BILL ANALYSIS AB 299 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 299 (Insurance Committee) As Amended July 15, 2009 Majority vote ----------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |78-1 |(May 11, 2009) |SENATE: |38-0 |(August 27, | | | | | | |2009) | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: INS. SUMMARY : Makes a series of changes to technical and noncontroversial laws governing the authority and duties of the Insurance Commissioner (IC) and insurance companies to clarify and update existing law. The Senate amendments: 1)Specify that each document, pleading or order that remains on the California Department of Insurance's (CDI) Web site pertaining to disciplinary proceedings against a licensee are to be removed 10 years from the date the action becomes final. If an enforcement action is withdrawn, then each document, pleading or order against the licensee shall be removed from CDI's Web site within 30 days of the withdrawal. If a matter involves multiple licensees and the CDI withdraws all allegations against one or more of the licensees, the CDI will be required to post appropriate clarifying documents indicating the action has been withdrawn on the Web site. 2)Require mortgage guaranty insurers to notify the IC of CDI if surplus amounts fall below required amounts. Increase the discretion afforded the IC to issue a waiver of surplus requirements. 3)Clarify the IC's authority to promulgate all of the substantive provisions of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Annual Financial Reporting Regulation. Conform existing grant of authority in the Insurance Code to current provisions and terminology used to describe those matters. FISCAL EFFECT : Minor absorbable workload to CDI to continue AB 299 Page 2 oversight of insurers and insurance products. The Senate Appropriations Committee referred this bill directly to the floor pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8. COMMENTS : This committee bill incorporates a series of corrective and clarifying amendments suggested by CDI. The provisions in the present version of the bill have been reviewed by all the interested parties, and there is no opposition. Analysis Prepared by : Tracy Elwell / INS. / (916) 319-2086 FN: 0002498