(a)(1) The Insurance Department may establish a mediation program for any open claim for loss or damage to personal or real property that arises under an insured's (A) personal risk insurance policy, as defined in section 38a-663, other than a private passenger nonfleet automobile insurance policy, (B) condominium association master policy under section 47-83, or (C) unit owners' association property insurance policy under section 47-255, as a result of a catastrophic event for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency. Any company licensed to write the lines of insurance set forth in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of this subdivision shall participate in the mediation program. For purposes of this section, “claim” means any dispute between an insured and such insured's insurer arising from such catastrophic event in which the difference between the position of the parties for the actual cash value or the amount of loss is five thousand dollars or more, notwithstanding any applicable deductible, except that the parties may agree to mediate a dispute involving a lesser amount.

(2) This section shall not apply to any claim (A) made under a flood insurance policy issued by the National Flood Insurance Program, (B) for which coverage is in dispute, or (C) with respect to which coverage has been exhausted.

(b) The Insurance Commissioner shall designate an entity as the commissioner's designee to carry out the mediations pursuant to this section. The insurer shall pay the mediation fee to the designated entity not later than ten business days after such insurer receives an invoice for such mediation from such entity. The insurer shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by an insured including, but not limited to, costs incurred for advisors, representatives, attorneys or public adjusters.

(c) The mediation shall be conducted in accordance with procedures established by the designated entity and approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall not designate an entity as the commissioner's designee unless:

(1) Such entity agrees (A) that the commissioner shall oversee the operational procedures of such entity with respect to the administration of the mediation program, (B) that the commissioner shall have access to all systems, databases and records related to the mediation program, and (C) to make reports to the commissioner in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner;

(2) Such entity's procedures require that (A) the parties agree, in writing, prior to the mediation that statements made during the mediation are confidential and will not be admitted into evidence in any civil action concerning the claim, except with respect to any proceeding or investigation of insurance fraud, (B) a settlement agreement reached in a mediation shall be transcribed into a written agreement, on a form approved by the commissioner, that is signed by the insured and a representative of the insurer with the authority to do so, and (C) a settlement agreement prepared during a mediation shall include a provision affording the insured a right to rescind the agreement within five business days after the date such agreement is reached, provided the insured has not cashed or deposited any check or draft disbursed to the insured for the disputed matters as a result of such agreement; and

(3) Such entity's procedures provide that (A) the mediator may terminate a mediation session if the mediator determines that either the insured or the insurer's representative is not participating in the mediation in good faith, or if even after good faith efforts, a settlement cannot be reached, (B) the designated entity may schedule additional mediation sessions if it believes the sessions may result in a settlement, (C) the designated entity may require the insurer to send a different representative to a rescheduled mediation session if the first representative has not participated in the mediation in good faith, and any fee for such other representative shall be paid by the insurer, and (D) the designated entity may reschedule a mediation session if the mediator determines that the insured is not participating in good faith, but only if the insured pays the entity's fee for the mediation.

(d) An insured's right to request mediation pursuant to this section shall not affect any other right the insured may have to redress the dispute after the completion of the mediation, including any remedies specified in the insurance policy or any right provided by law, unless a settlement agreement for the dispute has been entered into and the insured did not rescind such agreement as provided under subparagraph (C) of subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section.

(e) The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, (1) the form and manner of notification by the insurer to an insured of the right to mediation, (2) the forms and procedures for an insured or an insurer to request a mediation proceeding, and (3) the requirements for an insurer's participation at the mediation hearing.

(P.A. 13-148, S. 1.)