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For Immediate Release:
July , 2005
Massachusetts Auto Body Association, Inc.
20 East Street, Hanover, MA 02339
(781) 826-0553 ! (800) ITS-MABA ! Fax (781) 826-0953
Email: mail@itsmaba.com Website: www.itsmaba.com
For Information Contact:
Stephen Regan
MABA: 781-826-0553
Cell: 617-257-1222
The Massachusetts Auto Body Association (MABA), along with many others, testifying at the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) hearing on July 7 th in Newport, Rhode Island, were once again successful getting NCOIL to reject a new draft of a proposed “model” bill that would create certification standards for aftermarket crash replacement parts. After the hearing, NCOIL’s Property and Casualty Committee voted to redraft the bill to correct some of the problem language and consider it again at their fall meeting in San Diego.
NCOIL previously voted to postpone consideration of this bill twice after MABA and others raised objections that the bill was poorly drafted and failed to provide any consumer protection or require that certified parts be used by repairers. The first time was in Boston in July of 2002 and the second at their 2002 Annual meeting in San Francisco. In addition, several NCOIL legislators raised additional objections, including one that the bill was designed to help the only company known to certify aftermarket crash parts; CAPA, or the Certified Aftermarket Parts Association.
The stated intent of the bill has been to have non-car company parts, or aftermarket, certified by an independent third party to protect consumers from unfit, or even, unsafe aftermarket parts. However MABA, provided a detailed section by section analysis of the bill and pointed out that the bill was not only poorly drafted, but did not have any language that would require aftermarket parts be certified. MABA, in their testimony, stated that an endorsed this bill, as written, would not reflect well on NCOIL’s members.
“Proponents argued the legislation is needed to require that only certified aftermarket parts are used in repairs to protect consumers from poor quality aftermarket crash parts,” testified MABA spokesman Stephen Regan. “However, none of the “model” drafts ever required the use of certified parts and therefore offer no legitimate statutory protection to consumers. In short this bill still fails to implement its stated goals and objectives and, if adopted, would likely be used by aftermarket parts advocates to support their contention that the parts are equal to manufacturers parts (OEM),” he added.
Since the bill could only be used as a recommendation to other states, some questioned whether their was a need at all, as most states have already drafted bills or enacted laws to address concerns about aftermarket crash parts. MABA specifically said that the bill, if endorsed would become a propaganda tool for CAPA and others to create an impression that key legislators from around the country believe certified aftermarket parts and OEM parts are the same quality.
“The bill would accomplish for CAPA and aftermarket crash parts advocates what they have failed to do for two decades: Lend an air or validity to CAPA’s certification program and give consumers the impression that CAPA certified parts are the same as OEM,” Regan said. “We are pleased the bill was not adopted and are also grateful to SCRS, ASA, CCRE, and many others who testified against it,” he added.
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