Senate panel advances travel insurance modernization bill

The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee advanced Thursday a bill to modernize the state's travel insurance regulations, adopting a committee substitute that clarifies regulatory authority and holding the measure for public testimony at its next meeting.

House Bill 302 would repeal Alaska's 2013 travel insurance statutes and replace them with updated rules based on national model legislation already adopted in 42 other states. The proposed changes include standardized definitions, strengthened consumer protections, a free-look refund period, and clarified claims-handling and pricing disclosures.

The committee adopted Version G of the bill as its working document before hearing testimony. The committee substitute adds language on page 11 clarifying that existing statute does not limit the Division of Insurance director's authority under current law.

"This bill modernizes Alaska's travel insurance statutes. These statutes were last touched in 2013, and industry changes in the intervening time have made it clear that our statutes are fragmented, with sometimes unclear lines of authority and coverage gaps," Keith Bruce, staff to bill sponsor Rep. Carolyn Hall, told the committee. "House Bill 302 repeals our 2013 statutes and addresses these oversights."

Bruce said the bill mirrors model legislation created by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the National Council of Insurance Legislators. He noted there are no substantive differences between HB 302 and companion Senate Bill 244, which the panel heard March 31.

"Both these bills strike a balance between the consumer, the insurance industry, and regulatory bodies by providing clear rules, standards, and definitions for the travel insurance market," he said.

Bruce added that by enhancing consumer protections and clarifying rules, HB 302 will provide comfort to travel insurance buyers, encourage travel insurance providers, and support the state's regulators.

The committee set the bill aside for further consideration at a future meeting. Public testimony on HB 302 and House Bill 217, autonomous vehicles, is scheduled for the committee's next meeting Tuesday, May 12.

Background

The House Labor and Commerce Committee heard HB 302 on March 30, with industry witnesses testifying in support of updating Alaska's travel insurance statutes, Alaska News previously reported. The House Transportation Committee advanced the bill April 28 with attached fiscal notes. The full House adopted a committee substitute May 4 and advanced the bill to third reading before transmitting it to the Senate May 6.