56-5-401 - Part definitions.

56-5-401. Part definitions.

As used in this part, unless the context otherwise requires:

     (1)  “Adverse action” means a denial or cancellation of, an increase in any charge for, or a reduction or other adverse or unfavorable change in the terms of coverage or amount of, any insurance, existing or applied for, in connection with the underwriting of personal insurance. An offer of placement with an affiliate insurer does not constitute adverse action, a refusal to insure, cancellation or nonrenewal of coverage;

     (2)  “Affiliate” means any company that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another company;

     (3)  “Consumer” means an insured whose credit information is used or whose insurance score is calculated in the underwriting or rating of a personal insurance policy or an applicant for the policy;

     (4)  “Consumer reporting agency” means any entity that, for monetary fees, dues, or on a cooperative nonprofit basis, regularly engages in whole or in part in the practice of assembling or evaluating consumer credit information or other information on consumers for the purpose of furnishing consumer reports to third parties;

     (5)  “Credit information” means any credit-related information derived from a credit report, found on a credit report itself, or provided on an application for personal insurance. Information that is not credit-related shall not be considered “credit information,” regardless of whether it is contained in a credit report or in an application, or is used to calculate an insurance score;

     (6)  “Credit report” means any written, oral, or other communication of information by a consumer reporting agency bearing on a consumer's creditworthiness, credit standing or credit capacity that is used or expected to be used or collected in whole or in part for the purpose of serving as a factor to determine personal insurance premiums, eligibility for coverage, or tier placement;

     (7)  “Insurance score” means a number or rating that is derived from an algorithm, computer application, model, or other process that is based in whole or in part on credit information for the purposes of predicting the future insurance loss exposure of an individual applicant or insured; and

     (8)  “Personal insurance,” for the purposes of this part, means private passenger automobile, homeowners, motorcycle, manufactured home owners, noncommercial dwelling fire insurance, boat, personal watercraft, and recreational vehicle policies when those policies are individually underwritten for personal, family or household use.

[Acts 2004, ch. 527, § 2.]