Dianne Colburn: I'll be very brief Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee. Dianne Colburn on behalf of the Personal Insurance Federation of California. Our association includes insurance companies that write a little over forty percent of the auto insurance or motor vehicle insurance for Nothern California.

And just to very simply state, we're opposed to this bill because based on our review of the multitude of studies and information that have already been presented, AB-244 will increase motorcycle related deaths, increase the severity of motorcycle injuries and increase the cost of taxpayers pay for Medicare and county health services. And I would just urge you too not to focus too much on the issue of whether it's state supported services vs. insurance that covers these costs.

While it's true that a lot these costs end up being absorbed by the State and paid by taxpayers, to the extent that these costs are covered by insurance, the increased claims costs attributible to these injuries drive up the cost of health insurance and motor vehicle insurance for all policy holders. And that is not solving the problem.

If we really want to reduce the costs, then we need to attack the costs by preventing the injuries in the first place and requiring riders to wear helmets.

So we urge a no vote on this measure.

Senator Kelley: Thank you.

Senator Monteith: May I interrupt?

Senator Kelley: Go ahead.

Senator Monteith: The gentleman who said that they sent the 600 pages out to the office, I just received the notice from my office. We did not receive it.

Richard Woonacoot: You received summarys.

Senator Monteith: That isn't what you said. You said 600 pages. We did not receive it.

Senator Kelley: Alright, thank you. Next witness please.

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