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S 210

Captive Insurance Companies

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ross Turner

Expands warranty protections for wheelchair buyers and lessees, requiring repair, replacement, or refund for nonconformities and extending remedies, including handling collateral c

Act No. 62
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 210

Bill Summary — S.210 (2025) — “An Act expanding wheelchair warranty protections for consumers with disabilities”

Note: the bill metadata supplied contains inconsistencies (an initial title about unemployment insurance and a sponsors list that includes federal legislators). This summary is based on the bill text filed January 16, 2025 (presented by State Senator John J. Cronin) which would expand warranty protections for wheelchairs.

Purpose

To strengthen consumer protections for purchasers and lessees of wheelchairs—particularly complex rehabilitation technology (CRT) wheelchairs—by (1) defining key terms and warranty standards, (2) establishing repair, replacement and refund remedies for defective wheelchairs, and (3) limiting preauthorization burdens for Commonwealth-insured employees for lower‑cost repairs.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 17T to Chapter 32A:

    • Defines “complex rehabilitation technology wheelchair” as an individually‑configured manual or motorized wheelchair that requires medical evaluation, configuration, fitting, adjustment or programming.
    • Prohibits the Commonwealth’s insurance commission from requiring preauthorization for any repair of a CRT wheelchair estimated to cost less than $1,000 for covered active or retired employees.

  • Replaces Section 107 of Chapter 93 (Consumer Protection) with an expanded, detailed statutory scheme:

    • Provides extended definitions including: authorized wheelchair dealer, collateral costs, consumer (buyer, transferee while warranty still in effect, lessor under written lease), manufacturer, nonconformity (defect substantially impairing use/value/safety), “reasonable attempt to repair” (either ≥2 failed repair attempts or ≥21 aggregate out‑of‑service days), original wheelchair, replacement wheelchair, early termination cost/savings, and express warranty.
    • Establishes consumers’ remedies for a warranty-covered nonconformity including repair attempts, replacement, or refund where reasonable repair has failed.
    • Recognizes and allows recovery of collateral costs (wheelchair rental, shipping to repair, out‑of‑pocket medical expenses caused by the defect).
    • Sets rules addressing leases: treatment of early termination costs and savings when a leased wheelchair is returned because of a nonconformity.
    • Imposes repair/notification and timing obligations on manufacturers, authorized dealers and lessors (text truncated in available draft but the structure indicates detailed procedural requirements).

Who would be affected

  • Consumers with disabilities who purchase or lease wheelchairs, especially CRT wheelchairs.
  • Wheelchair manufacturers, authorized dealers, distributors and lessors.
  • Commonwealth employees and retirees covered under Chapter 32A plans (relief from preauthorization for repairs under $1,000).
  • Insurers and payers involved in wheelchair coverage.

Procedural status & timeline

  • Filed: January 16, 2025 (presented by Sen. John J. Cronin).
  • Read twice and introduced in Senate: January 23, 2025.
  • Referred to Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (committee hearings scheduled April 29, 2025). Some records also list referral to labor—metadata appears inconsistent.
  • A new draft/accompanying measure referenced as S2662 was filed November 10, 2025.
  • Related prior-session and companion bills noted (e.g., HR 757; prior S.7431, S.4551).

Potential impact

  • Strengthens protections and accelerates remedies for consumers facing defective wheelchairs, likely reducing time without mobility and out‑of‑pocket costs.
  • Shifts certain costs/administrative obligations to manufacturers/lessors (repair, replacement, collateral cost reimbursement).
  • Simplifies access to lower‑cost repairs for Commonwealth-insured employees by removing preauthorization under $1,000.
  • May increase manufacturers’ warranty-related liabilities and administrative costs; could affect pricing, leasing terms, or dealer practices.

If you want, I can (a) produce a side‑by‑side comparison showing how this replaces current Section 107, (b) extract additional likely provisions from the truncated portion, or (c) summarize the related bill S2662.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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