Take a stand for values in government,” Troy King, Alabama Attorney General, told more than 100 Alabama Independent Insurance Agents attending a March 17 annual Young Legislative Conference in Montgomery.
Quinton Riggs, Business Council of Alabama lobbyist, and Reyn Norman, Associate Counsel to the Alabama Department of Insurance, also addressed the group.
At the conclusion of the presentations, attendees went by bus to the Alabama Capitol for a luncheon with the Alabama State Legislature, The Alabama Court of Appeals, and the Alabama Supreme Court to discuss pending legislation and issues important to the Alabama Big I in the Courts.
“You own the government, you have to spend time with it and nurture it or it goes crazy,” King commented. “If no one pays attention to the government it gets out of control.”
King applauded AIIA for being involved in government and advised them to demand more from their elected officials.
Norman explained House Bill 0333, an eVort by Insurance Commissioner Walter A. Bell to tighten Alabama’s insurance licensing requirements. He said it will require insurance producers, service representatives and adjusters to renew their licenses every two years and to complete 24 hours of continuing education, with three hours on the topic of insurance producer ethics or business practices.
Norman also outlined the provisions of various other insurance-related bills now in the Legislature and then answered questions from the audience about each bill.
Victor D. McCarley, AIIA executive vice president, addressed the audience and mentioned three pending bills AIIA does not support. The first is HB 0388/SB 0321 that reduce term life pre-licensing requirements.
McCarley said AIIA opposes this legislation because current licensing regulations require 20 hours of instruction per major line of insurance. This bill allows for 16 hours but would be supported with a 20 hour requirement and subsequent passing grade on an examination testing that instruction.
The Senate bill is still with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The House version passed out of committee and is on the House Calendar.
SB 0380 would require the insurance commissioner to be elected instead of appointed by the governor.
McCarley said AIIA opposes this legislation because elected insurance commissioners do not often represent the insurance industry.
“While they may be able to manage an office, they do not have the background to understand the complexities of this business,” McCarley said. “Many see this as an entry level position for the election to higher office and are not really interested in regulation for the benefit of the consumer.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.
SB 0369 concerns double-dipping in workers’ compensation cases.
AIIA opposes SB 0369 because it would violate “Sole Remedy Theories.”
Topics Legislation Alabama
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