Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Professional Liability in the Medical Arena

Oct 25 2004 // Whether a patient, a health care provider or an insurer, everyone seems to be aware of what is going on in the medical world these days. There is general agreement that health care costs are rising, more people are going...

SMART: An Opportunity to Re-Energize States

Oct 25 2004 // Through the State Modernization And Regulatory Transparency Act (SMART Act), Congressmen Michael Oxley (R-Ohio), and Richard Baker (R-La.), have made a creative initial proposal to re-energize state insurance regulation...

Shelby Upsets Insurers’ Plan to Delay TRIA’s Sunset

Oct 25 2004 // Regardless of whether George W. Bush is re-elected or John Kerry moves into the White House, the property/casualty insurance industry appears to have a good chance of getting its wishes when it comes to extending the...

PIA SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR STATE REGULATION:

Oct 25 2004 // Members of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents who were recently surveyed strongly support state regulation of insurance and strongly oppose any effort to move to a federal regulatory system. The...

Illinois Comp Reform Bill Won’t Deliver On Its Promise

Oct 25 2004 // Despite engaging in the longest session in Illinois history, state legislators headed home this summer leaving a crucial bill to reform the state’s workers’ compensation system in limbo. Lawmakers may consider...

Nonadmitted Markets Open Options for Homeowners

Oct 25 2004 // Even before Charley and Frances, insurers were fleeing the homeowners market for high-risk properties at an alarming pace. Over the last several years, large catastrophe and mold losses have caused insurers to dramatically...

Better State Policy Will Make Better Insurance Policies

Oct 25 2004 // The Texas home and auto insurance market is finally on the mend. Rates have begun to stabilize, and thanks to landmark reforms passed in 2003, companies are even eyeing our state as a place to do business. Competition and...

OREGON’S LIBERTY NORTHWEST NEGOTIATED TAX BREAK:

Oct 25 2004 // Nine years ago, private workers’ comp insurer Liberty Northwest struck a deal with legislators that it would pay no taxes on profits in Portland or Multnomah County, according to The Oregonian. Liberty Northwest is...

Canter Predicts State, Federal Regulation to Detrimentally Affect Industry

Oct 25 2004 // More than 120 firms participated in the Big “I” Exhibit“During my term we have made numerous advances and I couldn’t have done any of them without the help of the Executive Committee and dedicated...

Take Two: Looking at the Med-Mal Crisis from Both Sides

Oct 25 2004 // National editor Andrea Ortega-Wells recently moderated a “Take Two” debate discussing the hot topic of medical malpractice, and what, if any, reforms are needed. The debate featured Paula Sweeney, partner with...

PCI Says Industry Unfairly Painted in Light of Alleged Illegal Practices

Oct 22 2004 // As more companies and more names pop up in the ongoing insurance industry investigation involving reported illegal practices in the commercial lines market, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America’s (PCI)...

Alliance Responds to Proposed Disclosure Regulations

Oct 22 2004 // Following the notice of proposed new disclosure regulations by insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, the American Agents Alliance has released a statement regarding its position on the Commissioner’s...

RemedyTemp to Fight Calif. Workers’ Comp Case Decision Following Appeal Court Ruling

Oct 21 2004 // RemedyTemp Inc., which operates as Remedy Intelligent Staffing and RemX Specialty Staffing, said it will ask the California Supreme Court to review the ruling by a California Court of Appeal panel that the insurers that...

Pa. Gov. Unveils Letter to Congressional Delegation Regarding Flood Relief

Oct 21 2004 // Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell this week released the following letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation in reference to flood relief for the Commonwealth:Dear Senator Santorum: “As a follow up to our...

Lobby: Many Mich. Consumers Will Pay More if Scoring Ban Approved

Oct 20 2004 // Many consumers will pay more for home and auto insurance if a state-proposed rule to ban the use of credit-based insurance scoring discounts in Michigan becomes effective next year, a lobbyist for the state’s...

Garamendi Unveils Proposal to Protect Consumers from Undisclosed Commissions

Oct 20 2004 // Calling secret broker commissions a “serious problem that betrays the public’s trust,” California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced new regulations on Oct. 20 to require agents and brokers...

PCI Cites State Trade Group’s ‘Crucial Role’ in Regulatory Reform Debate

Oct 19 2004 // Ernie Csiszar, president of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, told the annual meeting of State Insurance Trade Associations (SITA) that State insurance company trade groups will play a crucial role in...

Md. Leaders Optimistic Over Med-Mal Session

Oct 18 2004 // Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich and top legislative leaders emerged from a meeting in the governor’s mansion last Thursday, holding out hope of a special legislative session next month to deal with a medical malpractice...

Judges Uphold TWCC’s Removal of Doctors from ADL

Oct 18 2004 // The Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (TWCC) reported that a District Court Judge in Ector County has turned down a request for a temporary injunction from a Odessa-area doctor who was denied admission to...

AWCC Names Douthit as Administrative Law Judge

Oct 15 2004 // The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (AWCC) appointed Dale Douthit, a Russellville attorney, as its newest Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).The AWCC, administrator of the state’s workers’...