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<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="19-210" title_number="19" title_name="Property and Casualty Insurance" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Homeowner's Insurance Policies">
  <level label="a">
    <text>An insurer shall offer at least one actuarially justified premium discount on a policy of homeowner’s insurance to a policyholder who submits proof of improvements made to the insured premises as a means of mitigating loss from a hurricane or other storm.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Means of mitigating loss include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>the installation of one or more of the following:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>hurricane shutters;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>secondary water barrier;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>reinforced roof coverings;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>braced gable ends;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>reinforced roof to wall connections;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>tie downs; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>reinforced opening protections;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>repair or replacement of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>exterior doors, including garage doors;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>hurricane resistant trusses, studs, and other structural components; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>repair or replacement of manufactured home piers, anchors, and tie down straps; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>any mitigation effort that materially mitigates loss from a hurricane or other storm otherwise covered under the policy.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Improvements made to the insured premises under this section shall be inspected by a contractor licensed by the Maryland Department of Labor.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An insurer shall be allowed to inspect the improvements that are the basis of a premium discount under this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Verification of improvements that are the basis of a premium discount under this section rests with the insurer.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An insurer may accept an inspection certificate issued by a governmental agency as verification of improvements that are the basis of a premium discount under this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>A premium discount offered under this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>comply with the provisions of Title 11 of this article; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>only be offered for improvements identified by the Commissioner as qualified mitigation actions made to the insured premises that may materially mitigate loss from a hurricane or other storm otherwise covered under the policy.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An insurer that offers a premium discount under this section shall provide a policyholder with an annual statement regarding the availability of the discount and the method of applying for the discount.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The notice required under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be sent with the statement required under § 19–205 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An insurer may comply with the renewal notice requirements of this subsection by sending the notice authorized by § 19–216 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>The notice required by this section may be delivered by electronic means if the insurer complies with the requirements of § 27–601.2 of this article.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
