Insurance: interveners payment.

The Insurance Rate Reduction and Reform Act of 1988, an initiative measure, enacted by Proposition 103, as approved by the voters at the November 8, 1988, statewide general election, among other things, prohibits specified insurance rates from being approved or remaining in effect that are excessive, inadequate, unfairly discriminatory, or otherwise in violation of the provisions of the act, and requires any insurer desiring to change those insurance rates to file a completed rate application with the Insurance Commissioner, as provided. The act also authorizes any person to initiate or intervene in any proceeding permitted or established pursuant to the governing provisions, to challenge any action of the commissioner under the governing provisions, and to enforce any of the governing provisions, and requires the commissioner or a court to award reasonable advocacy and witness fees and expenses to that person, as provided. This bill would delete the provisions regarding awarding reasonable advocacy and witness fees and expenses. The California Constitution and the act authorize the Legislature to amend or repeal an initiative statute by another statute that becomes effective when approved by the electors. This bill would provide that its provisions will become effective only upon approval of the voters, and would provide for the submission of this measure to the voters for approval at the next statewide general election.