A bill intended to combat insurance fraud by updating a 20-year-old law passed the Washington state senate this week on a unanimous vote.
Senate Bill 6031, which defines insurance fraud as its own crime, a Class B felony, was pushed for by Washington state Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.
Related: Wildfire Risk Scoring Transparency Bill Passes Washington Senate
State law established the Office of the Insurance Commissioner’s Criminal Investigation Unit in 2006, but the law hasn’t been updated since. With SB 6031, Kuderer believes this gives the unit modern tools to investigate modern fraud.
The bill expands “victims of insurance fraud” to include insurance consumers and insurance beneficiaries, making them eligible for criminal restitution. SB 6031 would also expand statutory reporting of suspected insurance fraud to the commissioner by adding regulators of healthcare or financial services professions, and other law enforcement and public safety agencies as among the required reporters of suspected fraud.
Related: Assignment of Benefits Bill Passes Washington Senate
The bill, which passed on Tuesday, now moves to the state House of Representatives for consideration.
This is important info. It’s what the bill does and who it’s regulating.
Topics Fraud Washington Politics
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Premiums Will Skyrocket by 2035; Discounts Not Enough for Wind Mit, Studies Say 
Clash of Florida Titans Pits Powerful Tribe Against Homebuilder Lennar 
One Weather Firm Warns New England Could See Big Hurricane This Season 
Remember the Fall of Patriot National? Trial in Suit vs. Mariano’s Lawyers to Begin 
