District of Columbia No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on the District Columbia.
District of Columbia No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act - States that the purpose of this Act is to establish in the District of Columbia a system of first party, no-fault insurance for victims of motor vehicle accidents. Sets forth the definitions of terms used in this Act. Provides that the right to basic reparation benefits exists: (1) for every person suffering loss from injury arising out of an accident occurring in the District of Columbia; (2) for basic reparation insureds and their survivors suffering loss from injury arising outside the District of Columbia; and (3) for the driver and occupants of a secured vehicle (other than (a) one used in the business of transporting persons or property and (b) one owned by a Federal agency) for injury arising outside the District of Columbia. Sets forth the priority of applicability of security for payments of basic reparation benefits. Abolishes tort liability relating to accidents occurring in the District of Columbia and arising from ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle, with specified exceptions. Requires that every owner of a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia provide security for (1) the payment of basic reparation benefits under this Act and (2) for payment of tort liabilities arising from maintenance or use of the motor vehicle. States that security be required for registration of a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia. Prescribes the obligations of an owner of a motor vehicle owner upon termination of his security. Specifies the minimum amounts required for tort liability security: (1) $10,000 for bodily injury sustained by one person, with an aggregate minimum amount of $20,000 for all bodily injury damages; and $5,000 for all damages arising from destruction of property. Permits reparation obligors to organize an assigned claims bureau and to adopt rules for operation and assessment of costs on a fair and equitable basis. Sets forth provisions regarding the time for presenting claims under this Act, attorney's fees, settlements, and judgments for future benefits. Provides for the equitable allocation of burdens among insurers until this system is established. Makes the effective date of this Act January 1, 1974. Prohibits from coverage under this Act all accidents occurring before this date.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on March 8, 1973. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on March 8, 1973: Referred to House Committee on the District Columbia.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
W. STUCKEY (D-GA) introduced it on March 8, 1973. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on March 8, 1973, 19544 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19544 days ago, on March 8, 1973.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers