Pandemic Darlings The pandemic economy, in original documents
Home Source documents Senate Bill Report SB 5810 — Insurance Regulation, with Public Testimony (January 18, 2022)

Senate Bill Report SB 5810 — Insurance Regulation, with Public Testimony (January 18, 2022)

Summary

Senate Bill Report SB 5810, as of January 18, 2022, concerns insurance regulation and names Senators Mullet and Dozier as sponsors. The brief summary states that the bill establishes that legal service contractors are not insurers and legal service plans are not insurance. The Staff Summary of Public Testimony records a PRO statement that a recent court decision made the same conclusion that the bill is codifying, that these plans are not insurance. It lists Senator Mark Mullet, Prime Sponsor, and Keri Norris, LegalShield, among the persons testifying, and the fiscal note as requested on January 12, 2022.

Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used

Issuer
Congressional materials
Document type
Report
Date
2022-01-20
Case
2022 01 20 A29484 D238037 Bill Report 5810 Sbr Bfst Ta 22

Cite this document

“Senate Bill Report SB 5810 — Insurance Regulation, with Public Testimony (January 18, 2022).” Original at app.leg.wa.gov, dated 2022-01-20. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2022-01-20-2022-01-20-a29484-d238037-bill-report-5810-sbr-bfst-ta-22/, SHA-256 7fffdf55c5d643733e1ca1a3a149be6f3acec4303c5e767aa985d2c1fb531592.

Full text

                            SENATE BILL REPORT
                                  SB 5810

                                      As of January 18, 2022

Title: An act relating to insurance regulation.

Brief Description: Concerning insurance regulation.

Sponsors: Senators Mullet and Dozier.

Brief History:
     Committee Activity: Business, Financial Services & Trade: 1/18/22.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
           • Establishes that legal service contractors are not insurers and legal
             service plans are not insurance.


SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, FINANCIAL SERVICES & TRADE

     Staff: Kellee Gunn (786-7429)

     Background: Insurance Regulation in Washington State. Under state law, insurance is a
     contract one undertakes to indemnify another or pay a specified amount upon a certain
     event. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates insurance in Washington State
     through producer licensing and oversight, company supervision, reviewing and approving
     insurance products, and verifying insurance policies conform to state laws and regulations.
     To sell insurance, an insurer must hold a valid certificate of authority in this state.

     Prepaid Legal Services. Prepaid legal services are, generally, membership plans that
     provide members access to lawyers for consultations, legal review of documents,
     preparation of documents, access to legal forms, and legal representation in court.

     Summary of Bill: Under the laws governing insurance in Washington, legal service
     contractors are not insurers and legal service plans are not insurance. Certain arrangements



     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Senate Bill Report                                -1-                                           SB 5810
     are explicitly excluded from being considered legal service contracts and legal service
     plans, including those issued by an insurer holding a valid certificate of authority in this
     state. Terms such as legal service contractor, legal service plan, and member are defined.

     Appropriation: None.

     Fiscal Note: Requested on January 12, 2022.

     Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

     Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

     Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: As a small business owner, it's hard to
     budget for legal expenses. Paying monthly dues as a member to something like LegalShield
     is beneficial. A recent court decision made the same conclusion that this bill is codifying,
     that these plans are not insurance. We are a nationwide member provider and contractor for
     monthly paid plans for legal services. Regardless of a person's ability to pay, everyone
     should have access to legal services. This will codify a decision made in an administrative
     court that these plans are not insurance.

     Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Mark Mullet, Prime Sponsor; Steve Buckner,
     LegalShielf; Keri Norris, LegalShield.

     Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.




Senate Bill Report                            -2-                                        SB 5810

File and source

File
2022-01-20_a29484_d238037_bill-report-5810-sbr-bfst-ta-22.pdf
Size
7,179 bytes
SHA-256
7fffdf55c5d643733e1ca1a3a149be6f3acec4303c5e767aa985d2c1fb531592
Our copy
2022-01-20_a29484_d238037_bill-report-5810-sbr-bfst-ta-22.pdf
Original
app.leg.wa.gov
Back to top