House File 32 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY COWNIE
A BILL FOR
1 An Act establishing a motor vehicle insurance verification
2 program, establishing fees, and including penalty and
3 effective date provisions.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 321.11, subsection 3, Code 2015, is
1 2 amended to read as follows:
1 3 3. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section to the
1 4 contrary, the department shall not release personal information
1 5 to a person, other than to an officer or employee of a law
1 6 enforcement agency, an employee of a federal or state agency
1 7 or political subdivision in the performance of the employee's
1 8 official duties, a contract employee of the department of
1 9 inspections and appeals in the conduct of an investigation, or
1 10 a licensed private investigation agency or a licensed security
1 11 service or a licensed employee of either, if the information is
1 12 requested by the presentation of a registration plate number.
1 13 However, the department may release personal information to the
1 14 department's designated agent for the purposes of chapter 321B.
1 15 In addition, an officer or employee of a law enforcement agency
1 16 may release the name, address, and telephone number of a motor
1 17 vehicle registrant to a person requesting the information by
1 18 the presentation of a registration plate number if the officer
1 19 or employee of the law enforcement agency believes that the
1 20 release of the information is necessary in the performance of
1 21 the officer's or employee's duties.
1 22 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 321B.1 Short title.
1 23 This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Motor
1 24 Vehicle Insurance Verification Act".
1 25 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 321B.2 Definitions.
1 26 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
1 27 requires:
1 28 1. "Commercial motor vehicle insurance coverage" means an
1 29 insurance policy that is defined by the department by rule and
1 30 includes motor vehicle liability coverage, uninsured motorist
1 31 coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, or personal injury
1 32 coverage.
1 33 2. "Database" means the motor vehicle insurance verification
1 34 database created under this chapter.
1 35 3. "Department" means the department of transportation.
2 1 4. "Designated agent" means the third party with which the
2 2 department contracts under section 321B.3.
2 3 5. "Financial institution" means financial institution as
2 4 defined in 18 U.S.C. {20.
2 5 6. "Motor vehicle" means motor vehicle as defined in section
2 6 321.1.
2 7 7. "Program" means the motor vehicle insurance verification
2 8 program created under this chapter.
2 9 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION. 321B.3 Motor vehicle insurance
2 10 verification program.
2 11 1. A motor vehicle insurance verification program is
2 12 created within the department to be administered by the
2 13 department. The purposes of the program include all of the
2 14 following:
2 15 a. To establish a motor vehicle insurance verification
2 16 database to verify compliance with the requirements of section
2 17 321.20B.
2 18 b. To assist in reducing the number of uninsured motor
2 19 vehicles on the highways of the state.
2 20 c. To assist in increasing compliance with motor vehicle
2 21 registration requirements and for other law enforcement
2 22 purposes.
2 23 d. To assist in protecting the bona fide security interests
2 24 of financial institutions in motor vehicles.
2 25 2. The department shall contract with a third party to act
2 26 as the department's designated agent for administration of this
2 27 chapter. The designated agent shall establish and maintain a
2 28 computer database containing the following information:
2 29 a. Information provided by insurers under section 321B.5.
2 30 b. Information provided by the department under subsection
2 31 5.
2 32 c. Any other information provided by the department pursuant
2 33 to this chapter.
2 34 3. The database shall be developed and maintained in
2 35 accordance with guidelines established by the department by
3 1 rule to allow authorized state and local law enforcement
3 2 agencies and financial institutions to efficiently access the
3 3 records of the database, including reports useful for the
3 4 implementation of this chapter.
3 5 a. Database reports shall be in a form and contain
3 6 information approved by the department.
3 7 b. Database reports may be made available through the
3 8 department's internet site or through other electronic media
3 9 if the department determines that sufficient security is
3 10 provided to ensure compliance with the provisions of this
3 11 chapter regarding limitations on disclosure of information in
3 12 the database.
