Taking the Hill: Your online resource for legislative initiatives impacting the automotive service industry

 

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List of State Legislature Status
To find out what state legislatures are in regular session, which are prefiling for next session and who has adjourned until 2009, click here.


Michigan Insurer-Owned Shop Bill Passes State House
Michigan House Bill 4778 prohibits insurance companies from owning repair facilities in the state. The bill has passed the Michigan House by a vote of 61 to 40. ASA supports this legislation. For the details on HB 4778, click here.

ASA is urging repair shop owners in Michigan to contact their state senators. View the latest legislative alert and send your letter.

Clean Air Conference Presentations Now Online
The presentations from the 24th Annual Clean Air Conference are now online. Click here to download links to the presentations.

President's Identity Theft Task Force Releases Report
The President's Identity Theft Task Force has released a report on reducing the risk of identity theft. Click here to download the report.

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System Data to be Available in 2009
U.S. Federal District Court Judge Marilyn H. Patel, of the Northern District of California, has ruled in favor of Public Citizen Inc. in a case filed in February 2008. More infomation ...

Read the court's decision.

House Commerce Leaders Release Climate Change Legislation
The plan includes greenhouse gas options as well as a vehicle retirement program. Read more ...

Congress Passes Intellectual Property Legislation
Legislation does not include Lofgren parts language. Read S 3325.

Read the House version, with the Lofgren parts language. Read HR 5638.

Colorado Proposes More Changes
to Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program

A public hearing is set for December to discuss the ozone action plan and the state implementation plan. In addtion, changes are being proposed to meet the U.S. EPA’s new ozone standards to reduce VOC emissions.

Read the proposed changes that will by considered by the Colorado Air Commission on Oct. 16, 2008.

View the agenda for the Colorado Air Commission hearing scheduled for December 2008.

Rhode Island Insurance Carriers to Survey Labor Rates
A Rhode Island Superior Court judge ruled that all insurance carriers authorized to sell motor vehicle liability insurance in Rhode Island are required to run a labor rate survey. The information gathered by the survey is to be used to determine the auto body labor rate.

View the court's decision

OSHA Proposes New Respirator Noncompliance Regulation
OSHA has published a proposed regulation to amend the Remedy for Violation of Requirements to Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Employees regulation currently in place. Read more ...

View the entire proposed regulation.

AEI The American Enterprise Association hosted a conference on the future of insurance regulation. Academics have called for the federal regulation of property and casualty insurance.
Action Alert!

Support the Michigan Mini-Tort Bill
The Automotive Service Association urges independent automotive repairers in Michigan to contact their state senators in response to the proposal to increase the mini-tort law to $1,500. The current cap on the mini-tort is $500. Michigan H.B. 5838 has passed the House and is now before the Senate. ASA believes the current law is outdated and warrants the proposed legislative change.

Click here to contact your state senators and urge them to support this legislation.

Allstate Insurance Co. has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in regard to the Texas statute prohibiting insurance companies from owning collision repair shops. The Automotive Service Association (ASA) also has filed a response. Click here to read the full story.

To view the ruling filed Aug. 1, 2007, click here. (2.1 MB .pdf document)

Automotive repair shop licensing legislation has been introduced in the Texas state Senate and House of Representatives. Contact your representatives.
Oregon State Senate Bill 523 will prohibit insurers from recommending motor vehicle repair shops unless the insured requested referral. Click here to read the full text of the bill.
The Antitrust Modernization Commission (AMC) has released its report on U.S. antitrust laws to the president and the U.S. Congress. Read complete report.
Several states have introduced 'Right to Repair' legislation. Legislation is not necessary and promotes government intervention in indepedent repair facilities. Click here to view more information and to send opposition letters to your elected officials.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, has introduced the Insurance Industry Competition Act. This legislation would remove the federal antitrust exemption from the insurance industry. Read the legislation.
The U.S. Senate passed The Minimum Wage Increase Act of 2007 by a vote of 94-3. This marks the first time the minimum wage has been increased in 10 years. Click here to view the Senate Bill. Click here to view the House Bill.
Missouri Senate Bill 17 would repeal safety inspections for automobiles in the state, allowing substandard vehicles on the road. Click here to send a letter to your elected officials. Click here to read the full text of the bill.
ASA recently hosted a shop licensing forum at the Congress of Automotive Repair and Service (CARS) in Las Vegas. Click here to view the presentations and podcast from the forum.
Legislation has been introduced that would provide information to consumers regarding vehicles declared "total loss" by insurance companies. Click here to read a letter sent to Congress regarding the issue. Click here for more information.
Allstate Insurance Co. and Sterling Collision Centers Inc. appeal update: To review the brief of Intervenors-Appellees-Cross-Appellants, click here. To review the background of H.B. 1131, click here.
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs continued hearings to discuss controversial legislation that could impact who regulates the insurance industry. Click here for more information.
Click here to view what the independent repair community says about Right-to-Repair

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