NU Online News Service, Jan. 8, 12:36 p.m.EST

The Professional Insurance Agents of New York State Inc. saidamong the legislative items it will focus on in 2010 are issuesinvolving coastal homeowners' insurance availability, producercompensation disclosure and auto insurance fraud.

"This year's legislative priorities are of utmost importance tonot only independent agents but also their clients, theinsurance-buying public of New York State," said Kevin M. Ryan,president of PIANY.

"PIANY will continue to fight for legislation that will ensurethat New York's businesses and homeowners are able to obtainappropriate, affordable insurance," he promised.

The Glenmont, N.Y.-based association said its agenda will covercoastal homeowners' insurance affordability and availability thatwill include reissue of its survey of coastal homeowners insuranceto provide real market data to policymakers as they tackle thisissue.

Regarding producer compensation disclosure, the association saidit will work to modify the insurance department's draft regulationsetting requirements for agent disclosure to clients of howinsurers compensate them. PIANY has criticized the new rule forvague and ambiguous wording.

PIANY vowed to fight auto insurance fraud by pushing formandatory arbitration of no-fault claims and implementation ofmedical protocols for no-fault injuries.

On the consumer front, PIANY said it plans to continue to workon issues associated with the state's workers' compensation plan,automobile accidents, repeal of mandatory photo inspectionrequirements, and actions agents can take when policyholders failto pay their policy in a timely manner.