An Act to Allow a Qualifying Religious Organization to Self-insure for Automobile Insurance
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1004
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Sponsors: FOSTER, MORRIS, GUERIN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §1613

Legislative Document
No. 1004
H.P. 640
House of Representatives, March 7, 2023
An Act to Allow a Qualifying Religious Organization to Self-insure 
for Automobile Insurance
Reference to the Committee on Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services 
suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FOSTER of Dexter.
Cosponsored by Representative: MORRIS of Turner, Senator: GUERIN of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §1613 is enacted to read:
§1613.  Self-insurance permitted for certain religious organizations
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title, the Secretary of State may grant an 
exemption from any provision of this subchapter for any motor vehicle owned or operated 
by a religious organization or its members subject to the following minimum requirements.
1.  Qualifying religious organization.  In order to be eligible to self-insure under this 
section, a religious organization must demonstrate with documentation to the satisfaction 
of the Secretary of State that:
A.  The religious organization has established tenets and faith-based teachings and has 
been in existence continuously since December 31, 1950;
B.  The religious organization and its members operate 5 or more motor vehicles in this 
State that are owned or leased by the religious organization or one of its members;
C.  The religious organization and its members hold a common belief in mutual 
financial assistance in time of need to the extent that they share in financial obligations 
of members who would otherwise not be able to meet their obligations;
D.  The religious organization and its members have met all of their responsibilities for 
financial responsibility under this subchapter for the 2 years preceding its application 
to self-insure under this section;
E.  The religious organization is financially solvent and not subject to any actions of 
bankruptcy, trusteeship, receivership or any other court proceedings in which the 
financial solvency of the religious organization is at issue;
F.  The religious organization and its members are not subject to any judgements arising 
out of the operation, maintenance or use of a motor vehicle that have remained 
unsatisfied for more than 30 days after final judgement was issued;
G.  There are no factors causing the Secretary of State to believe that the religious 
organization and its members do not have the financial ability to pay any future 
judgements against them; and
H.  The religious organization and its members meet any other requirements prescribed 
in rules adopted in accordance with this section.
2.  Requirements for self-insurance.  Upon application, the religious organization 
shall file with the Secretary of State satisfactory proof using the methods permitted under 
section 1605, subsections 3 and 4 that the religious organization meets the following 
minimum requirements:
A.  For 5 to 10 vehicles, there is a combined single limit of $250,000; and
B.  For more than 10 vehicles, there is an increase of $1,000 per motor vehicle up to a 
maximum combined single limit of $300,000.
3.  Issuance of certificate of self-insurance.  Upon demonstration that a religious 
organization has met the requirements of subsections 1 and 2, the Secretary of State shall 
issue a certificate of self-insurance to the religious organization. The certificate of self-
insurance serves as evidence of financial responsibility required by section 1605, 
subsection 2.  Any member of the religious organization may provide the certificate of self-
insurance as evidence of financial responsibility required by section 1605, subsection 2 to 
register a motor vehicle owned or operated by that member.
4.  Notice of withdrawal.  A religious organization granted a certificate of self-
insurance under this section shall notify the Secretary of State in writing if any member of 
the religious organization ceases to be a member within 10 days of that member's departure 
or removal from the religious organization.
5.  Termination of self-insurance.  The Secretary of State may:
A.  At any time after granting a certificate of self-insurance, terminate the authorization 
for self-insurance if the secretary determines that the religious organization no longer 
meets the requirements for self-insurance under this section. Notice of the termination 
must be provided to the religious organization in writing at least 30 days prior to the 
termination of the authorization; and
B.  Terminate the authorization for self-insurance if the religious organization or its 
members are subject to a judgement arising out of the operation, maintenance or use of 
a motor vehicle and that judgement has remained unsatisfied for more than 30 days 
after the final judgement was issued. The Secretary of State may hold deposited money 
or securities until the judgement is satisfied.
6.  Rules.  The Secretary of State may adopt rules as necessary to implement the 
requirements of this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
7.  Applicability.  A certificate of self-insurance granted by the Secretary of State 
pursuant to this section does not apply to:
A.  A motor vehicle with a registered gross weight of 26,001 pounds or more or a motor 
vehicle requiring its operator to hold a commercial driver's license;
B.  An emergency vehicle;
C.  A for-hire transportation vehicle for transporting freight or merchandise;
D.  A for-hire transportation vehicle for transporting passengers;
E.  A school bus; or
F.  A rental vehicle.
SUMMARY
This bill provides authorization for qualifying religious organizations to satisfy the 
requirements for financial responsibility to operate a motor vehicle registered in this State 
through self-insurance.  The bill sets forth the requirements that must be met before the 
Secretary of State may grant a certificate of self-insurance to a religious organization and 
its members.  This bill authorizes a member of the qualifying religious organization to 
provide that certificate of self-insurance as evidence of financial responsibility to register 
a motor vehicle owned or operated by that member.