After a lull in investing in insurance-linked securities in 2009, the market showed a sharp uptick in investment interest in 2010.

The roles of race, education and personal accountability in producer license testing and examination were raised as regulators began hearings to examine the need for a uniform process.

Recommendations to the states for the collection of surplus lines taxes from insurance regulators should be in place by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) November meeting, said the chairman of the NAIC Surplus Lines Task Force.

Two consumer advocates told insurance commissioners they would prefer to see regulation of insurance remain with the states, as opposed to a federal takeover.

Insurance policies lack the standardization consumers, producers and regulators expect for homeowners and other liability coverages and only true transparency will solve this dilemma for buyers, a consumer advocate said.

A meeting of insurance regulators and state legislators was interrupted by protestors who say health insurance company lobbyists are working to block states' efforts to implement the recently passed health care reform legislation.

A regulator said insurance commissioners are looking to state legislators to provide authority to obtain information about a holding company's non-insurance entities.

Regulators' interest in insurers' use of credit-based insurance scores produced lively reaction from insurance association representatives and a consumer advocate during a committee meeting on property and casualty insurance issues.