CHAPTER 302

SB 38 – FINAL VERSION

16May2007… 1530h

2007 SESSION

07-0361

03/05

SENATE BILL 38

AN ACT relative to uninsured or hit-and-run motor vehicle coverage.

SPONSORS: Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. DeVries, Dist 18; Sen. Hassan, Dist 23; Sen. Sgambati, Dist 4; Sen. Gottesman, Dist 12; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2; Sen. Fuller Clark, Dist 24

COMMITTEE: Commerce, Labor and Consumer Protection

ANALYSIS

This bill requires that rejection by the insured of certain uninsured motorist coverage be in writing.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

16May2007… 1530h

07-0361

03/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to uninsured or hit-and-run motor vehicle coverage.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

302:1 Uninsured or Hit-and-Run Motor Vehicle Coverage; Rejection by Insured. Amend RSA 264:15, I to read as follows:

I. No policy shall be issued under the provisions of RSA 264:14, with respect to a vehicle registered or principally garaged in this state, unless coverage is provided therein or supplemental thereto at least in amounts or limits prescribed for bodily injury or death for a liability policy under this chapter, for the protection of persons insured thereunder who are legally entitled to recover damages from owners or drivers of uninsured motor vehicles, and hit-and-run vehicles because of bodily injury, sickness, or disease, including death resulting therefrom. When an insured elects to purchase liability insurance in an amount greater than the minimum coverage required by RSA 259:61, [his] the insured’s uninsured motorist coverage shall automatically be equal to the liability coverage elected. For the purposes of this paragraph umbrella or excess policies that provide excess limits to policies described in RSA 259:61[,] shall also provide uninsured motorist coverage equal to the limits of liability purchased, unless the named insured rejects such coverage in writing. Rejection of such coverage by a named insured shall constitute a rejection of coverage by all insureds, shall apply to all vehicles then or thereafter eligible to be covered under the policy, and shall remain effective upon policy amendment or renewal, unless the named insured requests such coverage in writing.

302:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: July 13, 2007

Effective: September 11, 2007