Ohio Legislator Introduces Consumer Choice Bill
May 27, 2010

Ohio Rep. Raymond Prior (D – Ohio) has introduced a bill in the state’s house that would prohibit auto insurers from requiring, recommending, or suggesting that a claimant on a policy have the claimant's vehicle repaired at a particular repair shop or by a particular person unless the claimant requests a recommendation or suggestion.”

If passed, the bill, introduced this week, would add the following provisions to the state’s insurance code:

• No insurer shall require a claimant on an auto insurance policy to have his/her vehicle repaired at a particular repair shop or by a particular person; and
• No insurer shall recommend or suggest that repairs of the claimant's vehicle be completed at a particular repair shop or by a particular person unless he/she requests such a recommendation or suggestion.

The bill also would define violations of the statute as “unfair or deceptive practices.”

H.B. 527 has been referred to the House Insurance Committee.

CLICK HERE for full language of bill.

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