TOMMY THOMPSON TO BE KEYNOTER
AT AAIS 'MAIN EVENT' IN CHARLESTON

The Hon. Tommy G. Thompson, former Governor of Wisconsin and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, has accepted an invitation to be the keynote speaker at the AAIS Main Event, April 22-24 at the Mills House Hotel in Charleston, S.C. To register,

As Wisconsin's governor, Thompson was renowned for promoting welfare reform, school choice, and health insurance for low income families. He made state history when he was re-elected to unprecedented third and fourth terms, and he received Governing magazine's Public Official of the Year Award for 1997.

As a cabinet secretary, Thompson was instrumental in the creation of the new Medicare drug benefit, and in helping public health authorities at the state and local level prepare for terrorist attacks and other emergencies. He has formed a committee to explore the possibility of seeking the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

In his keynote address on Monday morning, April 23, Thompson will discuss critical issues in public health and safety that affect the level of risk in the United States, and the loss exposures of insurers.

AAIS SPEAKERS TO ADDRESS
NAMIC UNDERWRITING SEMINARS

Two AAIS vice presidents have been tapped to lead sessions at underwriting seminars being held by the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC).

Robert Guevara, AAIS vice president of inland marine, will address two breakout sessions at the NAMIC Commercial Lines Underwriting Seminar, Feb. 28 to March 2 in Chicago. On Thursday, March 1, Guevara will speak on "Demystifying Commercial Output Coverage." The following morning, March 2, he will lead a presentation entitled "Understanding Current Inland Marine Coverage Issues for Construction Risks."

Susan Luecke, assistant vice president for personal lines, will lead two sessions on homeowners insurance issues at the NAMIC Personal Lines Marketing & Underwriting Seminar, April 18-20 in Savannah, Ga. On Thursday morning, April 19, Luecke will discuss property coverage issues and the AAIS response to them in the 2007 revision of the AAIS Homeowners forms. A companion program on liability issues and the AAIS response will follow later in the morning.

IDAHO REQUIRES LISTS OF COMPANY FORMS
SUBJECT TO ACTION IN 2006

A recent notice from the Idaho Department of Insurance requires companies active in the state to submit a list of their forms stamped "Approved," "Disapproved," "Filed," or "Withdrawn" by the department in 2006. The lists are due by Feb. 15, and are not to include forms filed by rating organizations (such as AAIS) on behalf of the carrier.

Beyond giving instructions for submitting the lists, the notice encourages insurers not to file forms with the department if they do not plan to market them in Idaho. It also reminds them that they face administrative sanctions if they utilize forms that have been disapproved  

NEW YORK REQUIRES NOTICE
OF MARKET ASSISTANCE PLAN

A recent regulation from the New York Insurance Department implements a new requirement that insurers notify policyholders where they can seek assistance if their homeowners or dwelling property coverage is cancelled, non-renewed, or conditionally renewed.

Under the regulation, effective immediately, every notice of cancellation, non-renewal, or conditional renewal shall inform the insured, if eligible, of the availability of a market assistance program and/or coverage under the New York Property Insurance Underwriting Association, the state's property insurer of last resort. The notice is to be conspicuous and supply contact information.

TEXAS UPDATES POLICY NOTICE;
SEEKS REPORT ON POLICIES IN FORCE

A recent regulation from the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)provides updated wording for a mandatory notice to all policyholders giving contact information for the company and TDI. The notice is bilingual (English and Spanish), and companies must add their own toll-free numbers and contact names.

A bulletin from the department reminds carriers operating in Texas that they have until Feb. 10 to file notices with the TDI regarding the number of policies they had in force in Texas as of Dec. 31, 2006. The information is used to provide consumers with information on company complaint ratios.

FLORIDA REQUIRES ASSESSMENTS
FOR CITIZENS' HIGH RISK ACCOUNT

A memorandum from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation provides information on how insurers can comply with a requirement that they collect emergency assessments for Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the state's property insurer of last resort.

Under an order issued a year ago, carriers operating in Florida are required to collect emergency assessment on policies issued or renewed as of July 1, 2007. The proceeds will go to Citizens' High Risk Account.

The latest memo explains that the reporting system for determining assessments utilizes an industry-recognized format, but cautions insurers that they should not make a rate filing to recoup the assessments.