HB 523 Summary

• Expands crash report requirements to include crashes involving any complaint of pain or discomfort, passengers, certain traffic violations, or vehicles requiring wrecker removal; maintains 10-day submission deadline to Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or traffic records center.

• Increases driver license reinstatement fees from $150/$250/$500 to $250/$350/$750 for multiple reinstatements within 3 years following insurance suspension.

• Establishes $2,000 annual licensing fee for health care clinics authorized to submit personal injury protection insurance claims, with two-thirds of proceeds funding the Automobile Insurance Fraud Strike Force.

• Creates the Automobile Insurance Fraud Strike Force as a direct-support organization under the Division of Insurance Fraud to prosecute, investigate, and prevent motor vehicle insurance fraud; authorizes contributions from insurers and use of division property and facilities.

• Restricts personal injury protection claims to specific entities (physician-owned practices, hospital-owned entities, publicly traded corporations, and accredited clinics); prohibits attorney fees for representation secured by illegal solicitation and limits fee multipliers to cases meeting strict criteria; imposes 5-year occupational license loss and 10-year benefit denial for insurance fraud convictions.