HB 417 -- UNINSURED MOTORISTS

SPONSOR:  Yates

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Insurance
Policy by a vote of 11 to 5.

This bill establishes the Uninsured Motorist Stipulation of
Benefits Act of 2005.  An uninsured motorist involved in an
accident with a complying policyholder will waive any right to
recover damages for a non-economic loss.  Recovery would be
limited to any economic loss.  This waiver will not apply if the
insured operator caused the accident and was under the influence
of drugs or alcohol or is convicted of vehicular assault or
homicide.  Passengers in the uninsured motor vehicle are not
subject to the waiver.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that many states have already adopted
this legislation, and it is working.  The bill does not pertain
to passengers in vehicles who are still covered.  Uninsured
motorists create many problems when they are involved in
accidents because of the lack of insurance.  If they are not
responsible enough to carry liability insurance, they should not
be able to collect for non-economic damages if they are involved
in an accident.  The bill is a fair and firm method of dealing
with the problem of the uninsured motorist.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Yates; Missouri
Insurance Coalition; State Farm Insurance; and Property Casualty
Insurers Association of America.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that it protects
tortfeasors that might cause injury to a person who, for whatever
reason, might be uninsured.  Someone not insured because they
forgot to pay their premium could be hurt by this.

Testifying against the bill was Republican Attorneys for Civil
Justice.

Marc Webb, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm