One digit has changed in the AAIS ZIP Code. The new
code is
60189-8132. Please update your records. Thank you.
The state of Washington recently enacted a
law that,
in effect, expanded the rights and responsibilities of domestic partners
registered with the state, as permitted under a 2007 law. (Technically,
the latest law inserts "domestic partner(s)" or equivalent references in
all sections of Washington statutes that refer to spouses, marriage, and
families.)
In response, AAIS is preparing to file optional
endorsements under most of its programs in Washington. The endorsements
will include parties to state-registered domestic partnerships within
the term "spouse" and include family members of such partners in any
references to family members, relatives, or family relationships.
Use of analogous AAIS endorsements is mandatory in other states that allow domestic partnerships, civil unions, or other
legal unions besides marriage. The Washington
endorsements will be optional at the outset because, unlike in other
states, AAIS cannot identify a law or regulation specifically stating
that insurers must treat individuals in a domestic partnership the same
as spouses.
Until further notice, insurers must determine
themselves whether it is necessary to use the endorsements.
AAIS
Homeowners affiliates
that use AAISdirect recently received
access to a new "AAIS Homeowners Review". This
new educational material provides a detailed
overview of the policy form provisions and
endorsements available in the latest version of
the AAIS Homeowners forms.
The review, prepared as a Microsoft PowerPoint
presentation but also available as a PDF, comes complete with commentary
in the notes pages of the PowerPoint file, so companies can use the
review as a ready-made presentation for staff and agents.
For information on affiliating with AAIS for use of
its Homeowners Program or AAISdirect, contact Rick Maka at
rickm@AAISonline.com, or by
calling 800/564-AAIS.
AAIS is withdrawing endorsements
in West Virginia (effective July 1, 2008) and Nevada
(Aug. 1, 2008) that have allowed commercial
liability insurers to write "stop gap" employers
liability insurance for injury to workers.
Private insurers are now allowed to write workers
compensation insurance in those two states, where state workers comp
funds previously held monopolies. Since private workers comp policies
include a section providing employers liability coverage, the end of the
state fund monopolies effectively terminates the need for general
liability policies to provide stop gap coverage.
Starting Aug. 1, 2008, AAIS will begin using Microsoft
Word 2007 to produce the forms,
manuals, bulletins, and other information available on AAISdirect.
Microsoft has developed a
"compatibility pack" that allows users of older versions of Word to
open Word 2007 documents.
Additional information
on using older versions of Microsoft programs with Office 2007
applications is
available on the Microsoft website.
AAISdirect
will have a link to the compatibility pack on its home page and on each
document listings page. It will also identify the 2007 documents with
different logos and/or text in the title to distinguish them from
documents in older versions.
