(a) “Pollution liability insurance” means insurance that covers damages caused by a pollution condition from, or at, a site that is preexisting and unknown, or was otherwise unknown at the time the insurance is first obtained, and, at a minimum, provides for all of the following:
(1) A minimum policy period of five years after the completion of remediation activities, not including post-completion operation and maintenance.
(2) A duty to defend and pay for defense costs in an amount at least up to the amount of coverage available under the policy, irrespective of whether an administrative or judicial order requires the insured to compensate any party or pay for the damages, so long as there already exists a reasonably quantifiable legal obligation to pay those damages.
(b) For purposes of this section, “damages” means either of the following:
(1) Property damage incurred at a site as an unforeseen and unexpected result of a pollution condition.
(2) Bodily injury, property damage, and response action costs sustained or incurred by a third party as a result of a pollution condition at a site.
(c) For purposes of this section, “damages” includes the property damage, bodily injury, and response costs specified in subdivision (b), irrespective of whether an administrative or judicial order requires the insured to compensate any party or pay for the property damage, bodily injury, or response costs, so long as there exists a reasonably quantifiable legal obligation to pay for those damages.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 257, Sec. 2. (AB 2293) Effective January 1, 2023. Operative January 1, 2024, pursuant to Sec. 4 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 257.)