AIA Raps Calif. Charity Disclosure Bill

NU Online News Service, May 30, 2:01 p.m. EST?A measure approved by the California State Senate requiring insurers to report on philanthropic activity will discourage the companies' charitable giving, according to an industry trade organization.

According to the American Insurance Association, SB 1861 is based on a flawed premise.

The measure authored by Sen. Richard Alarcon, D-Sylmar, would give the state insurance commissioner authority to mandate that insurers' annual statements include all community development investments and philanthropic grants made in California.

The bill would also require the insurance commissioner to make the data reported by insurers publicly available. The State Senate approved SB 1861 on a vote of 22 to 16. The bill now goes to the Assembly.

"This bill is based on the faulty assumption that insurers should be regulated at the state level, in the same way that banks are regulated at the federal level," said Mark Webb, AIA vice president, Western region in Sacramento.

He added that, "At a time when property and casualty insurance companies must be certain that their investments are secure and can be easily liquidated to pay claims quickly, requiring investment data reporting that does not further this purpose is at best wasteful and at worst irresponsible."

Mr. Webb said requiring insurance companies to disclose their charitable activities made to California organizations "will ultimately result in the decline of those donations. Charitable organizations are not required to release the identity of their donors."

Since anonymity and donating have long gone hand-in-hand, he said, "Why should insurance companies be held to a different standard?"

Mr. Webb said the insurance industry supports the development of California communities in a number of ways, including the purchase of bonds, which are used to construct low- and moderate-income housing, and to build California's infrastructure.

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AIA Raps Calif. Charity Disclosure Bill

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