The State Senate in California has approved a bill that would bar the use of credit-based insurance scoring as a consideration in underwriting homeowners policies. The bill would extend provisions from the voter-approved Proposition 103, which denies insurers the right to consider credit history when issuing personal auto insurance policies. The bill by Sen. Martha Escutia (D) would bar the use of such information "in whole or in part." If passed, the bill would make California the first state in the nation to ban the use of credit-based insurance scores in both auto and homeowners.

May 20, 2003