MA S797

Creates an Auto Body Labor Rate Advisory Board within the Division of Insurance, consisting of 13 members representing insurance regulators, auto insurers, auto repair shops, dealers, vocational schools, consumer advocates, and an insurance economist

Requires the advisory board to meet at least twice per year and conduct annual surveys of auto body shops to collect data on contracted, posted, and prevailing hourly labor rates

Mandates collection of industry data including labor rates in neighboring states, shop costs, inflation, workforce trends, vocational school enrollment, and insurance premiums

Requires the advisory board to file an annual report with findings and recommendations to the legislature and Division of Insurance by December 31 each year

Establishes a minimum hourly labor rate of $55 that insurers must pay for auto body repairs, with the Commissioner of Insurance setting the actual rate within 30 days of receiving the advisory board's annual report