2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
July 31, 2019 - Introduced by Senators Feyen,
Bewley, Erpenbach, Miller, Olsen,
Petrowski and Schachtner, cosponsored by Representatives Steffen,
Ohnstad, Bowen, Brooks, Dittrich, Doyle, Felzkowski, Fields, Goyke,
Gundrum, Horlacher, Krug, Kulp, Nygren, Ramthun, Skowronski,
Spreitzer, Stubbs, Stuck, C. Taylor, Vruwink and Subeck. Referred to
Committee on Insurance, Financial Services, Government Oversight and
Courts.
SB329,1,4
1An Act to amend 45.44 (1) (a) 18., 601.43 (1) (a) and 601.43 (1) (d); and
to create
2601.31 (1) (z), 601.31 (1) (zb), 601.31 (1) (zc) and chapter 629 of the statutes;
3relating to: regulation of public adjusters and granting rule-making
4authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill imposes registration and other requirements on an individual, known
as a public adjuster, who assists an insured person with a claim against the person's
insurance company for loss or damage to real or personal property that is located in
this state.
Under the bill, an individual may not perform services or solicit business as a
public adjuster unless he or she is registered with the Office of the Commissioner of
Insurance. In order to register with the commissioner, the individual must complete
an application that requires proof of good character and financial responsibility, pass
a written examination, and pay a fee. If the commissioner approves the application,
the registration is effective for two years and may be renewed if the individual fulfills
continuing education requirements. The commissioner may deny, suspend, revoke,
or refuse to renew a registration if the commissioner determines that the individual
has engaged in behavior that warrants the denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal.
Additionally, the commissioner may impose a civil penalty on the individual.
The bill requires a registered public adjuster to enter into a contract with the
insured before providing services to the insured. The contract must contain certain
provisions, including provisions that disclose the public adjuster's compensation and
the circumstances under which the insured may void the contract. The bill prohibits
the contract from containing provisions that impose collection costs and late fees on
the insured, require the insured to authorize the insurer to issue a check solely in the
public adjuster's name, or limit the insured's right to pursue civil remedies against
the public adjuster.
Under the bill, the public adjuster may not be paid prior to the insured receiving
payment from the insurer and, if the insurer pays the policy limit within five
business days from the date the loss is reported, the public adjuster may only be paid
a reasonable hourly rate for the time spent on the claim. Additionally, the public
adjuster's compensation may not exceed 10 percent of an insured's actual recovery
if the claim is due to a catastrophic disaster.
The bill imposes requirements on a public adjuster to address conflicts of
interest that may arise while working for the insured, including a requirement to
notify the insured if the public adjuster has a financial interest in, or may receive
compensation from, an entity working on the claim, such as a repair shop. The bill
also imposes other requirements and limitations on a public adjuster, including that
he or she must have the insured's written consent to agree to a settlement, may solicit
business only during certain hours of the day, and may not work as an adjuster for
an insurer or as an independent adjuster while registered as a public adjuster.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB329,1
1Section 1
. 45.44 (1) (a) 18. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB329,2,32
45.44
(1) (a) 18. A license, certificate,
registration, or permit issued under chs.
3601 to 655.
SB329,2
4Section
2. 601.31 (1) (z) of the statutes is created to read:
SB329,2,65
601.31
(1) (z) For issuance of a registration as a public adjuster under s. 629.02
6(2), an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.
SB329,3
7Section
3. 601.31 (1) (zb) of the statutes is created to read:
SB329,2,98
601.31
(1) (zb) For each renewal of a public adjuster registration under s.
9629.02 (4), an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.
SB329,4
10Section
4. 601.31 (1) (zc) of the statutes is created to read:
SB329,3,2
1601.31
(1) (zc) For registering for the public adjuster examination under s.
2629.03 (1), an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.
SB329,5
3Section
5. 601.43 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB329,3,114
601.43
(1) (a)
Insurers, other licensees and other persons subject to regulation. 5Whenever the commissioner deems it necessary in order to inform himself or herself
6about any matter related to the enforcement of chs. 600 to 647, the commissioner may
7examine the affairs and condition of any licensee
, registrant, or permittee under chs.
8600 to 647 or applicant for a license
, registration, or permit, of any person or
9organization of persons doing or in process of organizing to do an insurance business
10in this state, and of any advisory organization serving any of the foregoing in this
11state.