TSLA to Focus on Rules Following Agency Licensing Bill Passage

July 9, 2001

While the primary goal of the year’s top agenda item – a revised agency licensing law – for Texas Surplus Lines Association may have been met, much work still remains to be done. Association officials expect agency licensing to be a key topic at the 2001 Mid-Year Meeting July 19-22 in Vail, Colo.

“It’s great that we helped pass the bill, but the major task now before the association is working in an advisory capacity with the Texas Department of Insurance to formulate rules necessary for implementing provisions of the new agency licensing bill,” said Rosemarie Marshall, TSLA president.

That law, the result of Senate Bill 414, simplifies and modernizes agent licensing by consolidating license types and promoting interstate uniformity in the licensing, examination, continuing education and disciplinary requirements for agents.

It also is designed to bring Texas licensing laws into compliance with the 1999 federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

“The goal of the association this year was to get the licensing bill passed. And we did that,” said Marshall. Jean Patterson, TSLA executive director, agrees. “But now the task is to help TDI develop the rules. A large part of the challenge is that the effective date for implementing this law is September 1. That means there are only two months before implementation.”

If the September deadline can not be met, TDI will likely issue a commissioner’s communication which sets forth temporary rules for operation pending final adoption of the rules.

Marshall said the balance of her term as president will focus on understanding how the new law will impact surplus lines agents in Texas.

Not wanting to lose sight of the work done on passage of the bill, Marshall said she would like to thank all those who worked so hard to help ensure passage of the licensing measure. “And I especially want to publicly thank Jean Patterson. Without her hard work, expertise and dedication, the TSLA would not be anywhere near as successful as it is. ‘Thank you Jean for sticking it out for 20 years.'”

Kimberly A. Yelkin of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, is scheduled to address the agent licensing issue during the speakers’ session. She is also expected to provide a legislative update.

A total of nine speakers have been scheduled for the 3-day event.

William Kirven, Colorado Insurance Commissioner, is scheduled to welcome the 150 expected registrants to the Centennial State. Kirven was appointed commissioner in March 1999. He sits on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as chairman of the Western Zone. He is also a member of the Internal Administration committee and the Treasurer’s committee. Prior to being named commissioner, Kirven was a principal in the firms of Saunders, Snyder, Ross & Dickson, and Oliver and Kirven specializing in healthcare, water and special district law. He is a graduate of Loyola University of Los Angeles and received his JD from the University of Denver School of Law.

Session speakers will include Dirk Nohre, Nohre and Co., Kimberly A. Yelkin and Mark Vane, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld, “Agency Licensing and Legislative Update”; Baron Garcia, president, AAMGA; Toni Campbell, president, FIWT; Don Medlin, president, IIAT; and John Latham, president, NAPSLO.

Topics will include: “Agency Licensing and Legislative Update,” “Best Practices Financial and Operational Review,” “Creating a Sales Culture in Your Agency,” “Developing Win-Win Compensation Plans,” and “Internet: ‘It’s not Magic – It’s Management'”

There are also association updates scheduled from AAMGA, PIWT, IIAT and NAPSLO.

The speakers’ programs are scheduled for Friday from 8 to 11:30 am and Saturday from 8 to 10 am. Registration for the mid-year meeting will begin July 19 at 2 pm with the President’s Dinner scheduled for 8 pm. The golf tournament is set for Friday afternoon with awards to be distributed Saturday at 7:15 pm.

A detailed schedule is available at www.tsla.org.

Topics Texas Excess Surplus

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