State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and state Rep. Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg) were recently presented with Legislator of the Year Award by the Wisconsin Auto Collision Technicians Association Ltd (WACTAL) Jan. 15 at Reedsburg Auto Body, 1640 East Main St.

Art Krolikowski, owner of Reedsburg Auto Body and a member of WACTAL, formally recognized the legislators for their work on Senate Bill (SB) 93 and Assembly Bill (AB) 119, which became Act 93 in November.

“It took us nearly 10 years to pass this consumer choice bill,” Krolikowski said. “Consumers are now able to use the auto body shop of their choice, rather than being forced to go somewhere unfamiliar to them because of an insurance company.”

Act 93 prohibits an insurer that issues a motor vehicle insurance policy that covers repairs to a motor vehicle from: (1) requiring that repairs must be made by a particular contractor or repair facility as a condition of that coverage; and (2) failing to initiate or conclude with due dispatch an investigation of a claim for repairs on the basis of whether the repair will be made by a particular contractor or repair facility.

“I am proud that Rep. Brooks and I were able to move this bill through the legislative process,” Marklein said. “Thanks to the hard work and persistence of individual shop owners who are members of the Auto Collision Technicians Association, people will be able to utilize local businesses they trust for repairs.”

“Across Wisconsin, auto body businesses work hard to build strong reputations and relationships with their customers,” Brooks said. “This law further enables these small businesses to continue providing quality service no matter the circumstances of the situation. I am honored to be recognized by WACTAL for helping them to make this law change a reality.”