FLORIDA NOTICE CLARIFIES
CONDITIONS FOR RATE FILINGS

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation recently issued a notice clarifying how an insurer can meet its obligation to submit annual rate filings.

An informational bulletin released last fall reminded admitted carriers and rating organizations operating in Florida that they are required to file base rates no more than 12 months after a previous rate filing to demonstrate that new rates are not excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. 

The latest notice clarifies that the rate filing requirements can be satisfied in one of three ways:

• When rates are changed, a filing of a rate change by an actuary who is a member of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS);

• When there is no change in rates, a filing of a certification of rate adequacy by a CAS member actuary; or

• For insurers that do not retain the services of an actuary, a filing of a rate increase or certification of rate adequacy by personnel or consultants with at least five years' experience in ratemaking.

NEXT AAIS WEB SEMINAR ADDRESSES 
MOTOR TRUCK CARGO INSURANCE

AAIS's next Web-based training seminar, scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time on May 25, will address aspects of rating and loss control in Motor Truck Cargo (MTC) insurance.

Robert Guevara, AAIS vice president of inland marine, will open the presentation with a review of changes to the rating procedure provided in the MTC section of the AAIS Inland Marine Guide.

The Guide is a leading industry resource for forms, rating procedures, underwriting guidelines, and other information for the traditionally nonfiled classes of inland marine insurance; Guevara is its principal developer.

Guevara will be joined by Bruce Dalrymple, president and CEO of Marine Solutions Group, LLD, who will describe the use of telephone surveys for loss control in Motor Truck Cargo.

To register,

NEBRASKA LAW IMPLEMENTS 'FILE AND USE'
FOR PERSONAL LINES FORMS AND RATES 

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman recently signed a bill unanimously approved by Nebraska's unicameral legislature that replaces prior approval of insurance rates and forms with a "file and use" system.

GRAY WOLF SEMINARS SCHEDULES 
AAIS UNDERWRITING ACADEMY 

Gray Wolf Insurance Seminars has scheduled its next "AAIS Personal Lines Underwriting Academy" for May 2-6 in Tinley Park, Ill. (suburban Chicago). Registration is open to all property/casualty professionals that want in-depth training on using the forms and manuals in the AAIS Homeowners, Farmowners, Dwelling Properties, Landlord's Package, Personal and Premises Liability, Personal and Farm Umbrella, and Personal Inland Marine programs.

The academy is led by Gray Wolf senior instructor Fred Macy, who has taught property/casualty courses since 1977 and AAIS-specific courses since 1996.

EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWN OPTION
APPROVED FOR AG PROGRAMS

Endorsement options for adding equipment breakdown coverage to AAIS-based Farmowners, Farm Properties, and Agricultural Output policies have been approved by regulators in all states where the respective programs are filed.

The endorsements, with an accompanying schedules and rating information, were developed in conjunction with The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company, and described in a press release at the time they were filed.