SB587 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben H. Brooks

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Insurance Department, process for consumer assistance, established, posting of certain information on Internet, legislative reports, Secs. 27-2-8.1, 27-2-8.2 added; Sec. 27-2-9 am'd.

Summary

SB587 would create a consumer-assistance process in Alabama's Department of Insurance, require posting information on its website, and mandate annual public reports.

What This Bill Does

It sets up a process for the Department of Insurance to help Alabama residents understand, evaluate, and compare insurance products, with focus on personal and commercial lines. The department can train staff, build a system to compare policy features and rates, and run outreach to attract more insurers to Alabama. It requires the commissioner to annually publish a list of all citizen requests for assistance and the insurance lines involved. It also amends the annual reporting to Governor and legislative committees to include financial data, insurer statuses, delinquency actions, and department recommendations, with the report posted on the department's website.

Who It Affects

• Alabama consumers seeking help understanding and comparing insurance products, who would receive assistance and gain access to a public list of requests for assistance.
• Insurance companies and the broader Alabama insurance market (including current insurers and potential new entrants), who would be affected by outreach to attract more insurers and by the department's financial and operational reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Add Sections 27-2-8.1 and 27-2-8.2 to establish a consumer-assistance process in the Department of Insurance.
• Section 27-2-8.1 requires the commissioner to help citizens understand, evaluate, and compare insurance products, including training staff, developing a computer system to compare features and rates, and implementing outreach to attract more insurers.
• Section 27-2-8.2 requires the commissioner to annually publish a public list of all citizen assistance requests and identify the insurance lines involved.
• Section 27-2-9 (amended) requires an annual report to the Governor and legislative chairs detailing receipts and expenditures, insurer financial condition and business transactions, insurer closures and causes, delinquency proceedings, and the commissioner's recommendations on amendments and department operations; the report must be available on the department's website.
• Effective date: January 1, 2011.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Insurance Department