3 13 4. At least twice monthly, the designated agent shall do the
3 14 following, using information provided by the department:
3 15 a. Update the database with motor vehicle insurance
3 16 information provided by insurers in accordance with section
3 17 321B.5.
3 18 b. Compare all current motor vehicle registrations against
3 19 the database.
3 20 5. The department shall provide the designated agent with
3 21 the name, date of birth, address, and driver's license number
3 22 of each person in the department's driver's license database.
3 23 6. The department shall adopt rules in accordance with
3 24 chapter 17A establishing procedures for using the department's
3 25 driver's license database for the purposes of administering and
3 26 enforcing this chapter.
3 27 7. a. The designated agent shall archive database files at
3 28 least semiannually for auditing purposes.
3 29 b. The department shall audit the program at least annually.
3 30 The audit shall include verification of:
3 31 (1) Billings made by the designated agent.
3 32 (2) The accuracy of the designated agent's matching of
3 33 vehicle registration records with insurance data.
3 34 Sec. 5. NEW SECTION. 321B.4 Enforcement of financial
3 35 responsibility requirements ==== penalty.
4 1 1. If records in the database indicate that a registered
4 2 motor vehicle is not covered under an owner's policy of
4 3 liability insurance for three consecutive months, at the
4 4 direction of the department, the designated agent shall provide
4 5 notice by first=class mail to the owner of the motor vehicle
4 6 that the owner has fifteen days from the date the notice was
4 7 mailed to provide one of the following:
4 8 a. Proof of financial liability coverage as defined in
4 9 section 321.1, subsection 24B.
4 10 b. Proof that the owner is exempt from the requirement to
4 11 maintain proof of financial liability coverage under section
4 12 321.20B.
4 13 2. If, after fifteen days, the owner of the motor vehicle
4 14 fails to provide satisfactory proof of financial liability
4 15 coverage, the designated agent shall provide a second notice
4 16 by first=class mail to the owner of the motor vehicle allowing
4 17 the owner an additional fifteen days from the date the second
4 18 notice was mailed to provide the information requested under
4 19 subsection 1.
4 20 3. a. The designated agent shall update the database
4 21 regarding each notice sent to a motor vehicle owner under
4 22 subsections 1 and 2, indicating the information provided by the
4 23 motor vehicle owner or the owner's failure to provide proof of
4 24 financial liability coverage, as applicable.
4 25 b. If the owner of a motor vehicle provides proof to the
4 26 department or the designated agent that the owner's motor
4 27 vehicle is covered by an acceptable form of financial liability
4 28 coverage described in section 321.1, subsection 24B, paragraph
4 29 "b", "c", or "d", the information shall be recorded in the
4 30 database, and the owner shall be required to update the
4 31 information annually to avoid receiving a notice for failure
4 32 to maintain financial liability coverage for the owner's motor
4 33 vehicle.
4 34 4. a. If the owner of a motor vehicle fails to provide
4 35 proof of financial liability coverage following receipt of the
5 1 second notice under subsection 2, the designated agent shall
5 2 notify the department, and the department shall revoke the
5 3 registration of the motor vehicle.
5 4 b. The department shall provide to the owner of the motor
5 5 vehicle appropriate notice of the revocation, order the owner
5 6 to surrender the registration plates and registration receipt
5 7 for the vehicle to the county treasurer, advise the owner of
5 8 the legal consequences of operating a vehicle with revoked
5 9 registration and without financial liability coverage, and
5 10 instruct the owner on how to reinstate the vehicle registration
5 11 once the owner has obtained financial liability coverage for
5 12 the vehicle.
5 13 5. a. A person shall not provide a false or fraudulent
5 14 statement to the department or the department's designated
5 15 agent in regard to proceedings under this chapter.
5 16 b. In addition to any other penalties, a person who violates
5 17 paragraph "a" is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
5 18 6. A revocation of registration under this chapter is in
5 19 addition to any other penalty imposed by law. This chapter
5 20 does not affect other actions or penalties that may be taken or
5 21 imposed for a violation of section 321.20B or other law.
