Contact:	Clarence Mills (202) 543-1440 c.mills@att.net
For Release:	Immediate News Bulletin PR-5 January 14, 2009

California DOI Requests Comment on Proposed Anti-Steering Regulations

Hearing set for Feb. 25

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 14, 2009 - California's Department of Insurance (DOI) will hold a public hearing to provide all interested parties the opportunity to present comments with respect to a new regulation on Insurer Recommendations of Automotive Repair Dealers.

The purpose of the new regulation will be to provide guidance and specificity to insurers with respect to the nature and degree of involvement they may have in a consumer's choice of an automotive repair dealer.

The proposed regulation states, "Except when a referral is expressly requested by the claimant, after a claimant has chosen an automotive repair dealer, the insurer shall not suggest or recommend that the claimant select a different automotive repair dealer."

The proposal continues to define the consumer-insurer relationship, "a claimant has chosen an automotive repair dealer when the claimant has specified to the insurer a specific automotive repair dealer ..." The regulation, if approved, also defines what it determines "suggest or recommend" includes as far as insurer actions.

The public hearing will be held at the Capitol Mall in the Employment Development Department Auditorium in Sacramento, Calif., Feb. 25, 2009. If attendance is not an option, all interested parties are invited to submit written comments.

To see the text of this regulation, please visit ASA's legislative Web site, www.TakingtheHill.com.

The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind dedicated to and governed by independent automotive service and repair professionals. ASA serves an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from both the mechanical and collision repair segments of the automotive service industry. ASA's headquarters is in Bedford, Texas.

ASA advances professionalism and excellence in the automotive repair industry through education, representation and member services. For additional information about ASA, including past news releases, go to www.ASAshop.org, or visit ASA's legislative Web site at www.TakingTheHill.com.

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