The Rhode Island State House Corporations Committee is slated to hear H. 6324 and H. 6325 today, two special interest auto body repair bills that threaten to add costs related to parts, materials, sublet services, and a new "industry standard markup" loophole in a state that already costs more than any other to repair a car, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association said in a news release.
The bills are the latest in a decades-long effort by the autobody industry - a lobby with a notably strong grip in the state - to pass more than two-dozen bills related to car repair costs.
"House 6324 would effectively allow the autobody industry to use whatever part invoicing system they want, including several known to be open to potential manipulation, and an insurer would be required to pay without contest as long as an invoice is produced," said Frank O'Brien, Vice President of Government Relations for the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA).
