Florida Bill Passes, Easing Agency Customer Reps’ Education Requirements

Florida lawmakers, with no dissenting votes, have approved a measure that would let insurance agencies’ customer service representatives bypass licensing classes if they have taken insurance courses in high school.

House Bill 1343, co-sponsored by Rep. Brian Hodgers, one of only two insurance agency owners in the Florida Legislature, is seen as a way to help address a growing shortage of insurance industry workers.

Customer service reps often are the first line of defense when policyholders call about coverage or premium issues, Hodgers said. But Florida’s required nine hours of education have discouraged some people from sitting for the CSR exam. The bill, if signed into law by the governor, would direct the state Department of Education to develop a high school course worth 0.5 credit hours in insurance and personal finance.

The course would have to cover basic property and casualty lines of insurance and be consistent with existing insurance instruction as outlined in state law.

The state Senate voted for the plan last week, following a 116-0 vote in the House in February.

An agents’ group hailed the passage.

“Florida’s insurance agencies are the frontline advisors for consumers navigating complex coverage decisions, and we need talented young people entering the profession,” said Kim Godwin, president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida.