Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 120 - OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE, SAFETY FIRE COMMISSIONER AND INDUSTRIAL LOAN COMMISSIONER
Chapter 120-2 - RULES OF COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE
Subject 120-2-42 - READABILITY STANDARDS FOR PERSONAL LINES POLICIES
Rule 120-2-42-.04 - Standards

Universal Citation: GA Rules and Regs r 120-2-42-.04

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through September 23, 2024

Policies and forms subject to this Regulation shall meet the following standards:

(a) The policy shall include a table of contents of important provisions.

(b) Each section shall be self-contained and independent. However, general provisions applicable to more than one section may be included in a common section.

(c) The policy, except for declarations pages, schedules, and tables, shall be printed in not less than ten-point type, one-point leaded.

(d) The policy shall be printed in a legible type-style with adequate contrast between ink and paper. Captions, headings, and spacing shall be used to increase overall legibility.

(e) The policy shall be written in everyday conversational language consistent with its standing as a contract. Short sentences and a personal style shall be used wherever possible.

(f) Technical terms and words with special meaning shall be avoided wherever possible.

(g) The policy text shall achieve a minimum score of forty (40) on the Flesch Reading Ease Test or an equivalent score on any other comparable test or a lower score on either if the Commissioner finds the policy reasonably easy to read. For purposes of this Regulation, a Flesch Reading Ease Test shall be scored by the following methods:

1. For a policy containing 10,000 words or less of text, the entire policy shall be analyzed. For a policy containing more than 10,000 words, the readability of two 100-word samples per page may be analyzed instead. The samples shall be separated by at least twenty (20) printed lines.

2. The total number of words in the text or sample shall be divided by the total number of sentences. The figure obtained shall be multiplied by 1.015.

3. The total number of syllables in the text or sample shall be divided by the total number of words. The figure obtained shall be multiplied by 84.6.

4. The sum of the figures computed under subparagraphs 2. and 3. subtracted from 206.835 equals the Flesch Reading Ease Test score.

5. For purposes of this Regulation, the following procedures shall be used:
(i) A contraction, hyphenated word, number, or letter, when separated by spaces, shall be counted as one word;

(ii) A unit of text ending with a period, semicolon, or colon shall be counted as a sentence;

(iii) A syllable means a unit of spoken language consisting of one or more letters of a word as divided by an accepted dictionary. Where the dictionary shows two or more equally acceptable pronunciations of a word, the pronunciation containing fewer syllables may be used; and

(iv) At the option of the insurer, any form made a part of the policy may be scored separately or as part of the policy.

6. The term "text" as used in this Regulation includes all printed matter except the name and address of the insurer; the name, number or title of the policy or form; the table of contents or index; headings and captions; and declarations pages, schedules, or tables.

7. The Commissioner may authorize a lower score than the Flesch reading score required in subparagraph (g) of Rule 120-2-42-.04 if such lower score is caused by certain language which is drafted to conform to the requirements of any state or federal law, regulation or agency interpretation.

O.C.G.A. Secs. 33-2-9, 33-3-25.

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