ASA opposes Arizona bill due to unlawful practices language for shops

Feb. 22, 2012—A new bill proposed in Arizona’s House of Representatives that would require shops to stop charging storage fees while being paid for teardowns to complete repair estimates has been held over to the state’s next legislative session, according to the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

The proposed bill—H.B. 2394—introduced by Arizona state Rep. Nancy McLain, would have had a negative impact on auto body shops throughout the state, the ASA said. The bill would have forced shops or vehicle owners to absorb costs associated with vehicle storage.

The ASA-Arizona chapter opposed the bill with the unlawful practices language, and worked with the state legislature to ensure the bill was not approved as it was initially introduced. The ASA said the unlawful practices language will not be included in the new version of the bill that will be considered during Arizona’s next legislative session.

“ASA supports legislation that protects the consumer’s right to be fully indemnified under the terms of their insurance policy and is opposed to any type of fraud, whether it is initiated by a repair shop or an insurer,” the ASA said. “The vehicle owner has a right to know all charges that he or she may be responsible for in the repair process.”

To view the full text of the proposed legislation, visit the ASA’s legislative website, TakingTheHill.com.