5 22 7. a. A registration that has been revoked under this
5 23 section shall not be reinstated and a new registration shall
5 24 not be issued to the holder of the revoked registration until
5 25 the person does all of the following:
5 26 (1) Pays to the department an administrative reinstatement
5 27 fee of one hundred dollars, in addition to any other penalty
5 28 imposed by law.
5 29 (2) Complies with the requirements of section 321.20B and
5 30 this chapter.
5 31 b. Reinstatement fees collected under this subsection
5 32 shall be retained by the department as repayment receipts as
5 33 defined in section 8.2 and shall be used exclusively to offset
5 34 the costs of administering the program. Fees collected by
5 35 the department that are in excess of the amount necessary for
6 1 administration of the program shall be transferred to the road
6 2 use tax fund annually on June 30.
6 3 Sec. 6. NEW SECTION. 321B.5 Motor vehicle insurance
6 4 reporting ==== penalty.
6 5 1. a. Except as provided in paragraphs "b" and "c", each
6 6 insurer that issues a policy to a motor vehicle owner in
6 7 this state that includes motor vehicle liability coverage,
6 8 uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage,
6 9 or personal injury coverage shall, on or before the seventh
6 10 and twenty=first days of each calendar month, submit to the
6 11 department's designated agent a record of each motor vehicle
6 12 insurance policy that was issued by the insurer and in effect
6 13 for a vehicle registered or garaged in this state as of the
6 14 date of the previous submission.
6 15 b. Each insurer that issues commercial motor vehicle
6 16 insurance coverage shall, on or before the seventh day of each
6 17 calendar month, submit to the department's designated agent
6 18 a record of each commercial motor vehicle insurance policy
6 19 that was issued by the insurer and in effect for a vehicle
6 20 registered or garaged in this state as of the date of the
6 21 previous submission.
6 22 c. An insurer is not required to provide a record of a motor
6 23 vehicle insurance policy under paragraph "a" or "b" if the
6 24 policy covers a vehicle that is registered under chapter 326.
6 25 d. This subsection does not preclude more frequent
6 26 reporting.
6 27 2. a. A record provided by an insurer under subsection 1,
6 28 paragraph "a", shall include all of the following:
6 29 (1) The name, date of birth, and driver's license number, if
6 30 the insured provides a driver's license number to the insurer,
6 31 of each insured owner or operator, and the address of the named
6 32 insured.
6 33 (2) The make, year, and vehicle identification number of
6 34 each insured vehicle.
6 35 (3) The policy number and effective date of each policy.
7 1 b. A record provided by an insurer under subsection 1,
7 2 paragraph "b", shall include all of the following:
7 3 (1) The named insured.
7 4 (2) The policy number, effective date, and expiration date
7 5 of each policy.
7 6 (3) The following information, if available:
7 7 (a) The name, date of birth, and driver's license number of
7 8 each insured owner or operator, and the address of the named
7 9 insured.
7 10 (b) The make, year, and vehicle identification number of
7 11 each insured vehicle.
7 12 3. An insurer shall provide the information required under
7 13 this section via electronic means or via another means the
7 14 designated agent agrees to accept.
7 15 4. a. The department may assess a civil penalty of not more
7 16 than two hundred fifty dollars for each day an insurer fails to
7 17 comply with this section.
7 18 b. If an insurer shows that the failure to comply with this
7 19 section was inadvertent, accidental, or the result of excusable
7 20 neglect, the department may waive the civil penalty.
7 21 Sec. 7. NEW SECTION. 321B.6 Disclosure of database
7 22 information ==== penalty.
