CHAPTER 162
SENATE BILL No. 3
(Amends Chapter 128)
An Act relating to insurance; concerning the regulation
thereof; amending K.S.A. 8-173
and K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-2,103, as amended by section 5 of 1999
Senate Bill 108, 40-
19c09, as amended by section 6 of 1999 Senate Bill 108, 40-3104 and
40-3118 and
repealing the existing sections; also repealing K.S.A. 1998
Supp. 40-1909.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) Any individual
or group health insurance policy,
medical service plan, contract, hospital service corporation
contract, hos-
pital and medical service corporation contract, fraternal benefit
society
or health maintenance organization which provides coverage for
accident
and health services and which is delivered, issued for delivery,
amended
or renewed on or after July 1, 1999, also, shall provide coverage
for the
administration of general anesthesia and medical care facility
charges for
dental care provided to the following covered persons:
(1) A child five years of age and under;
or
(2) a person who is severely disabled;
or
(3) a person has a medical or behavioral
condition which requires
hospitalization or general anesthesia when dental care is
provided.
(b) A policy, provision, contract, plan
or agreement may:
(1) Apply to the covered procedures under
this section the same de-
ductibles, coinsurance, network requirements and other limitations,
in-
cluding but not limited to medical necessity determinations, as
apply to
other covered services;
(2) require prior authorization for
hospitalization for the covered pro-
cedures under this section in the same manner that prior
authorization
is required for hospitalization for other covered diseases or
conditions.
(c) The provisions of this section shall
not apply to any policy or cer-
tificate providing coverage for any specified disease, specified
accident or
accident-only coverage, credit, dental, disability income, hospital
indem-
nity, long-term care, as defined by K.S.A. 40-2227, and
amendments
thereto, medicare supplement, as defined by the commissioner of
insur-
ance by rules and regulations, vision care or other limited-benefit
sup-
plemental insurance, nor any coverage issued as a supplement to
liability
insurance, workers' compensation or similar insurance, automobile
med-
ical-payment insurance, or any insurance under which benefits are
pay-
able with or without regard to fault, whether written on a group,
blanket
or individual basis.
(d) Nothing herein shall be construed to
require any individual or
group health insurance policy, medical service plan, contract,
hospital
service corporation contract, fraternal benefit society or health
mainte-
nance organization to provide benefits for any dental
procedures.
(e) The provisions of this section shall
apply to the state health care
benefits program and municipal self-funded pools.
(f) As used in this section ``medical
care facility'' shall have the mean-
ing ascribed to the term in K.S.A. 65-425, and amendments
thereto.
New Sec. 2. (a) Any individual or
group health insurance policy,
medical service plan, contract, hospital service corporation
contract, hos-
pital and medical service corporation contract, fraternal benefit
society
or health maintenance organization which provides coverage for
accident
and health services and which is delivered, issued for delivery,
amended
or renewed on or after July 1, 1999, and which provides medical
and
surgical benefits with respect to a mastectomy shall provide, in a
case of
a participant or beneficiary who is receiving benefits in
connection with
a mastectomy and who elects breast reconstruction in connection
with
such mastectomy, coverage for:
(1) Reconstruction of the breast on which
the mastectomy has been
performed;
(2) surgery and reconstruction of the
other breast to produce a sym-
metrical appearance; and
(3) prostheses and physical complications
in all stages of mastectomy,
including lymphedemas.
Such coverage shall be provided in a manner
determined in consulta-
tion with the attending physician and the patient. Such coverage
may be
subject to annual deductibles and coinsurance provisions as may
be
deemed appropriate and as are consistent with those established for
other
benefits under the plan or coverage.
(b) Each individual or group health
insurance policy, medical service
plan, contract, hospital service corporation contract, hospital and
medical
service corporation contract, fraternal benefit society or health
mainte-
nance organization which provides coverage for accident and health
serv-
ices which provides medical and surgical benefits with respect to a
mas-
tectomy shall provide written notice, as currently required, to
all
enrollees, insureds or subscribers regarding the coverage required
by this
section.
(c) No individual or group health
insurance policy, medical service
plan, contract, hospital service corporation contract, hospital and
medical
service corporation contract, fraternal benefit society or health
mainte-
nance organization which provides coverage for accident and health
serv-
ices which provides medical and surgical benefits with respect to a
mas-
tectomy shall:
(1) Deny to a patient eligibility, or
continued eligibility, to enroll or
to renew coverage under the terms of the plan, solely for the
purpose of
avoiding the requirements of this section; and
(2) penalize or otherwise reduce or limit
the reimbursement of an
attending provider, or provide incentives (monetary or otherwise)
to an
attending provider, to induce such provider to provide care to an
individ-
ual participant or beneficiary in a manner inconsistent with this
section.
(d) The provisions of this section shall
not apply to any policy or
certificate which provides coverage for any specified disease,
specified
accident or accident only coverage, credit, dental, disability
income, hos-
pital indemnity, long-term care insurance as defined by K.S.A.
