WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) Property-Casualty Insurance Committee continued to delay action on issues concerning collision repairers at its summer meeting in Boston. The committee followed its "no final action" on the Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair Model Act with "no final action" on the proposed Model Act Regarding Insurer Autobody Steering.

The committee took no action on either issue at its spring 2010 meeting in South Carolina earlier this year. Both issues will now move to the NCOIL annual meeting later this year in Austin, Texas.

The Automotive Service Association (ASA) says it opposes the Model Act Regarding Insurer Autobody Steering as it is currently drafted. ASA raised issues regarding the selection of repair facilities provisions. Specifically, the proposed Model Act included no language regarding training, equipment and certifications for repair facilities. In addition, the model's provisions also encouraged a system seeking the lowest common denominator within the marketplace, punishing those shops with higher training, equipment and quality repair standards.

Insurer disclosure requirements in the Model Act did not include any information as to shop staff training, equipment criteria or shop certifications.

Text of the proposed model bill is available from the ASA legislative website. www.TakingTheHill.com.