Latest Legislation Headlines

A Rare California Policy Success Trying to Survive

Jul 18 2005 // This month new workers’ compensation insurance rates went into effect in California. And thanks to reforms championed early on by State Sen. Charles Poochigian and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, and later pushed by Gov....

Jul 18 2005 // Majestic Insurance Company announced the appointment of David Porter to the new position of marketing manager for Southern California. Porter has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Majestic,...

Insurers Balk about Added Burden as N.J. Gov. Codey Signs Bill Restoring Consumer Advocate Office for 2006

Jul 18 2005 // New Jersey has brought back to life the state’s consumer advocate office that was killed more than 10 years ago. New Jersey Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey recently signed into law a bill that restores the Department of...

New SOX Rules Don’t Fit Mutual Insurers for Size

Jul 18 2005 // It’s obvious to us at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Cos. that there are crucial differences between public and mutual insurers. That’s why we oppose the National Association of Insurance...

PIA PUBLISHES ‘LEGISLATIVE REPORT’

Jul 18 2005 // The Professional Insurance Agents of Florida has completed its 2005 Legislative Report summarizing the provisions of recent legislation passed in the spring sessions of the Florida Legislature and has scheduled meetings to...

60-DAY NOTICE REQUIRED

Jul 18 2005 // The Alabama Hurricane Issues Task Force headed by Walter A. Bell, Insurance Commissioner, has recommended a new regulation that would force insurers to give 60 days notice to policyholders whose insurance will be changed...

Who’s Afraid of a Little Competition?

Jul 18 2005 // Five or fewer insurers control at least three-quarters of the small-group insurance market. This lack of competition contributes to double-digit premium increases for many small businesses and forces an increase in the...

Wis. Supreme Court Rules Med-Mal Award Cap Unconstitutional

Jul 15 2005 // The Wisconsin Supreme Court has struck down a law capping noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases at $350,000. The court voted 4-3, saying the cap was “unreasonable and arbitrary” and no...

R.I. Governor Blasts, Vetoes Beacon Mutual Expansion

Jul 15 2005 // Rhode Island Gov. Donald Carcieri has vetoed a bill that would have permitted the state’s largest workers compensation insurer, Beacon Mutual, to restructure and expand into other states. Carcieri blasted the...

ACIC Opposes Department’s Proposed Homeowners Regulations

Jul 14 2005 // The Department of Insurance’s proposed homeowners regulations exceed the agency’s authority to adopt standards that involve underwriting practices, according to the Association of California Insurance...

Calif. Supreme Court Rejects Third Lawsuit Against Workers’ Comp Issues

Jul 14 2005 // Yesterday, the California Supreme Court denied the writ of mandate in a case filed by a group sponsored by the California Applicant Attorneys’ Association, the American Insurance Association reported today. The case...

PCI: Security Breach, Workers’ Comp Highlight First Part of Pa. Session

Jul 12 2005 // The Pennsylvania General Assembly recessed for the summer on Friday, but not before passing key insurance-related legislation involving topics such as the security of personal data and changes to the workers compensation...

Insurers Balk as N.J. Gov. Codey Signs Bill Restoring Consumer Advocate

Jul 12 2005 // New Jersey Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today signed into law a bill that restores the Department of the Public Advocate as a government watchdog to act on citizen complaints on insurance, utilities and other issues....

Big ‘I’ Says Reform Needed for National Flood Insurance Program

Jul 12 2005 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) praised the House Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity for holding a hearing on the future of the National Flood Insurance...

Swiss Re Tabs Hall as VP and Regulatory Counsel for Govt. Relations and Public Policy

Jul 12 2005 // Swiss Re has named Debra Hall to the newly-created position of vice president and regulatory counsel, Government Relations and Public Policy. Hall, who is responsible for working with government and industry officials on...

N.H. Gov. Lynch Signs Big Changes for Small Group Health into Law

Jul 7 2005 // Surrounded by supporters, Gov. John Lynch this week signed into law a bill that promises to dramatically change the way health insurance companies set rates for small businesses in New Hampshire. Lynch said he was...

Alaska Gov. Attaches Workers’ Comp Strings to Budget Appropriations

Jul 6 2005 // Lawmakers made sure Angoon got a taste of the oil-wealth bounty in this year’s capital budget by earmarking money for a search-and-rescue boat, a fire truck, a snow plow and renovations to the community hall. But...

CII Warns EC Directive Could Hamper Flood Risk Management

Jul 5 2005 // The U.K.’s Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) notes that “legislation to implement the EC Water Framework Directive could seriously limit our ability to implement flood management schemes in future.” The...

Conn. Treasurer Touts Turnaround in Debt-Ridden Second Injury Fund

Jul 5 2005 // Connecticut has eliminated the projected 20-year debt of its Second Injury Fund for workers’ compensation claimants in just six years by paying off the final $48 million late last week, the state treasurer...

No Accord by Ore. Lawmakers on Doctor Insurance Problems

Jul 5 2005 // Legislators have failed to reach agreement on how to ease doctors’ high insurance costs, so the issue may go before voters for a second time. “Neither side will give,” said Democratic Sen. Alan Bates, an...