40-2227
and amendments thereto, vision care or any other limited
supplemental
benefit nor to any medicare supplement policy of insurance as
defined
by the commissioner of insurance by rule and regulation, any
coverage
issued as a supplement to liability insurance, workers'
compensation or
similar insurance, automobile medical-payment insurance or any
insur-
ance under which benefits are payable with or without regard to
fault,
whether written on a group, blanket or individual basis.
Sec. 3. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-2,103,
as amended by section 5 of 1999
Senate Bill 108, is hereby amended to read as follows: 40-2,103.
The
requirements of K.S.A. 40-2,100, 40-2,101, 40-2,102, 40-2,104,
40-2,105,
40-2,114 and 40-2250, and amendments thereto and K.S.A. 1998
Supp.
40-2,160 and sections 1 through 4 of 1999 Senate Bill 108, and
section 1
and section 2 of this act, and amendments thereto, shall
apply to all in-
surance policies, subscriber contracts or certificates of insurance
deliv-
ered, renewed or issued for delivery within or outside of this
state or used
within this state by or for an individual who resides or is
employed in this
state.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-19c09,
as amended by section 6 of 1999
Senate Bill 108, is hereby amended to read as follows: 40-19c09.
(a) Cor-
porations organized under the nonprofit medical and hospital
service cor-
poration act shall be subject to the provisions of the Kansas
general cor-
poration code, articles 60 to 74, inclusive, of chapter 17 of the
Kansas
Statutes Annotated, applicable to nonprofit corporations, to the
provisions
of K.S.A. 40-214, 40-215, 40-216, 40-218, 40-219, 40-222, 40-223,
40-
224, 40-225, 40-226, 40-229, 40-230, 40-231, 40-235, 40-236,
40-237, 40-
247, 40-248, 40-249, 40-250, 40-251, 40-252, 40-254, 40-2,100,
40-2,101,
40-2,102, 40-2,103, 40-2,104, 40-2,105, 40-2,116, 40-2,117, 40-2a01
et
seq., 40-2111 to 40-2116, inclusive, 40-2215 to 40-2220,
inclusive, 40-
2221a, 40-2221b, 40-2229, 40-2230, 40-2250, 40-2251, 40-2253,
40-2254,
40-2401 to 40-2421, inclusive, and 40-3301 to 40-3313, inclusive,
K.S.A.
1998 Supp. 40-2,153, 40-2,154, 40-2,160, 40-2,161, 40-2,163
and, 40-
2,164 and sections 1 through 4 of 1999 Senate Bill 108, and
section 1 and
section 2 of this act, and amendments thereto, except as the
context oth-
erwise requires, and shall not be subject to any other provisions
of the
insurance code except as expressly provided in this act.
(b) No policy, agreement, contract or
certificate issued by a corpo-
ration to which this section applies shall contain a provision
which ex-
cludes, limits or otherwise restricts coverage because medicaid
benefits
as permitted by title XIX of the social security act of 1965 are or
may be
available for the same accident or illness.
(c) Violation of subsection (b) shall be
subject to the penalties pre-
scribed by K.S.A. 40-2407 and 40-2411, and amendments thereto.
New Sec. 5. (a) After July 1, 1999,
in addition to the requirements
of K.S.A. 40-2248 and 40-2249, and amendments thereto, any new
man-
dated health insurance coverage for specific health services,
specific dis-
eases or for certain providers of health care services approved by
the
legislature shall apply only to the state health care benefits
program,
K.S.A. 75-6501, et seq., and amendments thereto, for a
period of at least
one year beginning with the first anniversary date of the state
health care
benefits program subsequent to approval of the mandate by the
legisla-
ture. On or before March 1, after the one year period for which
the
mandate has been applied, the Kansas state employees health care
com-
mission shall submit to the president of the senate and to the
speaker of
the house of representatives, a report indicating the impact such
man-
dated coverage has had on the state health care benefits program,
in-
cluding data on the utilization and costs of such mandated
coverage. Such
report shall also include a recommendation whether such mandated
cov-
erage should continue for the state health care benefits program
or
whether additional utilization and cost data is required.
(b) The legislature shall periodically
review all health insurance cov-
erages mandated by state law.
New Sec. 6. On and after January 1,
2000, for the purposes of sec-
tions 6 through 9 and amendments thereto:
(a) ``Adverse decision'' means a
utilization review determination by a
third-party administrator, a health insurance plan, an insurer or a
health
care provider acting on behalf of an insured that a proposed or
delivered
health care service which would otherwise be covered under an
insured's
contract is not or was not medically necessary or the health care
treatment
has been determined to be experimental or investigational and, (1)
if the
requested service is provided in a manner that leaves the insured
with a
financial obligation to the provider or providers of such services,
or (2)
the adverse decision is the reason for the insured not receiving
the re-
quested services.
