CHAPTER 232
SB 110 - FINAL VERSION
03/07/2019 0618s
5Jun2019... 2111h
2019 SESSION
19-0938
05/08
SENATE BILL 110
AN ACT relative to the investigations by the state fire marshal.
SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Cavanaugh, Dist 16; Rep. Goley, Hills. 8; Rep. Doucette, Rock. 8; Rep. Baldasaro, Rock. 5; Rep. S. Beaudoin, Straf. 9
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill authorizes the fire marshal to obtain information from the insurance company when investigating a fire loss, building collapse, or incident involving the release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/07/2019 0618s
5Jun2019... 2111h 19-0938
05/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
AN ACT relative to the investigations by the state fire marshal.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
232:1 State Board of Fire Control; Fires of Suspicious Origin; Building Collapse and Release of Carbon Monoxide Added. Amend RSA 153:13-a to read as follows:
153:13-a Fires of Suspicious Origin.
I. An authorized investigator from the state fire marshal's office, or from any fire department or law enforcement agency may request an insurance company investigating a fire loss of real or personal property, building collapse, or an incident involving the release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle to release any information in its possession relative to that loss. The company shall release the information and cooperate with any official authorized to request such information pursuant to this section. No waiver of an insurance company’s applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information shall occur as a result of such release of information. The information may include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) Any insurance policy relevant to a fire loss, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide under investigation and any application for such policy;
(b) Policy premium payment records;
(c) History of previous claims made by the insured [for fire loss]; and
(d) Material relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and any other relevant evidence.
II. If an insurance company has reason to suspect that a fire loss in the amount of $1,000 or more to its insured's real or personal property was caused by other than accidental means, the company shall notify the office of the state fire marshal and furnish [him] the fire marshal, either through a recognized bureau or organization of companies or through the secretary or other officer of the insurance company, with all relevant material acquired during its investigation of the fire loss, cooperate with and take such reasonable action as may be requested of it by any law enforcement agency, and permit any person so ordered by a court to inspect any of its records pertaining to the policy and the loss.
III. The state fire marshal or any fire chief whose department is investigating any fire loss of real or personal property, building collapse, or incident involving the release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle shall notify any insurance company believed to have an interest as insurer of such property. Notification shall include a statement of the nature of such investigation.
IV. In the absence of fraud or malice, no public official or insurance company or person who furnishes information on its behalf, is liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for any oral or written statement made or any other action taken that is necessary to supply information required pursuant to this section.
V. The recipient of any information furnished pursuant to this section shall hold the information in confidence and not release it, except to another official referred to in paragraph I, until such time as its release is required pursuant to a criminal or civil proceeding.
VI. Any official referred to in paragraph I of this section may be required to testify as to or to release any information in his or her possession regarding the fire loss, [of real or personal property] building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide in any civil action in which any person seeks recovery under a policy against an insurance company for the fire loss, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide.
VII.(a) No person shall purposely refuse to release any information requested pursuant to paragraph I of this section.
(b) No person shall purposely refuse to make the necessary notification of a fire loss pursuant to paragraph II of this section.
(c) No person shall purposely refuse to supply to the proper authorities pertinent information requested to be furnished pursuant to paragraph II of this section.
(d) No person shall purposely fail to hold in confidence information required to be held in confidence by paragraph V of this section.
VIII. Whoever violates paragraph VII(a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall not be considered a violation of this section if an insurance company acts in good faith and believes it has done everything required of it by this section.
232:2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: July 12, 2019
Effective Date: September 10, 2019
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 20, 2019 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 7, 2019 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 3, 2019 | House | Hearing |
| April 10, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| April 30, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| House | Floor Vote | |
| May 8, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
| May 21, 2019 | House | Exec Session |
| June 5, 2019 | House | Floor Vote |
July 12, 2019: Signed by the Governor on 07/12/2019; Chapter 232; Effective 09/10/2019
June 27, 2019: Enrolled (In recess 06/27/2019); SJ 21
June 27, 2019: Enrolled 06/27/2019 HJ 20 P. 53
June 13, 2019: Sen. Carson Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 06/13/2019; SJ 20
June 5, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-2111h: MA VV 06/05/2019 HJ 17 P. 30
June 5, 2019: Amendment # 2019-2111h: AA VV 06/05/2019 HJ 17 P. 30
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-2111h (Vote 18-2; RC)
June 5, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-2111h for 06/05/2019 (Vote 18-2; RC) HC 27 P. 10
May 21, 2019: Executive Session: 05/21/2019 11:00 am LOB 302
May 16, 2019: Full Committee Work Session: 05/16/2019 09:30 am LOB 302
May 8, 2019: Referred to Commerce and Consumer Affairs 05/08/2019 HJ 15 P. 4
May 8, 2019: Ought to Pass: MA VV 05/08/2019 HJ 15 P. 4
: Committee Report: Ought to Pass (Vote 19-0; CC)
May 8, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass for 05/08/2019 (Vote 19-0; CC) HC 23 P. 4
April 30, 2019: ==CONTINUED== Executive Session: 04/30/2019 10:00 am LOB 306
April 17, 2019: Subcommittee Work Session: 04/17/2019 01:00 pm LOB 306
April 10, 2019: ==RECESSED== Executive Session: 04/10/2019 11:00 am LOB 306
April 3, 2019: Public Hearing: 04/03/2019 11:00 am LOB 306
March 20, 2019: Introduced 03/20/2019 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 11 P. 69
March 7, 2019: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2019-0618s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/07/2019; SJ 7
March 7, 2019: Committee Amendment # 2019-0618s, AA, VV; 03/07/2019; SJ 7
March 7, 2019: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2019-0618s, 03/07/2019; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 12
Feb. 20, 2019: Hearing: 02/20/2019, Room 101, LOB, 10:00 am; SC 11
Jan. 3, 2019: Introduced 01/03/2019 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 4