SB 55

Under existing law, the Property Insurance Clarity Act requires insurers authorized to transact homeowners insurance in this state, to annually submit certain information to the Department of Insurance regarding incurred losses, policies in force, and earned premium for the prior calendar year

This bill would authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to create educational and informational programs and presentations for consumers regarding insurance and other matters regulated by the department

This bill would also add hurricanes and nonhurricane wind and hail to the list of perils for which information is to be provided by insurers to the department

Relating to insurance; to amend Sections 27-2-7 and 27-22-21, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the Commissioner of Insurance to create educational and informational programs and presentations for consumers; and to add hurricanes and nonhurricane wind and hail within the list of perils that insurers writing homeowners insurance are required to provide information regarding to the department pursuant to the Property Insurance Clarity Act.

Section 1

Sections 27-2-7 and 27-22-21 of the Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:

§27-2-7.

The commissioner shall:

(1) Organize, supervise, and administer the Department of Insurance so that it the department will perform its lawful functions efficiently and effectively.

(2) Enforce the provisions of this title.

(3) Execute the duties imposed upon him or her by this title.

(4) Have the powers and authority expressly conferred upon him or her by, or reasonably implied from, the provisions of this title.

(5) Sign and execute in the name of the state, by

the state Department of Insurance," all contracts or agreements with the federal government or its agencies, other states or political subdivisions thereof, political subdivisions of this state, or with private persons.

(6) Conduct such examinations and investigations of insurance matters, in addition to examinations and investigations expressly authorized, as he or she may deem proper to determine whether any person has violated any provision of this title or to secure information useful in the lawful administration of any such provision. The cost of such additional examinations or investigations shall be borne by the state except as otherwise expressly provided.

(7) Invoke any legal, equitable, or special remedy for the enforcement of orders or the provisions of this title.

(8) Have such powers and perform such duties as may be granted to or required of the superintendent of insurance of this state under laws remaining in force after the effective date of this title.

(9) Have such additional powers and duties as may be provided by other laws of this state.

(10) Not issue a license to a natural person under this title or other law unless the natural person is a United States citizen or, if not a citizen of the United States, a person who is legally present in the United States with appropriate documentation from the federal government.

(11) Create educational and informational programs and presentations for consumers regarding insurance and other matters regulated by the department.

§27-22-21.

(a) Each insurance company authorized to transact homeowners insurance business in the State of Alabama shall annually submit to the Alabama Department of Insurance, commencing on or before October 1, 2013, department for homeowners insurance policies, computations of the total amount of direct incurred losses, the number of policies in force, and the direct earned premiums for the prior calendar year. The insurance company shall report the computations to the department by zip code. The information received by the department shall be aggregated across all insurance companies collectively and the aggregated totals shall be arranged by zip code. Homeowners insurance shall also include condominium insurance, dwelling fire policies, renters/tenants insurance, and mobile home/manufactured housing property insurance. Creditor-placed property insurance, condominium association insurance, and commercial insurance are excluded from this article.

(b) Based upon the information submitted to or otherwise gathered by the department, the department shall compile and post on the department website the aggregated total of the computations provided in subsection (a) by zip code for the prior calendar year.

(c) Each insurance company authorized to transact homeowners insurance business in the state shall annually submit to the department, commencing on or before October 1, 2013, computations of the direct incurred losses and the number of policies in force, by zip code, by calendar year for the prior calendar year, for each of the following perils:

(1) Fire.

(2) All nonhurricane wind/hail.

(3) Hurricane.

(3)(4) All other perils.

(d) Each insurance company authorized to transact homeowners insurance business in the state shall submit to the department catastrophe wind/hail information pursuant to a data call by the department based on a specific catastrophic event."

Section 2

This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.