(b) ``Emergency medical condition'' means
the sudden, and at the
time, unexpected onset of a health condition that requires
immediate
medical attention, where failure to provide medical attention would
result
in a serious impairment to bodily functions, serious dysfunction of
a bodily
organ or part or would place a person's health in serious
jeopardy.
(c) ``External review organization''
means an entity that conducts in-
dependent external reviews of adverse decisions pursuant to a
contract
with the commissioner. Such entity shall have experience serving as
the
external quality review organization in health programs
administered by
the state of Kansas, or be a nationally accredited external review
organi-
zation which utilizes health care providers actively engaged in the
practice
of their profession in the state of Kansas who are qualified and
creden-
tialed with respect to the health care service review. In the event
no
Kansas providers are qualified and credentialed with respect to the
review
of any case, the external review organization shall have the
discretion to
employ health care providers who actively engage in such health
care
provider's practice outside the state of Kansas.
(d) ``Health insurance plan'' means any
hospital or medical expense
policy, health, hospital or medical service corporation contract,
and a plan
provided by a municipal group-funded pool, or a health
maintenance
organization contract offered by an employer or any certificate
issued
under any such policies, contracts or plans.
(e) ``Insured'' means the beneficiary of
any health insurance com-
pany, fraternal benefit society, health maintenance organization,
non-
profit hospital and medical service corporation, municipal group
funded
pool, and the self-funded coverage established by the state of
Kansas, or
any hospital or medical expense, health, hospital or medical
service cor-
poration contract or a plan provided by a municipal group-funded
pool.
(f) ``Insurer'' means any health
insurance company, fraternal benefit
society, health maintenance organization, nonprofit hospital and
medical
service corporation, provider sponsored organizations, municipal
group-
funded pool and the self-funded coverage established by the state
of Kan-
sas for its employees.
New Sec. 7. On and after January 1,
2000:
(a) The provisions of sections 6 through
9 and amendments thereto
shall not apply to any policy or certificate which provides
coverage for
any specified disease, specified accident or accident only
coverage, credit,
dental, disability income, hospital indemnity, long-term care
insurance as
defined by K.S.A. 40-227, and amendments thereto, vision care or
any
other limited supplemental benefit nor to any medicare supplement
pol-
icy of insurance as defined by the commissioner of insurance by
rule and
regulation, coverage under a plan through medicare, medicaid, or
the
federal employees health benefits program, any coverage issues as a
sup-
plement to liability insurance, workers compensation or similar
insurance,
automobile medical-payment insurance or any insurance under
which
benefits are payable with or without regard to fault, whether
written on
a group, blanket or individual basis.
(b) The right to external review under
sections 6 through 9, and
amendments thereto, shall not be construed to change the terms of
cov-
erage under a health insurance plan or insurance policy.
(c) The insurer or health insurance plan
shall provide written notice
to the insured of a final adverse decision and the opportunity for
request-
ing an external review.
(d) The insured has the right to request
an independent external re-
view of an adverse decision by a health insurance plan or insurer
when:
(1) The insured has exhausted all available internal review
procedures
provided by the health insurance plan or insurer, unless the
insured has
an emergency medical condition, in which case an expedited
procedure
is used; or (2) the insured has not received a final decision from
the
insurer within 60 days of seeking the internal review, except to
the extent
that the delay was requested by the insured.
(e) Within 90 days of receipt of an
adverse decision by a health in-
surance plan or an insurer, any request for external review shall
be made
in writing to the commissioner from the following persons: (1) The
in-
sured; (2) the treating physician or health care provider acting on
behalf
on the insured with written authorization from the insured; or (3)
a legally
authorized designee of the insured.
(f) The insured shall provide all
information in the possession of the
insured pertaining to the adverse decision in order for the
commissioner
to make a preliminary determination for an external review. The
insured
also shall provide the commissioner with an appeal form, and a
fully ex-
ecuted release for the commissioner and the external review
organization
to obtain any necessary medical records from the insurer or health
in-
surance plan and any other relevant provider.
(g) In responding to the commissioner,
the insurer or health insur-
ance plan shall provide a copy of the adverse decision given to the
insured
and all medical and other records pertaining to the insured's claim
within
five business days of the request of the commissioner.
(h) The confidentiality of any medical
information submitted by the
insured, on behalf of the insured, insurer or health insurance
plan, shall
be maintained pursuant to applicable state and federal laws.
New Sec. 8. On and after January 1,
2000:
(a) The commissioner shall:
(1) Negotiate contracts with external
review organizations which are
eligible to conduct independent review of the adverse decision by a
health
insurance plan or insurer;
(2) allow the insurer or the health
insurance plan, an insured or treat-
ing physician or health care provider acting on behalf of the
insured, or
legally authorized designee filing a request for external review to
provide
additional written information as may be relevant for the
commissioner
to make a final decision on whether the request qualified for
external
review;
(3) make a decision on a request for
external review within 10 busi-
ness days after receiving all necessary information;
(4) notify the insured and treating
physician or health care provider
acting on behalf of the insured, or legally authorized designee,
and insurer
or health insurance plan in writing that a request for external
review will
or will not be granted; and
(5) design and implement an expedited
procedure for use in an emer-
gency medical condition for purposes of the external review
organization
rendering a decision.
