. 26 SECTION 8. REGULATIONS. 27 (A) STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER.--THE STATE POLICE 28 COMMISSIONER MAY ADOPT SUCH RULES AND PUBLISH REGULATIONS 29 CONCERNING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 3(D), AS HE MAY DEEM 30 NECESSARY. 19790H1106B2434 - 9 -
1 (B) INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.--THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER MAY 2 ADOPT SUCH RULES AND PUBLISH REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE 3 IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT EXCEPT FOR SECTION 3(D). 4 SECTION 9. REPORT TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 5 NOT LATER THAN 18 MONTHS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS 6 ACT, THE STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL 7 ASSEMBLY ON THE LEGALITY, FEASIBILITY, ADVISABILITY, AND THE 8 MANNER, IF ANY, OF PROVIDING INVESTIGATORY MATERIAL TO INSURANCE 9 COMPANIES. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED ONLY AFTER 10 CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, REPRESENTATIVES OF 11 THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, OTHER AUTHORIZED AGENCIES AND ANY OTHER 12 ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS AT INTEREST AS DETERMINED BY THE 13 COMMISSIONER. 14 SECTION 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 15 THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 120 DAYS. B16L37DGS/19790H1106B2434 - 10 -