AASP-MN sets 2008 legislative agenda

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, Minnesota (AASP-MN) has announced its intentions to pursue three legislative initiatives in 2008.

The Minn. state legislature has drafted a collision shop-licensing bill the AASP-MN helped develop. Before the bill will be introduced formally, the AASP-MN has requested the state Department of Public Safety conduct a fiscal impact analysis to determine whether the fee structure proposed in the bill will cover administration of the program. State agencies usually don’t conduct such surveys until a bill is formally proposed. The AASP-MN is pushing for the action to ensure the fees contained in the bill are correct.

The AASP-MN will restart efforts to push legislation banning insurers from owning collision repair shops. Such legislation was drafted in 2005. However, Allstate was at that time appealing a court ruling that upheld a Texas law that banned insurer ownership. Legislatures typically don’t move on bills subject to judicial review. Since an Appellate Court ruled in favor of Texas in 2007, AASP-MN will renew efforts to drive this legislation.

Finally, the AASP-MN is preparing legislation that will prohibit insurers from “manipulating” estimating database information. New prohibitions will make it illegal for insurers to change any published manual relating to collision repairs or fail to use a manual or system in its entirety during the appraisal of a vehicle. Insurers also will be prohibited from refusing to compensate shops for documented charges identified by industry-recognized software programs or systems for refinishing and painting in collision repair shops.

More information on the AASP-MN can be found at www.aaspmn.org.