The Arkansas Insurance Department said it would help insurance agents and companies affected by Hurricane Katrina by automatically renewing licenses and assisting in other ways.
State Insurance Commissioner Julie Benafield Bowman said that to help producers, consultants and businesses located in areas devastated by Katrina, the department would provide duplicate licenses, waive fees for certification requests, license renewals, and provide penalty relief for late license renewals.
Due to mail delivery problems and the dislocation of residents, the department said it would automatically renew licenses for current, active individuals and businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama whose Zip codes fall into the most heavily damaged areas. The special arrangement will be effective for one year going back to Aug. 29, 2005.
Agents from the affected region who relocated to Arkansas as a result of Katrina and seek to solicit business in the state, will have the usual non-resident license fees waived, the department said.
To secure the fee waiver they will have to complete and submit a non-resident application to the department, but home state certification will not be required.
Verification, the department said, will be done through the National Producer Database of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
The department is in Little Rock at 1200 W. 3rd Street.
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