(b) The external review organization as
defined in subsection (c) of
section 6, and amendments thereto, shall provide that all reviews
com-
pleted pursuant to sections 6 through 9, and amendments thereto,
are
conducted by qualified and credentialed health care providers with
re-
spect to the health care service under review and who have no
conflict
of interest relating to the performance of the external review
organiza-
tion's duties in sections 6 through 9, and amendments thereto.
(c) The external review organization
shall issue a written decision to
the insured and concurrently send a copy of such decision to the
com-
missioner including the basis and rationale for its decision within
30 busi-
ness days. The standard of review shall be whether the health care
service
denied by the insurer or health insurance plan was medically
necessary
under the terms of the insured's contract. In reviews regarding
experi-
mental or investigational treatment, the standard of review shall
be
whether the health care service denied by the insurer or health
insurance
plan was covered or excluded from coverage under the terms of the
in-
sured's contract.
(d) The external review organization
shall provide expedited resolu-
tion when an emergency medical condition exists, and shall resolve
all
issues within seven business days.
(e) The external review organization
shall maintain and report such
data as may be required by the commissioner in order to assess the
ef-
fectiveness of the external review process.
(f) No external review organization nor
any individual working on
behalf of such organization shall be liable in damages to any
insured,
health insurance plan or insurer for any opinion rendered as part
of an
external review conducted pursuant to sections 6 through 9, and
amend-
ments thereto.
(g) The external review organization
shall maintain confidentiality of
the medical records of the insured in accordance to state and
federal law.
New Sec. 9. On and after January 1,
2000:
(a) The decision of the external review
organization may be reviewed
directly by the district court at the request of either the
insured, insurer
or health insurance plan. The review by the district court shall be
de novo.
The decision of the external review organization shall not preclude
the
insured, insurer or health insurance plan from exercising other
available
remedies applicable under state or federal law. Seeking a review by
the
district court or any other available remedies exercised by the
insured,
insurer or health insurance plan after the decision of the external
review
organization will not stay the external review organization's
decision as to
the payment or provision of services to be rendered during the
pendency
of the review by the insurer or health insurance plan. All material
used
in an external review and the decision of the external review
organization
as a result of the external review shall be deemed admissible in
any sub-
sequent litigation.
(b) In no event shall more than one
external review be available dur-
ing the same year for any request arising out of the same set of
facts. An
insured may not pursue, either concurrently or sequentially, an
external
review process under both a federal and state law. In the event
external
review processes are available pursuant to federal law and this
act, the
insured shall have the option of designating which external review
process
will be utilized.
(c) The commissioner of insurance is
hereby authorized to negotiate
and enter into contracts necessary to perform the duties required
by sec-
tions 6 through 9, and amendments thereto.
(d) The commissioner of insurance shall
adopt rules and regulations
necessary to carry out the purposes of sections 6 through 9, and
amend-
ments thereto. The rules and regulations shall ensure that the
commis-
sioner is able to provide for an effective and efficient external
review of
health care services.
Sec. 10. On and after January 1,
2000, K.S.A. 8-173 is hereby
amended to read as follows: 8-173. (a) An application for
registration of
a vehicle as provided in article 1 of chapter 8 of the Kansas
Statutes
Annotated and amendments thereto, shall not be accepted unless
the
person making such application shall exhibit:
(1) A receipt showing that such person
has paid all personal property
taxes levied against such person for the preceding year, including
taxes
upon such vehicle, except that if such application is made before
June 21
such receipt need show payment of only one-half the preceding
year's
tax; or
(2) evidence that such vehicle was
assessed for taxation purposes by
a state agency, or was assessed as stock in trade of a merchant or
manu-
facturer or was exempt from taxation under the laws of this
state.
(b) An application for registration of a
vehicle as provided in article
1 of chapter 8 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated shall not be
accepted if
the records of the county treasurer show that the applicant is
delinquent
and owes personal property taxes levied against the applicant for
any
preceding year.
(c) An application for registration or
renewal of registration of a mo-
tor vehicle shall not be accepted until the applicant signs a
certification,
provided by the director of motor vehicles, certifying that the
applicant
has and will maintain, during the period of registration, the
required
insurance, self insurance or other financial security required
pursuant to
K.S.A. 40-3104 and amendments thereto.
(d) An application for registration or
renewal of registration of a ve-
hicle shall not be accepted if the applicant is unable to
provide proof of
the insurance, self insurance or other financial security
required by article
31 of chapter 40 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. Proof of
insurance
shall be verified by examination of the insurance card issued by
an in-
surance company, a certificate of self insurance issued by the
commis-
sioner, a binder of insurance, a certificate of insurance, a
motor carrier
identification number issued by the state corporation
commission, proof
of insurance for vehicles covered under a fleet policy, a
commercial policy
covering more than one vehicle or a policy of insurance required
by K.S.A.
