Policyholders’ right to know

(a) Use Section 1312 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4019), as amended by section 403(c), is amended by inserting after subsection (f) the following: (g) Use of technical assistance reports When adjusting claims for any damage to or loss of property that is covered by flood insurance made available under this title, the Administrator may rely upon technical assistance reports, as defined in section 1312A(a), only if the reports are final and are prepared in compliance with applicable State and Federal laws regarding professional licensure and conduct.. (b) Disclosure Chapter I of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4011 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1312 (42 U.S.C. 4019) the following: 1312A. Disclosure of claims documents and technical assistance reports (a) Definitions In this section— (1) the term policyholder means any person listed as a named or additional insured on the declarations page of a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under this title; and (2) the term technical assistance report means a report created for the purpose of furnishing technical assistance to an insurance claims adjuster assigned under the national flood insurance program, including any report created by an engineer, a surveyor, a salvor, an architect, or a certified public accountant. (b) Provision of copies (1) In general Notwithstanding section 552a of title 5, United States Code, not later than 1 week after the date on which the Administrator receives a written request, or a request submitted online, from a policyholder, and with respect to a claim for loss submitted by the policyholder for any damage to or loss of property that is covered by the policy, the Administrator shall provide a true, complete, and unredacted copy of— (A) all documents that constitute the claim file of the insurance company with respect to the claim, in accordance with the memorandum issued by the Administrator on June 1, 2018, entitled Guidance for the Release of Claim File Information to Policyholders (WYO Bulletin W–18012) (or any successor document); (B) any document created by any adjuster in scoping the loss, including measurements, photographs, and notes; (C) any estimates of damages with respect to the claim; (D) any draft and final technical assistance report relating to adjusting and paying or denying the claim; (E) any proof of loss, supplemental proofs of loss, or any equivalent notices, together with supporting documentation, with respect to the claim; and (F) any document relating to the denial or partial denial of the claim. (2) Rule of construction Nothing in paragraph (1) may be construed to limit the right of a policyholder to receive a disclosure under section 552a of title 5, United States Code, or any other provision of law. (c) Direct disclosure by Write Your Own companies and direct servicing agents (1) In general A Write Your Own Company or direct servicing agent in possession of any technical assistance report that is subject to disclosure under subsection (b) may disclose such technical assistance report without further review or approval by the Administrator. (2) Affirmative notification A Write Your Own Company, or any other entity servicing a claim under the national flood insurance program, shall, not later than 30 days after the date on which the company or entity receives notice of a claim, notify the claimant that the claimant or an authorized representative of the claimant may obtain, upon request, a copy of any claim-related document described in subsection (b)(1) that pertains to the claimant.. (c) Transmission of report without approval (1) Definition In this subsection, the term final engineering report means an engineering report, survey, or other document in connection with a claim for losses covered by a policy for flood insurance coverage made available under the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.) that— (A) is based on an on-site inspection; (B) contains final conclusions with respect to an engineering issue or issues involved in the claim; and (C) is signed by the responsible in charge or affixed with the seal of the responsible in charge, or both. (2) Transmission A Write Your Own Company or a National Flood Insurance Program direct servicer may, without obtaining further review or approval by the Administrator, transmit to a policyholder a final engineering report in the possession of the Write Your Own Company or the direct servicer in connection with a claim submitted by the policyholder.