Delaware Bill Would Aid Volunteer Firefighters

Insurance companies would be banned from raising the auto insurance rates of Delaware policyholders or dropping their policies because they are volunteer firefighters and ambulance company members under proposed legislation.

Senate Bill 239 is sponsored by state Sens. Patricia Blevins and Bruce Ennis and state Reps. Biff Lee and Bill Carson, was authored by Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn and is being supported by the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association. It comes after a case was brought to the Department of Insurance where a Sussex County volunteer firefighter was reportedly told by his insurance company that his auto policy was being cancelled because he used his personal vehicle to respond to emergency calls.

“It is unacceptable to me that these selfless volunteers could be penalized by their insurance companies. That’s what this bill is designed to prevent,” Sen. Blevins said.

“What this legislation does is prevent insurance companies from intimidating fire service personnel from performing a very valuable service,” added Ron Marvel, president of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association.