New Law: Insurance paperwork reduced

A new law requires insurance companies to give or obtain property-casualty insurance notices in the form in which an application is made, whether electronically or in writing.

It also permits verbal authorization in lieu of signed authorization if an insurance company retains an electronic record of the verbal authorization. A company’s authorization from the customer to collect personal information must be in writing or in the same form as the application.

The bill also eliminates a requirement that an insurance appraiser be a Minnesota resident.

Rep. Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska) and Sen. Paul Gazelka (R-Brainerd) sponsor the law, which takes effect Aug. 1, 2011.

HF895*/ SF590/CH52