Mostly A-OK with IIAOK

Surplus lines laws, uninsured drivers and the broadening of banking powers top the Indepen-dent Insurance Agents of Okla-homa’s list of key issues for its 2006 legislative agenda according to Dan Ramsey, the association’s president and chief executive officer.

The association would like legislative resolution regarding Oklahoma’s surplus lines laws, especially in the differences between the language of the statute and how administrative law judges interpret it. IIAOK is backing a bill that would modernize the state’s surplus lines laws and eliminate one of the more restrictive provisions. (See related story on page 14.)

In preparation for this year’s legislative session, IIAOK also wrote a white paper explaining how to reduce the number of uninsured motorists to the legislature and calling for a major rewrite of the laws.

This will be “a tougher nut to crack,” according to Ramsey. Although he expects to have success on this issue in the House, he sees major problems getting it through the Senate. But, he said the goal at this point is to open awareness as to the burden and the cost uninsured motorists have on insurance rates and believes he and IIAOK are making headway in that regard.

The association is playing defense on a couple of issues, including, number one, the broadening of banking powers. A bill that would greatly broaden banking powers would make an unfair playing field with banks and insurance companies according to Ramsey.

“This would allow banks to do just about anything,” said Ramsey of the bill. “And maybe even possibly hand over the regulations of the banking department to the insurance commissioner.”

Issue number two: The insurance commissioner caught the attention of the IIAOK when she announced the requirement of trust funds in agents’ bank accounts. “This is very, very burdensome,” Ramsey said.

Hypopanty
A blending of IIAOK’s annual conference, small and rural agents conference and “Day at the Capitol,” Hypopanty is the largest property and casualty trade show in Oklahoma. It offers standard convention activities like educational seminars, information on industry enhancements, forums to meet and interact with company management and networking opportunities. This year’s event takes place at the Oklahoma City Marriott Hotel April 4 –5.

Members will also have the opportunity to meet with their state legislators to discuss issues of importance to the agents. Association recommendations for agents on what to urge legislators to act on will depend on the status of legislation at the time of the convention.

“I know uninsured motorists will still be out there,” Ramsey said. “That’s not going to be resolved anytime soon.”

Rent Dan for a Day
IIAOK’s “Rent Dan for a Day” is a program that allows agencies to “rent” Ramsey for a day to assist in strategic planning. He works with the agencies’ management and staff in a free-flowing setting to identify goals, establish strategies for success and update business plans.

“I’m available to rent for whatever [agencies] would like me to do for them,” he said.

Ramsey said he went to an agency not too long ago where he met with their staff one-on-one and then met with the management team to review the current management and business plans. “I made some significant revisions followed by a check up three months later to see how the plan was going,” he said.

For more information on “renting” Ramsey, visit: http//ok.iiaa.org/ Board/RentDan.pdf. The IIAOK Web site is iiaok.com.