40-3104, and amendments thereto and for vehicles used as part of
a driv-
ers education program, a dealership contract and a copy of a
motor ve-
hicle liability insurance policy issued to a school district or
accredited
nonpublic school. Examination of a photocopy of any of these
documents
shall suffice for verification of mail registration or
renewals.
Sec. 11. On and after January 1,
2000, K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-3104 is
hereby amended to read as follows: 40-3104. (a) Every owner shall
pro-
vide motor vehicle liability insurance coverage in accordance with
the
provisions of this act for every motor vehicle owned by such
person, unless
such motor vehicle: (1) Is included under an approved
self-insurance plan
as provided in subsection (f); (2) is used as a driver training
motor vehicle,
as defined in K.S.A. 72-5015, and amendments thereto, in an
approved
driver training course by a school district or an accredited
nonpublic
school under an agreement with a motor vehicle dealer, and such
motor
vehicle liability insurance coverage is provided by the school
district or
accredited nonpublic school; (3) is included under a qualified plan
of self-
insurance approved by an agency of the state in which such motor
vehicle
is registered and the form prescribed in subsection (b) of K.S.A.
40-3106,
and amendments thereto, has been filed; or (4) is expressly
exempted
from the provisions of this act.
(b) An owner of an uninsured motor
vehicle shall not permit the
operation thereof upon a highway or upon property open to use by
the
public, unless such motor vehicle is expressly exempted from the
provi-
sions of this act.
(c) No person shall knowingly drive an
uninsured motor vehicle upon
a highway or upon property open to use by the public, unless such
motor
vehicle is expressly exempted from the provisions of this act.
(d) Any person operating a motor vehicle
upon a highway or upon
property open to use by the public shall display, upon demand,
evidence
of financial security to a law enforcement officer. The law
enforcement
officer shall issue a citation to any person who fails to display
evidence of
financial security upon such demand. The law enforcement officer
shall
attach a copy of the insurance verification form prescribed by the
secre-
tary of revenue to the copy of the citation forwarded to the
court.
No citation shall be issued to any person for
failure to provide proof of
financial security when evidence of financial security meeting the
stan-
dards of subsection (e) is displayed upon demand of a law
enforcement
officer. Whenever the authenticity of such evidence is
questionable, the
law enforcement officer may initiate the preparation of the
insurance
verification form prescribed by the secretary of revenue by
recording
information from the evidence of financial security displayed. The
officer
shall immediately forward the form to the department of revenue,
and
the department shall proceed with verification in the manner
prescribed
in the following paragraph. Upon return of a form indicating that
insur-
ance was not in force on the date indicated on the form, the
department
shall immediately forward a copy of the form to the law
enforcement
officer initiating preparation of the form.
(e) Unless the insurance company
subsequently submits an insurance
verification form indicating that insurance was not in force, no
person
charged with violating subsections (b), (c) or (d) shall be
convicted if such
person produces in court, within 10 days of the date of arrest or
of issu-
ance of the citation, evidence of financial security for the motor
vehicle
operated, which was valid at the time of arrest or of issuance of
the ci-
tation. For the purpose of this subsection, evidence of financial
security
shall be provided by a policy of motor vehicle liability insurance,
an iden-
tification card or certificate of insurance issued to the
policyholder by the
insurer which provides the name of the insurer, the policy number
and
the effective and expiration dates of the policy, or a certificate
of self-
insurance signed by the commissioner of insurance. Upon the
production
in court of evidence of financial security, the court shall record
the in-
formation displayed thereon on the insurance verification form
prescribed
by the secretary of revenue, immediately forward such form to the
de-
partment of revenue, and stay any further proceedings on the
matter
pending a request from the prosecuting attorney that the matter be
set
for trial. Upon receipt of such form the department shall mail the
form
to the named insurance company for verification that insurance was
in
force on the date indicated on the form. It shall be the duty of
insurance
companies to notify the department within 30 calendar days of the
receipt
of such forms of any insurance that was not in force on the date
specified.
Upon return of any form to the department indicating that insurance
was
not in force on such date, the department shall immediately forward
a
copy of such form to the office of the prosecuting attorney or the
city
clerk of the municipality in which such prosecution is pending when
the
prosecuting attorney is not ascertainable. Receipt of any completed
form
indicating that insurance was not in effect on the date specified
shall be
prima facie evidence of failure to provide proof of financial
security and
violation of this section. A request that the matter be set for
trial shall be
made immediately following the receipt by the prosecuting attorney
of a
copy of the form from the department of revenue indicating that
insur-
ance was not in force. Any charge of violating subsection (b), (c)
or (d)
shall be dismissed if no request for a trial setting has been made
within
60 days of the date evidence of financial security was produced in
court.