7 23 1. Information provided to the designated agent and
7 24 information contained in the database under this chapter are
7 25 confidential. Such information may not be disclosed, except
7 26 as follows:
7 27 a. For the purpose of investigating, litigating, or
7 28 enforcing the financial liability coverage requirements
7 29 of section 321.20B, the designated agent shall provide an
7 30 electronic record to a state or local government agency or
7 31 court verifying motor vehicle financial liability coverage
7 32 information.
7 33 b. For the purpose of investigating, litigating, or
7 34 enforcing the financial liability coverage requirements of
7 35 section 321.20B, the designated agent shall, upon request,
8 1 issue to any state or local government agency or court a
8 2 certificate documenting motor vehicle financial liability
8 3 coverage, according to the database, of a specific individual
8 4 or motor vehicle for the time period designated by the
8 5 government agency or court.
8 6 c. Upon request, the department or its designated agent
8 7 shall disclose whether an individual is covered under a motor
8 8 vehicle insurance policy and the insurance company name to:
8 9 (1) The individual or, if the individual is deceased,
8 10 any person who is an interested party in the estate of the
8 11 individual as provided under chapter 633.
8 12 (2) The parent or legal guardian of the individual if the
8 13 individual is an unemancipated minor.
8 14 (3) The legal guardian of the individual if the individual
8 15 is legally incapacitated.
8 16 (4) A person who has power of attorney for the individual.
8 17 (5) A person who submits a notarized release from the
8 18 individual dated no more than ninety days before the date the
8 19 request is made.
8 20 (6) A person suffering loss or injury in a motor vehicle
8 21 accident in which the individual was involved, but only as part
8 22 of an accident report as authorized in section 321.271 relating
8 23 to access to accident reports.
8 24 d. For the purpose of investigating, enforcing, or
8 25 prosecuting laws or issuing citations, information related to a
8 26 motor vehicle owner or operator's financial liability coverage
8 27 under section 321.20B may be provided to state or local law
8 28 enforcement agencies.
8 29 e. Upon request of a peace officer acting in an official
8 30 capacity under the provisions of paragraph "d", the department
8 31 or the designated agent shall, upon request, disclose relevant
8 32 information contained in the database.
8 33 f. For the purpose of the state auditor conducting audits
8 34 of the program.
8 35 g. Upon request of a financial institution for the purpose
9 1 of protecting the financial institution's bona fide security
9 2 interest in a motor vehicle.
9 3 2. a. The department may allow the designated agent to
9 4 prepare and deliver, upon request, a report on the insurance
9 5 information of a person or motor vehicle in accordance with
9 6 this section. The report may be in the form of:
9 7 (1) A certified copy that is considered admissible in any
9 8 court proceeding in the same manner as the original.
9 9 (2) Information accessible through the internet or through
9 10 another electronic medium if the department determines that
9 11 sufficient security is provided to ensure compliance with this
9 12 section.
9 13 b. The department may allow the designated agent to charge a
9 14 fee established by the department for each of the following:
9 15 (1) Authenticating a document, including preparation and
9 16 delivery of a certified copy.
9 17 (2) Accessing a record through the internet or through
9 18 another electronic medium.
9 19 (3) Providing a record to a financial institution under
9 20 subsection 1, paragraph "g".
9 21 3. Any person who knowingly releases or discloses
9 22 information from the database for a purpose other than those
9 23 authorized in this section or to a person who is not entitled
9 24 to such information is guilty of a class "D" felony.
9 25 4. Neither the state nor the department's designated agent
9 26 is liable to any person for gathering, managing, or using the
9 27 information in the database in compliance with this chapter.
9 28 Sec. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect July 1, 2016.
9 29 EXPLANATION
9 30 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
9 31 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly.
9 32 This bill establishes a motor vehicle insurance verification
9 33 program within the department of transportation. The
9 34 department is required to contract with a third party to act
9 35 as the department's designated agent for administration of the
10 1 program.
10 2 The designated agent is required to establish and maintain
10 3 a database containing information from insurers relating to
10 4 motor vehicle insurance coverage for registered motor vehicles,
10 5 personal identification information for licensed drivers
10 6 provided by the department, and any other information provided
10 7 to the designated agent by the department.
