NU Online News Service, Dec.14, 2:51 p.m. EST
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) said its new president for 2010 is Kentucky State Representative Robert Damron, D-Nicholasville, who said he would argue for continued state regulation of insurance.
"It is incumbent on NCOIL to ensure that [federal] financial services overhaul legislation does not peel away important state regulation and consumer protection," he said in a statement laying out what he expects on the organization's agenda next year.
Other officers are North Dakota State Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, as president-elect; New Mexico State Sen. Carroll Leavell, R-Jai, as vice president; Indiana State Sen. Vi Simpson, R-Bloomington, as secretary; and Tennessee State Rep. Charles Curtiss, D-Sparta, as treasurer.
In one of his first duties as NCOIL president, Rep. Damron announced 2010 Committee Chair appointments:
o Financial Services & Investment Products: New York Assemblyman Joseph Morelle, D-Irondequoit
o Health, Long-Term Care & Health Retirement Issues: Vermont State Sen. Ann Cummings, D-Washington, and Louisiana Rep. Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles
o International Insurance Issues: Kentucky Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington
o Life Insurance & Financial Planning: Georgia Sen. Ralph Hudgens, R-Hull
o Natural Disaster Insurance Legislation (Subcommittee): Mississippi Sen. Dean Kirby, R-Pearl
o NCOIL-NAIC Liaison: Ohio Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina
o Property-Casualty Insurance: Kansas Sen. Ruth Teichman, R-Stafford.
o State-Federal Relations: Alabama Rep. Greg Wren, R-Montgomery
o Workers' Compensation Insurance: South Carolina Rep. William E. Sandifer III, R-Oconee.
"The nation's financial crisis and its impact on insurance regulation will headline our activity in 2010. NCOIL will strongly and clearly lay out the successes of state regulation for our federal colleagues while continuing to build on state-based modernization initiatives," promised Mr. Damron.
He said that, while NCOIL works on the federal level to preserve state oversight, legislators will work in the states to enhance day-to-day insurance regulation.
NCOIL will continue efforts to expand an Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact and to promote uniformity and reciprocity in producer licensing and in market conduct regulation, Mr. Damron said.
The new president also said he looks forward to NCOIL consideration of an after-market crash parts model act, the use of independent contractors in the trucking and transportation industries, and proposals to advance health insurance transparency and disclosure, among other things.
Rep. Damron also thanked Sen. James Seward, R/C-Oneonta for his service during a tumultuous 2009. Sen. Seward, he said, "successfully led NCOIL through the development of model laws regarding credit default insurance, construction employee workers' compensation coverage and airbag fraud–while dialoguing with Congress and other federal entities about systemic risk legislation, a proposed federal insurance office, health care reform initiatives and other key items."
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