(f) Any person in whose name more than 25
motor vehicles are reg-
istered in Kansas may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a
certificate
of self-insurance from the commissioner of insurance. The
certificate of
self-insurance issued by the commissioner shall cover such owned
vehi-
cles and those vehicles, registered in Kansas, leased to such
person if the
lease agreement requires that motor vehicle liability insurance on
the
vehicles be provided by the lessee. Upon application of any such
person,
the commissioner of insurance may issue a certificate of
self-insurance,
if the commissioner is satisfied that such person is possessed and
will
continue to be possessed of ability to pay any liability imposed by
law
against such person arising out of the ownership, operation,
maintenance
or use of any motor vehicle described in this subsection. A
self-insurer
shall provide liability coverage subject to the provisions of
subsection (e)
of K.S.A. 40-3107, and amendments thereto, arising out of the
ownership,
operation, maintenance or use of a self-insured motor vehicle in
those
instances where the lessee or the rental driver, if not the lessee,
does not
have a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or insurance
coverage pur-
suant to a motor vehicle liability insurance policy or certificate
of insur-
ance or such insurance policy for such leased or rented vehicle.
Such
liability coverage shall be provided to any person operating a
self-insured
motor vehicle with the expressed or implied consent of the
self-insurer.
Upon notice and a hearing in accordance with
the provisions of the
Kansas administrative procedure act, the commissioner of insurance
may
cancel a certificate of self-insurance upon reasonable grounds.
Failure to
provide liability coverage or personal injury protection benefits
required
by K.S.A. 40-3107 and 40-3109, and amendments thereto, or pay
any
liability imposed by law arising out of the ownership, operation,
mainte-
nance or use of a motor vehicle registered in such self-insurer's
name, or
to otherwise comply with the requirements of this subsection shall
con-
stitute reasonable grounds for the cancellation of a certificate of
self-
insurance. Reasonable grounds shall not exist unless such
objectionable
activity occurs with such frequency as to indicate a general
business prac-
tice.
Self-insureds shall investigate claims in a
reasonably prompt manner,
handle such claims in a reasonable manner based on available
information
and effectuate prompt, fair and equitable settlement of claims in
which
liability has become reasonably clear.
As used in this subsection, ``liability
imposed by law'' means the stated
limits of liability as provided under subsection (e) of K.S.A.
40-3107, and
amendments thereto.
Nothing in this subsection shall preclude a
self-insurer from pursuing
all rights of subrogation against another person or persons.
(g) (1) Any person violating any
provision of this section shall be
guilty of a class B misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of
not less
than $200 $300 nor more than $1,000 or
confinement in the county jail
for a term of not more than six months, or both such fine and
confine-
ment.
(2) Any person convicted of violating any
provision of this section
within three years of any such prior conviction shall be guilty of
a class A
misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $800
nor more
than $2,500.
(h) In addition to any other penalties
provided by this act for failure
to have or maintain financial security in effect, the director,
upon receipt
of a report required by K.S.A. 8-1607 or 8-1611, and amendments
thereto, or a denial of such insurance by the insurance company
listed on
the form prescribed by the secretary of revenue pursuant to
subsection
(d) of this section, shall, upon notice and hearing as provided by
K.S.A.
40-3118, and amendments thereto:
(1) Suspend:
(A) The license of each driver in any
manner involved in the accident;
(B) the license of the owner of each
motor vehicle involved in such
accident, unless the vehicle was stolen at the time of the
accident, proof
of which must be established by the owner of the motor vehicle.
Theft
by a member of the vehicle owner's immediate family under the age
of
18 years shall not constitute a stolen vehicle for the purposes of
this
section;
(C) if the driver is a nonresident, the
privilege of operating a motor
vehicle within this state; or
(D) if such owner is a nonresident, the
privilege of such owner to
operate or permit the operation within this state of any motor
vehicle
owned by such owner; and
(2) revoke the registration of all
vehicles owned by the owner of each
motor vehicle involved in such accident.
(i) The suspension or revocation
requirements in subsection (h) shall
not apply:
(1) To the driver or owner if the owner
had in effect at the time of
the accident an automobile liability policy as required by K.S.A.
40-3107,
and amendments thereto, with respect to the vehicle involved in the
ac-
cident;
(2) to the driver, if not the owner of
the vehicle involved in the ac-
cident, if there was in effect at the time of the accident an
automobile
liability policy with respect to such driver's driving of vehicles
not owned
by such driver;
(3) to any self-insurer as defined by
subsection (u) of K.S.A. 40-3103,
and amendments thereto;
(4) to the driver or owner of any vehicle
involved in the accident
which was exempt from the provisions of this act pursuant to K.S.A.
40-
3105, and amendments thereto;
(5) to the owner of a vehicle described
in subsection (a)(2).
(j) For the purposes of provisions (1)
and (2) of subsection (i) of this
section, the director may require verification by an owner's or
driver's
insurance company or agent thereof that there was in effect at the
time
of the accident an automobile liability policy as required in this
act.
