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AASP/MA Members Share Major
EVANGELOS “LUCKY” PAPAGEORG
Political Equity: Talk versus $$$$
In late February, AASP/MA reactivated its political/ lobbying machine after a very successful and well-attended virtual General Membership Meeting that focused on our legislative initiatives and plans for the current session. We discussed our two very important consumer protection bills that were filed for consideration during the 192nd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. At present, over 5,000 bills have been filed in this session, which will last through the end of 2022. Our work has only just begun, but we are off to a great start based on the number of senators and representatives who have already signed on to sponsor our bills. This success did not happen by accident.
In January 2021, AASP/MA hired a full-time lobbyist, Guy Glodis, who has been involved in Massachusetts politics for nearly two decades. During that time period, Guy has served as Worcester County Sheriff from 2005 to 2011. Prior to that, he served in the Massachusetts Senate and the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Guy is very familiar with the automotive industry and the issues that it faces. He also serves as the lobbyist for the Statewide Towing Association (STA), which has been very successful in their legislative efforts.
The first bill was filed by Representative Tackey Chan (D-Quincy), who is the co-chair of the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. This bill, “An Act Relative to the Licensure of Appraisers,” seeks to move the Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board (ADALB) from the Division of Insurance (DOI) to the Division of Professional Licensure (DPL). This is in compliance with the Governor’s order #567 issued in March 2016 “to ensure proper review of the regulation of professional licensing by independent boards.” As part of this bill, the composition of the ADALB will then be increased by two individuals – one from the AG’s office of Consumer Affairs and one from a consumer advocacy group – representing the concerns of the consumers. Massachusetts motorists will finally have a voice on the Board, which was created to protect them through licensing and regulating of auto damage appraisers. (NOTE: This bill is identical to Senate Bill 182, which was filed in 2019 and released with a favorable recommendation before stalling in the Senate Ways and Means Committee due to the COVID-19 shutdown.)
Our second bill, “An Act to Establish Minimum Reimbursement Rate to Insurance Claimants,” was filed by Representative Jim Hawkins (D-Attleboro). It seeks to ensure that policyholders are reimbursed fairly and properly for the needed repairs due to a claim under their auto insurance policy. The current auto insurance policy in Massachusetts is meant to cover all costs associated with the safe and proper repair of damaged vehicles and required to restore them to their pre-loss condition. The procedures and rates by which the insured are reimbursed are based on artificially suppressed rates and repair techniques dating back to the late ’80s and early ’90s. Current reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the constantly changing technology, training and equipment required to guarantee the safety of the motoring public. Neither those involved in an accident nor those who share the roads with them, subsequent to a repair having been performed, are currently being protected.
It is important to remember that legislators are elected by their constituents. As such, they want to hear from us and understand our concerns. Legislators also want to please their constituents. This equates to the votes they need to get re-elected to keep their respective seats in the House or Senate. It is also especially important to remember that you personally may have two representatives and two senators who represent you. This is based on not only where your business is located, but also on where you live. In many instances, they are different legislative districts. The same can be said for any one of your employees. If you are unsure who your specific legislators are, go to malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator and simply type in your business or residential address. Pictures of your local senator and representative will appear; click on either of them for their contact information. There is no excuse for not knowing who to contact.
Armed with the simple tools and talking points on each of the bills, all those who attended the February meeting began calling their legislators the following morning. The results were AMAZING! Please read this month’s cover story to see just how much we were able to achieve in such a short period of time.
Through the concerted efforts of our AASP/MA members and their employees, we have made huge strides in the support of these bills, and that support has continued to grow. Again, these results were amazing in just three short days. The efforts put forth have helped to build the foundation for our activities going forward.
Our work is far from over! With your combined and ongoing assistance, we will continue to bring the message of how important these two bills are for the safety and wellbeing of the insurance claimants in Massachusetts. We will provide you with regular updates regarding our progress, and we WILL call on you again to do your part. I cannot express how impressed I was that so many took up the challenge and made call after call. Those shops and individuals filled out call log sheets documenting their conversations. I have received hundreds of copies of the call log sheets as proof.
Just as important as the first or second call were the ones that
