HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 333

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 101, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

(52) “Proof of financial responsibility” means proof of ability to respond in damages for liability on account of accidents occurring subsequent to the effective date of said proof arising out of ownership, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle in the amount of $15,000 $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of 1 person in any 1 accident, and, subject to such limit for 1 person, in the amount of $30,000 $ 50,000 because of bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any 1 accident and in the amount of $10,000 because of injury to or destruction of property of others in any 1 accident, or a combined single limit of $40,000 $60,000 .

SYNOPSIS

In 2017, HB 114 raised the minimum bodily injury and property damage liability limits set forth at 21 Del. C. § 2902(b)(2) from $15,000/$30,000/$5,000 to $25,000/$50,000/$10,000. However, HB 114 did not address the issue of combined single limits, and did not change the definition of “proof of financial responsibility” in the definitions section of Title 21. The purpose of this bill is to resolve the statutory conflict that was created when HB 114 was passed in 2017.