Any suspension or revocation effected
hereunder shall remain in effect
until satisfactory proof of financial security has been filed with
the director
as required by subsection (d) of K.S.A. 40-3118, and amendments
thereto,
and such person has been released from liability or is a party to
an action
to determine liability pursuant to which the court temporarily
stays such
suspension pending final disposition of such action, has entered
into an
agreement for the payment of damages, or has been finally
adjudicated
not to be liable in respect to such accident and evidence of any
such fact
has been filed with the director and has paid the reinstatement fee
herein
prescribed. Such reinstatement fee shall be $25
$100 except that if the
registration of a motor vehicle of any owner is revoked within one
year
following a prior revocation of the registration of a motor vehicle
of such
owner under the provisions of this act such fee shall be
$75 $300.
(k) The provisions of this section shall
not apply to motor carriers of
property or passengers regulated by the corporation commission of
the
state of Kansas.
(l) The provisions of subsection (d)
shall not apply to vehicle dealers,
as defined in K.S.A. 8-2401, and amendments thereto, for vehicles
being
offered for sale by such dealers.
Sec. 12. On and after January 1,
2000, K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-3118 is
hereby amended to read as follows: 40-3118. (a) No motor vehicle
shall
be registered or reregistered in this state unless the owner, at
the time
of registration, has in effect a policy of motor vehicle liability
insurance
covering such motor vehicle, as provided in this act, or is a
self-insurer
thereof, or the motor vehicle is used as a driver training motor
vehicle,
as defined in K.S.A. 72-5015, and amendments thereto, in an
approved
driver training course by a school district or an accredited
nonpublic
school under an agreement with a motor vehicle dealer, and such
policy
of motor vehicle liability insurance is provided by the school
district or
accredited nonpublic school. As used in this section, the term
``financial
security'' means such policy or self-insurance. The director shall
require
that the owner certify and provide verification of financial
security, in the
manner prescribed by K.S.A. 8-173, and amendments thereto,
that the
owner has such financial security, and the owner of each motor
vehicle
registered in this state shall maintain financial security
continuously
throughout the period of registration. In addition, when an
owner certi-
fies that such financial security is a motor vehicle liability
insurance policy
meeting the requirements of this act, the director may require that
the
owner or owner's insurance company produce records to prove the
fact
that such insurance was in effect at the time the vehicle was
registered
and has been maintained continuously from that date. Failure to
produce
such records shall be prima facie evidence that no financial
security exists
with regard to the vehicle concerned. It shall be the duty of
insurance
companies, upon the request of the director, to notify the director
within
30 calendar days of the date of the receipt of such request by the
director
of any insurance that was not in effect on the date of registration
and
maintained continuously from that date.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in
K.S.A. 40-276, 40-276a and 40-
277, and amendments thereto, and except for termination of
insurance
resulting from nonpayment of premium or upon the request for
cancel-
lation by the insured, no motor vehicle liability insurance policy,
or any
renewal thereof, shall be terminated by cancellation or failure to
renew
by the insurer until at least 30 days after mailing a notice of
termination,
by certified or registered mail or United States post office
certificate of
mailing, to the named insured at the latest address filed with the
insurer
by or on behalf of the insured. Time of the effective date and hour
of
termination stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy
period.
Every such notice of termination sent to the insured for any cause
what-
soever shall include on the face of the notice a statement that
financial
security for every motor vehicle covered by the policy is required
to be
maintained continuously throughout the registration period, that
the op-
eration of any such motor vehicle without maintaining continuous
finan-
cial security therefor is a class B misdemeanor and shall be
subject to a
fine of not less than $300 and not more than $1,000 and that
the regis-
tration for any such motor vehicle for which continuous financial
security
is not provided is subject to suspension and the driver's license
of the
owner thereof is subject to suspension.
(c) The director of vehicles shall verify
a sufficient number of insur-
ance certifications each calendar year as the director deems
necessary to
insure compliance with the provisions of this act. The owner or
owner's
insurance company shall verify the accuracy of any owner's
certification
upon request, as provided in subsection (a).
(d) In addition to any other requirements
of this act, the director shall
require a person to acquire insurance and for such person's
insurance
company to maintain on file with the division evidence of such
insurance
for a period of one year when a person has been convicted in this
or
another state of any of the violations enumerated in K.S.A. 8-285,
and
amendments thereto.
The director shall also require any driver
whose driving privileges have
been suspended pursuant to this section to maintain such evidence
of
insurance as required above.
The company of the insured shall immediately
mail notice to the di-
rector whenever any policy required by this subsection to be on
file with
the division is terminated by the insured or the insurer for any
reason.
The receipt by the director of such termination shall be prima
facie evi-
dence that no financial security exists with regard to the person
con-
cerned.
No cancellation notice shall be sent to the
director if the insured adds
or deletes a vehicle, adds or deletes a driver, renews a policy or
is issued
a new policy by the same company. No cancellation notice shall be
sent
to the director prior to the date the policy is terminated if the
company
allows a grace period for payment until such grace period has
expired and
the policy is actually terminated.
