The National Association of Insurance Commissioners is poised tochange its policy on adopting insurance model laws by requiringtwo-thirds of the commissioners to vote in favor of the measure andcommit to push for passage of the model in their states.

The policy change was discussed during a regulatory update ofThe Life Insurance Conference in Atlanta on Tuesday.

During the session a question was raised about amendments to theViatical Settlement Model Act that would be adopted during the JuneNAIC meeting in San Francisco. Georgia Insurance Commissioner JohnOxendine, a panelist, said that while the model has support amongcommissioners, a new policy requiring a two-thirds vote might posea hurdle for the model's full adoption. He then explained that thenew policy, which he said was agreed to by members, is scheduled tobe in place by the June meeting.

The new policy, he explained, is part of an initiative by NAICPresident Walter Bell, who is also Alabama commissioner, to reducethe likelihood that models adopted by the NAIC are only made law inone or two states.

Under the new policy, if commissioners vote for a model theywould have to “make a personal commitment to everything they coulddo to get it adopted in their states,” Mr. Oxendine explained.

Over the years, some commissioners have voted for models thatthey did not intend to adopt in their state, and the new policywould change that, he said.

The issue was one of several raised during the meeting thatincluded travel underwriting and the sale of life insurancepolicies to military personnel, he said. A final regulation for themilitary sales model should be ready by the San Francisco meeting,he added.

Scott Holeman, a spokesman for the Kansas City, Mo.-based NAIC,confirmed that the changes are under consideration.

Discussions are currently going on and no action has been taken,Mr. Holeman said. He added that if action is taken it would belater in the year around the time of the summer meeting in SanFrancisco.