Latest Legislation Headlines

All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Fiduciary Liability: Obtaining Effective Insurance

Feb 21 2005 // As discussed in part one of this series in the Feb. 7 issue (page 34), fiduciary liability is one of the most misunderstood of management exposures. However, once one grasps the concept of personal liability embedded in...

Ohio’s Common Sense Legal Reform

Feb 21 2005 // 2004 was a landmark year for common sense legal reform in Ohio. The state enacted significant asbestos reform, silica and mixed dust reform, and comprehensive tort reform legislation. The many benefits of these historic...

The Go-To Guy

Feb 21 2005 // Depending upon which side of the fence you stand, the excess and surplus insurance market is either too expensive and too unregulated, and therefore unreliable, or the right solution for a complicated risk at a difficult...

Oklahoma Republican Lawmakers Roll Out Lawsuit Reform Plan

Feb 21 2005 // With the goal of bringing common sense back to Oklahoma’s legal system, reduce health care costs for citizens and create a stronger economic climate, Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives Todd Hiett...

Louisiana: We Are Building It, Will They Come’

Feb 21 2005 // Ihave the privilege of serving as vice president of the Louisiana Surplus Line Association (LSLA) and chairman of the Louisiana Surplus Line Task Force. Our goal has been to share our thoughts on regulatory reforms and...

PCI COMMENDS NEVADA DOI ON BROKER COMPENSATION ISSUE:

Feb 21 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America commended the approach taken by the Nevada Division of Insurance on the disclosure of broker compensation in a temporary regulation adopted in early February....

Broker Fee Regulations to Dominate 2005 Legislative Session in California

Feb 21 2005 // Three issues will dominate California’s 2005 legislative session–broker fee regulations and fiduciary duties; homeowners insurance, and workers’ compensation, according to IBA West lobbyist John...

Surplus Lines Experiencing Softening Market with Rest of Industry

Feb 21 2005 // Insurance Journal recently surveyed several surplus line associations regarding their thoughts on the current atmosphere of the surplus lines marketplace, and their expectations into 2005. Executive director Ted Pierce of...

Eliot who’ TRIA when’ Republicans Outline Insurance Priorities

Feb 21 2005 // Industry Gets Victory on Class Action but Reason to Worry Over TRIA ….Eliot who? The name Eliot Spitzer that is on the lips of every insurance broker was never spoken during a recent gathering of insurance brokers...

N.Y. Weighed Contingent Fee Issue Years Before Spitzer Investigation

Feb 21 2005 // While it did not begin boiling over until last October when charges were brought against Marsh, the controversy over brokerage contingent fees has actually been simmering for more than a half dozen years in New York...

Wyoming Lawmakers Trying to Stem Doctor Liability Costs

Feb 21 2005 // In the first half of the legislative session, the health care industry watched the demise of several measures meant to stem rising insurance costs for doctors.“The liability crisis is getting worse,” said Susie...

Washington All Industry Day: Associations Discuss Broker Disclosure

Feb 21 2005 // Broker disclosure, medical malpractice reform and credit scoring dominated the discussions at the Washington All Insurance Industry Day at the Capital held Feb. 10. Over 170 independent agents gathered to learn about...

N.Y. Workers Comp Insolvency Fund Could Survive Until End of March; Quick Action in Albany Sought

Feb 18 2005 // The New York State Workers Compensation Security Fund, which officials last month predicted would run out of money by the end of this month, could go on paying claims until the end of March, thanks to early access to funds...

NAMIC Applauds Natural Disaster Legislation to Provide Affordable Insurance

Feb 18 2005 // A natural disaster bill introduced by a Florida congresswoman from a coastal district will ensure that debate on the problem of insurance availability in disaster-prone areas will continue, according to the National...

22 Insurance-Fraud Ring Members Apprehended; Fla. Warns Others About Tough Penalties

Feb 18 2005 // A campaign to point out the consequences of staging an auto accident or participating in auto insurance fraud has been launched by the Florida Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud. The...

Insurers Hail Federal Med-Mal Reform Legislation; Continue to Support State Reforms

Feb 17 2005 // Last week, Sens. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) introduced federal legislation that would provide assistance to medical professionals facing skyrocketing medical liability premiums. The Help Efficient,...

Wyo. Doctors Dislike Medical Review Panel Bill

Feb 17 2005 // The proposal being considered by Wyoming lawmakers to create a medical review panel to help weed out frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits might do more harm than good, according to an official with a doctors’ trade...

PCI Supports Legislation to Reform Workers’ Comp System in Texas

Feb 16 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) reported it testified before the House Business and Insurance Committee in support of legislation to overhaul the Texas workers’ compensation...

Fla. CFO, Lawmakers Push for Legislation to Better Inform and Protect Homeowners

Feb 16 2005 // Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher on Wednesday joined two key lawmakers in pushing legislation to require insurance companies to clearly outline what is covered in homeowners insurance policies.The...

AIA Raises Concerns Over Wash. Legislation to Restrict Insurers’ Use of Credit Information

Feb 16 2005 // A proposed law to restrict the use of credit-based insurance scores under consideration by the Washington Legislature is premature and could raise premiums for Washington insurance consumers, according to the American...