The bill amends Section 27-9.1-4 of the General Laws under the "Unfair Claims Settlement Practices Act" to clarify and expand the definitions of unfair claims practices by insurers. Key changes include raising the threshold for requiring a licensed appraisal from $2,500 to $5,000, and extending the timeframe for insurers to perform initial appraisals from three to four business days. The bill also specifies that the licensed appraiser must be unaffiliated with the repair of the motor vehicle and cannot perform an appraisal based solely on pictures of the damaged vehicle.

Additionally, the bill corrects a citation regarding salvage and reconstructed titles, requiring insurers to obtain written consent from vehicle owners regarding the handling of salvage titles when a vehicle is deemed a total loss. The act is set to take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
1015: 27-9.1-4