THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY LOGAN, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, RAFFERTY, KASUNIC, WONDERLING, MUSTO, FERLO AND COSTA, MARCH 20, 2009

REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, MARCH 20, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending the act of June 11, 1947 (P.L.538, No.246), entitled

"An act relating to the regulation of rates for insurance

which may be written by stock or mutual casualty insurance

companies, associations or exchanges, including fidelity,

surety and guaranty bonds and all other forms of motor

vehicle insurance, and title insurance; to rating and

advisory organizations; conferring on the Insurance

Commissioner the power and duty of supervising and regulating

persons, associations, companies and corporations, and of

enforcing the provisions of this act; prescribing and

regulating the practice and procedure before the

commissioner, and procedure for review by the courts; giving

the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County exclusive

jurisdiction over certain proceedings; prescribing penalties

and providing for enforcement thereof, and repealing

inconsistent acts," providing for rate increase notice and

public comment.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  The act of June 11, 1947 (P.L.538, No.246), known

as The Casualty and Surety Rate Regulatory Act, is amended by

adding a section to read:

Section 4.1.  Rate Increase Notice and Public Comment.--

(a)  Any insurer seeking approval from the commissioner to

increase rates shall publish notice of the rate filing in a

newspaper of general circulation in every county in the

Commonwealth in which the insurer has policyholders.

(b)  Prior to approving or disapproving the rate increase,

the commissioner shall allow thirty (30) days, starting from the

date of publication of the notice provided for in subsection

(a), for comment on the rate increase by policyholders who will

be aggrieved by the rate increase.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.