Associated Press - January 28, 2010 2:44 PM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Lawmakers are seeking new consumer protection legislation designed to protect people who experience extraordinary life events that can send insurance rates soaring.

When families are hit by events such as a death or military deployment, people can see their credit scores drop and insurance rates rise.

Story City Sen. Rich Olive, a Democrat who was an insurance agent for 30 years, announced Thursday a measure that would let people facing a falling credit score offer evidence that they weren't to blame for the drop and shouldn't pay higher insurance rates.

Insurance companies also would have to inform customers when their rates are being raised due to a lower credit score.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.