Insurance Law Revision Commission Bill drafting files, 1981-1985.

In March 1981 the Utah State Legislature created the Insurance Law Revision Commission (ILRC) to rewrite Utah's insurance laws in an effort to encourage the growth of the state's insurance industry. These files document the recodification of Title 31, Utah Insurance Code as conducted by the Insurance Law Revision Commission from May 1981 through February 1985. The bill files consist mostly of numerous evolving drafts of individual code chapters and sections written through two distinct drafting periods: May 1981-March 1983 and May 1983-February 1985. A variety of related documents (both typescript and manuscript) accompany the drafts including commission memos and correspondence, comments submitted by interested outside parties, miscellaneous notes and references, chapter and section datasheets, copies of pertinent statutory law and case law, small industry publications of topical interest, and lists of public and industry contacts. Several compiled drafts are also included. Thecommission worked closely with the Insurance Department and the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (OLRGC) during the entire process. The Insurance Code Task Force (ICTF) conducted an additional eight month review and amendment of the ILRC's final draft of the new code following its acceptance by the Legislature on February 25, 1985 as S.B. 232.

The March 25, 1983 compiled draft is included in box 5, folders 1-23. This draft includes extensive drafter's comments and was identified by Dane Leavitt (former staff of the ILRC and ICTF) as having "the most probative value to the research of legislative history." In his letter of transmittal to the Utah State Archives, Mr. Leavitt noted, "To the extent the resulting provisions were not substantially changed [by S.B. 232, 1985; or S.B. 91, 1986], the drafter's comments [on the above mentioned draft] will be potentially helpful in understanding the drafter's (if not the legislature's) intent." The second chapter of this draftis missing, but a later copy of the chapter (which includes later commentary) was inserted prior to the State Archives taking custody of the records.

An ILRC memorandum dated February 5, 1985 served as the "cover letter" to S.B. 232 and summarized changes in the law embodied in the recodification. Written by Dane Leavitt, the document was presented to the legislature by the chair of the ILRC, John F. Peircey. Dane Leavitt originally included this document with those records identified as the most useful for purposes of legislative intent research (see box 5, folder 52).