10 8 At least twice a month, the designated agent shall update the
10 9 database and compare current motor vehicle registrations with
10 10 updated insurance information. The files in the database shall
10 11 be archived semiannually and audited by the department at least
10 12 annually. The bill requires the department to adopt rules for
10 13 administration of the database.
10 14 If database records show that a registered motor vehicle
10 15 is not covered under an owner's policy of liability insurance
10 16 for three months, the designated agent shall send a notice to
10 17 the owner requiring the owner to respond within 15 days by
10 18 providing proof of financial liability coverage or proof that
10 19 the owner is exempt from the requirement to maintain financial
10 20 liability coverage. If the owner fails to respond, a second
10 21 notice will be sent. If the owner does not respond to the
10 22 second notice, the owner's motor vehicle registration will be
10 23 revoked by the department and the owner will be required to
10 24 surrender the registration plates and registration receipt for
10 25 the vehicle to the county treasurer. In order to obtain a
10 26 new registration for the vehicle, the owner must comply with
10 27 financial responsibility requirements and pay an administrative
10 28 fee of $100. The fees are to be used by the department
10 29 exclusively to offset the costs of administering the program.
10 30 Any fees in excess of the amount needed for administration of
10 31 the program are to be transferred to the road use tax fund
10 32 annually on June 30.
10 33 The bill provides that if a motor vehicle is covered by a
10 34 form of financial liability coverage other than an insurance
10 35 policy, that fact shall be noted in the database, with a
11 1 requirement that the information be updated annually by the
11 2 owner.
11 3 The bill prohibits a person from providing false or
11 4 fraudulent information to the department or the department's
11 5 designated agent in relation to the motor vehicle insurance
11 6 verification program. A violation is a simple misdemeanor.
11 7 The bill requires each insurer that issues a policy that
11 8 includes motor vehicle liability coverage, uninsured motorist
11 9 coverage, underinsured motorist coverage, or personal injury
11 10 coverage to the owner of a motor vehicle to provide, before
11 11 the 7th and the 21st of each month, to the department's
11 12 designated agent a record of each motor vehicle insurance
11 13 policy issued by the insurer and in effect for vehicles
11 14 registered or garaged in this state as of the date of the
11 15 previous submission. Insurers that issue commercial motor
11 16 vehicle insurance policies must also provide a record of each
11 17 commercial motor vehicle insurance policy issued by the insurer
11 18 and in effect for vehicles registered or garaged in this state
11 19 as of the date of the previous submission. Vehicles subject to
11 20 apportioned registration are not included in this requirement.
11 21 Insurers that fail to comply with the reporting requirement
11 22 may be assessed a civil penalty of $250 per day. However,
11 23 the department may waive the penalty upon a showing that the
11 24 failure was inadvertent, accidental, or the result of excusable
11 25 neglect.
11 26 Information contained in the database is confidential,
11 27 but the bill provides exceptions for disclosures to state or
11 28 local government agencies and courts for specified purposes;
11 29 to individuals and certain other authorized persons; for
11 30 purposes of an accident investigation; to law enforcement
11 31 agencies and peace officers for certain official purposes;
11 32 to the state auditor; and to financial institutions with a
11 33 security interest in a motor vehicle. The designated agent
11 34 may be authorized to provide certified copies or electronic
11 35 records, as appropriate, and to charge a fee for the provision
12 1 of records and authentication of documents.
12 2 A person who knowingly releases or discloses information
12 3 from the database for a purpose other than those authorized in
12 4 the bill or to a person who is not entitled to such information
12 5 is guilty of a class "D" felony.
12 6 The bill provides that the state and the department's
12 7 designated agent are not liable to any person for gathering,
12 8 managing, or using the information in the database in
12 9 compliance with the bill.
12 10 The bill provides for an effective date of July 1, 2016.
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