Page 13 - May2017

Insurance Industry Legislative Day

On Tuesday, March 29, over 200 people attended By Chris Davis
Insurance Industry Legislative Day in Springfield. The government
attendees heard from Illinois Department of Insurance
Director Jennifer Hammer regarding her Insurance
Industry Innovation Act initiative, in addition to some
staff developments at the department. Attendees also
heard an engaging presentation from Wisconsin Insurance
Commissioner, and NAIC President, Ted Nickel who
spoke of the challenges of leading a diverse organization
of individuals and priorities. He discussed the NAIC’s
focus on Cyber Security standards, and the challenges
of balancing policy that may apply to both large
companies and very small agencies. The lunch program
also featured an introduction of Senator John Mulroe
(D-Chicago), the new Chair of the Senate Insurance
Committee. Additionally, Senator Bill Haine (D-Chicago) 1 2
was recognized as “Legislator of the Year.” Senator Haine
served as Senate Insurance Committee Chairman for
over a decade, and remains a member of the Committee.
Senator Haine has been a stalwart in protecting the robust
insurance marketplace in Illinois and was most deserving
of recognition by the industry.
The Health and Life breakout session became a lively
exchange between attendees and Representative Laura
Fine (D-Glenview), the new Chair of the House: Life and
Health Committee. She discussed several of her legislative
initiatives to regulate insurance carriers and agents/
brokers, including HB 2624 legislation creating a quasi-
governmental Board, independent of the Department of
Insurance, that would review and approve, or reject, health
insurance rates in Illinois. Agents and brokers in attendance
offered intense criticism of this and other legislative 3
initiatives, as well as posing several tough questions of the
Representative.

In a serendipitous moment, some attendees headed to
the Capitol early to attend a scheduled hearing of the
House: Property Casualty Committee. Only one legislative
measure was scheduled for hearing in the Committee,
and was subsequently not called for debate by the
sponsor. Despite the lack of business for consideration,
the Committee hearing was not cancelled. Therefore, with
several Representatives present, expecting to consider
legislation, Committee Chair Camille Lilly (D-Oak Park)
called audience members to the table to discuss Insurance
Industry Legislative Day. Fortunately, Brad Corso, of Erie
Insurance provided testimony on the favorable insurance 4
regulations in Illinois as a primary factor in Erie Insurance,
an Ohio domiciled company, choosing to do business in
Illinois. Corso informed the legislators present about how
and why Erie Insurance chooses to do business in various 1 Illinois Department of Insurance Director Jennifer
states and how Illinois’ regulatory climate contributes Hammer 2 Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner,
to a robust insurance marketplace, and how it benefits and NAIC President, Ted Nickel 3 Illinois Insurance
consumers. This was an extremely successful moment for Association Executive Director Kevin Martin and IIA of
the day’s events. IL CEO Phil Lackman with Senator Bill Haine (D-Alton)
4 Attendees pictured with Senate Republican Leader
Finally, well over 120 individuals and 35 legislators Christine Radogno (R-Lemont)
attended an energetic, engaging reception at the Illinois
State Library, across the street from the Capitol to end the
day.

Chris Davis is IIA of IL VP Government Relations. He can continued...
be reached at cdavis@iiaofil.org, (217) 321-3002.

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