MO SB709

Establishes a Board of Auto Body Repair within the Division of Professional Registration consisting of seven members (two from auto insurance industry, four from auto body repair industry, one public member) appointed by the governor.

Requires auto body repair facilities to obtain annual licenses for $250 and meet standards including required business licenses, insurance coverage, EPA/OSHA compliance, employee certifications (ASE), continuing education, proper equipment, and repair cost estimation references.

Requires auto body physical damage appraisers to obtain licenses for $100 (renewed every two years for $100) and possess ASE Damage Analysis and Estimating Certification B6, with eight hours of continuing education required annually.

Establishes civil penalties of up to $5,000 for first offense and $10,000 for subsequent offenses of operating as an unlicensed auto body repair facility; civil penalties up to $2,500 for appraiser violations and up to $5,000 for unlicensed appraisers.

Prohibits insurers from paying claims for vehicle repairs at unlicensed auto body repair facilities and requires insurers to report unlicensed facilities to the board.