For the purposes of this act, the term
``conviction'' includes pleading
guilty or nolo contendere, being convicted or being found
guilty of any
violation enumerated in this subsection without regard to whether
sen-
tence was suspended or probation granted. A forfeiture of bail,
bond or
collateral deposited to secure a defendant's appearance in court,
which
forfeiture has not been vacated, shall be equivalent to a
conviction.
The requirements of this subsection shall
apply whether or not such
person owns a motor vehicle.
(e) Whenever the director shall receive
prima facie evidence, as pre-
scribed by this section, that continuous financial security
covering any
motor vehicle registered in this state is not in effect, the
director shall
notify the owner by registered or certified mail or United States
post
office certificate of mailing that, at the end of 30 days after the
notice is
mailed, the registration for such motor vehicle and the driving
privileges
of the owner of the vehicle shall be suspended or revoked, pursuant
to
such rules and regulations as the secretary of revenue shall adopt,
unless
within 10 days after the notice is mailed: (1) Such owner shall
demonstrate
proof of continuous financial security covering such vehicle to the
satis-
faction of the director; or (2) such owner shall mail a written
request
which is postmarked within 10 days after the notice is mailed
requesting
a hearing with the director. Upon receipt of a timely request for a
hearing,
the director shall afford such person an opportunity for hearing
within
the time and in the manner provided in K.S.A. 8-255 and
amendments
thereto. If, within the ten-day period or at the hearing, such
owner is
unable to demonstrate proof of continuous financial security
covering the
motor vehicle in question, the director shall revoke the
registration of
such motor vehicle and suspend the driving privileges of the owner
of
the vehicle.
(f) Whenever the registration of a motor
vehicle or the driving priv-
ileges of the owner of the vehicle are suspended or revoked for
failure of
the owner to maintain continuous financial security, such
suspension or
revocation shall remain in effect until satisfactory proof of
insurance has
been filed with the director as required by subsection (d) and a
reinstate-
ment fee in the amount herein prescribed is paid to the division of
ve-
hicles. Such reinstatement fee shall be in the amount of
$25 $100 except
that if the registration of a motor vehicle of any owner is revoked
within
one year following a prior revocation of the registration of a
motor vehicle
of such owner under the provisions of this act such fee shall be in
the
amount of $75 $300. The division of
vehicles shall, at least monthly, de-
posit such fees with the state treasurer, who shall credit such
moneys to
the state highway fund.
(g) In no case shall any motor vehicle,
the registration of which has
been revoked for failure to have continuous financial security, be
rere-
gistered in the name of the owner thereof, the owner's spouse,
parent or
child or any member of the same household, until the owner
complies
with subsection (f). In the event the registration plate has
expired, no new
plate shall be issued until the motor vehicle owner complies with
the
reinstatement requirements as required by this act.
(h) Evidence that an owner of a motor
vehicle, registered or required
to be registered in this state, has operated or permitted such
motor ve-
hicle to be operated in this state without having in force and
effect the
financial security required by this act for such vehicle, together
with proof
of records of the division of vehicles indicating that the owner
did not
have such financial security, shall be prima facie evidence that
the owner
did at the time and place alleged, operate or permit such motor
vehicle
to be operated without having in full force and effect financial
security
required by the provisions of this act.
(i) Any owner of a motor vehicle
registered or required to be regis-
tered in this state who shall make a false certification concerning
financial
security for the operation of such motor vehicle as required by
this act,
shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any person, firm or
corporation
giving false information to the director concerning another's
financial se-
curity for the operation of a motor vehicle registered or required
to be
registered in this state, knowing or having reason to believe that
such
information is false, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(j) The director shall administer and
enforce the provisions of this act
relating to the registration of motor vehicles, and the secretary
of revenue
shall adopt such rules and regulations as may be necessary for its
admin-
istration.
(k) Whenever any person has made
application for insurance cover-
age and such applicant has submitted payment or partial payment
with
such application, the insurance company, if payment accompanied
the
application and if insurance coverage is denied, shall refund the
unearned
portion of the payment to the applicant or agent with the notice of
denial
of coverage. If payment did not accompany the application to the
insur-
ance company but was made to the agent, the agent shall refund
the
unearned portion of the payment to the applicant upon receipt of
the
company's notice of denial.
(l) For the purpose of this act,
``declination of insurance coverage''
means a final denial, in whole or in part, by an insurance company
or
agent of requested insurance coverage.
Sec. 13. K.S.A. 1998 Supp. 40-2,103, as amended by
section 5 of
1999 Senate Bill 108, 40-1909 and 40-19c09, as amended by section 6
of
1999 Senate Bill 108, are hereby repealed.
Sec. 14. On and after January 1,
2000, K.S.A. 8-173 and K.S.A. 1998
Supp. 40-3104 and 40-3118 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 15. This act shall take effect and be in
force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
Approved May 13, 1999.
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