PRINTER'S NO. 1225
No. 1079 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY MAITLAND, PLATTS, E. Z. TAYLOR, MAHER, R. MILLER,
CIVERA, FEESE, JAMES, KIRKLAND, McILHATTAN, MICHLOVIC,
READSHAW, SCRIMENTI, SEYFERT, STEELMAN, THOMAS, TRELLO, WALKO
AND YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 24, 1999
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE, MARCH 24, 1999
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
2 Statutes, further providing for motor vehicle insurance
3 benefits and limits.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 1702 of Title 75 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
8 § 1702. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
10 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 * * *
13 "Sudden emergency." A sudden perilous or life-threatening
14 situation, or the onset of a sudden physical impairment or
15 illness, which an individual could not avoid or foresee.
16 * * *
17 Section 2. Section 1711 of Title 75 is amended to read:
1 § 1711. Required benefits.
2 (a) [Medical benefit] Coverage.--An insurer issuing or
3 delivering liability insurance policies covering any motor
4 vehicle of the type required to be registered under this title,
5 except recreational vehicles not intended for highway use,
6 motorcycles, motor-driven cycles or motorized pedalcycles or
7 like type vehicles, registered and operated in this
8 Commonwealth, shall include [coverage] all of the following:
9 (1) Coverage providing a medical benefit in the amount
10 of $5,000.
11 (2) Coverage providing a sudden emergency benefit in the
12 amount of $50,000 per occurrence and $100,000 in the
13 aggregate.
14 (b) Minimum policy.--All insurers subject to this chapter
15 shall make available for purchase a motor vehicle insurance
16 policy which contains only the minimum requirements of financial
17 responsibility and [medical benefits] coverage under subsection
18 (a) as provided for in this chapter.
19 Section 3. Section 1715(a)(5) of Title 75 is amended and the
20 subsection is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
21 § 1715. Availability of adequate limits.
22 (a) General rule.--An insurer shall make available for
23 purchase first party benefits as follows:
24 * * *
25 (4.1) For sudden emergency benefits, $250,000 per
26 occurrence and $500,000 in the aggregate.
27 (5) For combination of benefits enumerated in paragraphs
28 (1)[, (2), (3) and (4)] through (4.1) and subject to a limit
29 on the accidental death benefit of up to $25,000 and a limit
30 on the funeral benefit of $2,500, up to at least [$177,500]
19990H1079B1225 - 2 -
1 $277,500 of benefits in the aggregate or benefits payable up
2 to three years from the date of the accident, whichever
3 occurs first, provided that nothing contained in this
4 subsection shall be construed to limit, reduce, modify or
5 change the provisions of subsection (d).
6 * * *
7 Section 4. The following provisions shall apply to policies
8 issued or renewed on or after the effective date of this act:
9 (1) The addition of the definition of "sudden emergency"
10 in 75 Pa.C.S. § 1702.
11 (2) The amendment or addition of 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1711 and
12 1715(a)(4.1) and (5).
13 Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
B11L75VDL/19990H1079B1225 - 3 -