Missouri SB 1116: Modifies provisions relating to travel insurance

Bill Text

EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted
and is intended to be omitted in the law.
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1116
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ROBERTS.
5460S.01I ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary
AN ACT
To repeal section 375.159, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to travel
insurance, with penalty provisions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 375.159, RSMo, is repealed and one new 1
section enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 375.159, 2
to read as follows:3
375.159. 1. As used in this section, the following 1
terms shall mean: 2
(1) "Aggregator site", a website that provides 3
information regarding insurance products from more than one 4
insurer, including product and insurer information, for use 5
in comparison shopping; 6
(2) "Blanket travel insurance", a policy of travel 7
insurance issued to any eligible group providing coverage 8
for specific classes of persons defined in the policy, with 9
coverage provided to all members of the eligible group 10
without a separate charge to individual members of the 11
eligible group; 12
(3) "Cancellation fee waiver", a contractual agreement 13
between a supplier of travel services and its customer to 14
waive some or all of the nonrefundable cancellation fee 15
provisions of the supplier's underlying travel contract with 16
or without regard to the reason for the cancellation or form 17

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of reimbursement. A cancellation fee waiver is not 18
insurance; 19
(4) "Director", the director of the department of 20
commerce and insurance; 21
(5) "Eligible group", solely for the purpose of travel 22
insurance, two or more persons who are engaged in a common 23
enterprise or have an economic, educational, or social 24
affinity or relationship, including but not limited to any 25
of the following: 26
(a) Any entity engaged in the business of providing 27
travel or travel services, including but not limited to: 28
tour operators, lodging providers, vacation property owners, 29
hotels and resorts, travel clubs, travel agencies, property 30
managers, cultural exchange programs, and common carriers or 31
the operator, owner, or lessor of a means of transportation 32
of passengers including, but not limited to, airlines, 33
cruise lines, railroads, steamship companies, and public bus 34
carriers, in which there is a common exposure to risk 35
attendant to the particular type of travel or traveler for 36
all members or customers of the group; 37
(b) Any college, school, or other institution of 38
learning, covering students, teachers, employees, or 39
volunteers; 40
(c) Any employer covering any group of employees, 41
volunteers, contractors, members of boards of directors, 42
dependents, or guests; 43
(d) Any sports team, camp, or sponsor thereof, 44
covering participants, members, campers, employees, 45
officials, supervisors, or volunteers; 46
(e) Any religious, charitable, recreational, 47
educational, or civic organization, or branch thereof, 48
covering any group of members, participants, or volunteers; 49

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(f) Any financial institution, financial institution 50
vendor, or parent holding company, trustee, or agent of or 51
designated by one or more financial institutions or 52
financial institution vendors, including accountholders, 53
credit card holders, debtors, guarantors, or purchasers; 54
(g) Any incorporated or unincorporated association, 55
including any labor union, having a common interest, 56
constitution, and bylaws, and organized and maintained in 57
good faith for purposes other than obtaining insurance for 58
members or participants of such association covering its 59
members; 60
(h) Any trust or the trustees of a fund established, 61
created, or maintained for the benefit of and covering 62
members, employees, or customers of one or more associations 63
meeting the requirements of paragraph (g) of this 64
subdivision, subject to the director's permission of the use 65
of a trust and the state's premium tax provisions described 66
in subsection 4 of this section; 67
(i) Any entertainment production company covering any 68
group of participants, volunteers, audience members, 69
contestants, or workers; 70
(j) Any volunteer fire department, ambulance, rescue, 71
police, court, first aid, civil defense, or other such 72
volunteer group; 73
(k) Preschools, day care institutions for children or 74
adults, and senior citizen clubs; 75
(l) Any automobile or truck rental or leasing company 76
covering a group of persons who may become renters, lessees, 77
or passengers defined by their travel status on the rented 78
or leased vehicles. The common carrier; the operator, 79
owner, or lessor of a means of transportation; or the 80

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automobile or truck rental or leasing company is the 81
policyholder under a policy to which this section applies; or 82
(m) Any other group for which