SENATE BILL NO. 688 Offered January 15, 2008 A BILL to amend and reenact § 38.2-2217 of the Code of Virginia, relating to motor vehicle insurance rate reductions for certain persons. ---------- Patron-- Edwards ---------- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 38.2-2217 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 38.2-2217. Reduction in rates for certain persons who attend motor vehicle accident prevention courses and driver improvement clinics.

A. Any schedule of rates, rate classifications or rating plans for motor vehicle insurance as defined in § 38.2-2212 filed with the Commission shall provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for those insured persons who are fifty-five 55 years of age and older and who qualify as provided in this subsection. Only those insured persons who have successfully completed a motor vehicle accident prevention course approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles shall qualify for a three-year period after the completion of the course for the reduction in rates. No reduction in premiums shall be allowed for a self-instructed course or for any course that does not provide actual classroom instruction for a minimum number of hours as determined by the Department of Motor Vehicles.

B. Any schedule of rates, rate classifications or rating plans for motor vehicle insurance as defined in § 38.2-2212 filed with the Commission may provide for an appropriate reduction in premium charges for a two-year period for those insured persons who are fifty-four 54 years of age or younger and who have satisfactorily completed a driver improvement clinic approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles, as set forth in Article 19 (§ 46.2-489 et seq.) of Chapter 3 of Title 46.2. No person assigned by the courts or notified by the Department of Motor Vehicles to attend a driver improvement clinic shall be eligible for such reduction in premium charges.

C. The Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles may promulgate rules and regulations which will assist them in carrying out the provisions of this section.

D. All insurers writing motor vehicle insurance in Virginia as defined in § 38.2-2212 shall allow an appropriate reduction in premium charges to all eligible persons subject to the provisions of subsection A.

E. Upon successfully completing the approved course, the course's sponsor shall issue to each participant a certificate approved by the Department of Motor Vehicles which shall be evidence of satisfactory completion of either a motor vehicle accident prevention course or a driver improvement clinic for the reduction in premium charges. Participants shall be required to provide satisfactory evidence to the insurance provider that the course or clinic was completed in accordance with this section.

F. Each participant in a motor vehicle accident prevention course shall take an approved course every three years in order to continue to be eligible for the reduction in premium charges. Each voluntary participant in a driver improvement clinic shall take an approved course every two years in order to continue to be eligible for the reduction in premium charges, if any.

G. Nothing in this section prevents an insurer from offering appropriately reduced rates based solely on age.