Bill > HB0606

This bill, known as the "James Lee Atwood Jr. Law," establishes an electronic insurance verification program to ensure motorists meet financial responsibility requirements, primarily through motor vehicle liability insurance. The program will be developed and managed by the Department of Revenue, contracting with a "designated agent" (a third-party vendor) to create and operate an online system that can verify insurance status on demand, using data standards from the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration (IICMVA). Auto liability insurers, defined as companies licensed to provide vehicle insurance, will be required to participate by either submitting data through the IICMVA model or providing a "full book of business" containing policyholder and vehicle details monthly. The law specifies data elements for verification, security measures for collected information, and limits its use to government agencies, law enforcement, and the judiciary, ensuring it is not a public record. It also outlines procedures for notifying vehicle owners if their insurance status is not verifiable for three consecutive months, potentially leading to registration revocation and a reinstatement fee, and provides immunity from civil liability for insurers making a good-faith effort to comply. The program is mandated to be operational by January 1, 2017, with specific provisions for rule-making and effective dates.