Rhode Island has again postponed the effective date of
restrictions on excluding liability coverage for bodily injury and
property damage arising from lead.
The restrictions, enacted in 2003 and originally
scheduled to take effect in 2004, were first postponed until July 1, 2005,
and will now take effect Nov. 1, 2005. According to a recent bulletin
issued by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, all forms,
endorsements, rules, and rating information approved for use after July 1
will become effective Nov. 1.
Through October, insurers can continue to use forms,
endorsements, rules, and rating information approved for use through June
30, 2005. There is no need to re-file materials already approved for
use.
Materials that comply with the Rhode Island lead
restrictions will be available under the AAIS Businessowners, Commercial
Liability, Dwelling Properties, Farmowners, Homeowners, Mobile-Homeowners,
and Personal & Premises Liability programs. For information on
affiliating with AAIS for use of any of these programs, contact Rick Maka,
director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com,
or by calling 800/564-AAIS.
In light of renewed public concern over identity
theft, AAIS has developed a version of its existing Identity
Fraud Coverage endorsement for insurers that are still using an
earlier version of the AAIS Homeowners forms.
AAIS identity fraud coverage was first introduced in
2002 in the AAIS Homeowners, Mobile-Homeowners, and Farmowners programs.
An endorsement option available under those programs provides coverage for
specified expenses and lost wages incurred by an insured while clearing
his or her name and rectifying records following an identity theft.
An equivalent endorsement is available for companies
that do not use those programs, or any other AAIS program. For information
on utilizing AAIS identity fraud coverage materials, contact Rick Maka,
director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com
or by calling 800/564-AAIS.
The identify fraud endorsement developed for the
earlier Homeowners forms will be distributed soon by bulletin to all AAIS
Homeowners, Mobile-Homeowners, and Farmowners affiliates. They can use the
endorsement free of charge but, since AAIS no longer officially maintains
the older forms, companies will have to file the endorsement on their own.
Companies that use the AAIS Farmowners, Farm
Properties, and Agricultural Output programs are asked to respond as soon
as possible to a brief e-mail survey regarding the use of property
valuation services in agricultural lines.
The responses will help AAIS planning efforts as AAIS considers offering
additional services.
If you no longer have the original e-mail and wish to
participate, contact Joyce Tignino, vice president of marketing and
industry relations, at joycet@AAISonline.com
or by calling 800/564-AAIS.
AAIS added 29 new member companies in the fiscal year
ended June 30, 2005, in addition to the 11 new associate
members announced previously.
As with AAIS members in general, the new affiliates,
listed in a press release, include a mix of national, regional, and
specialty carriers. For information on affiliating with AAIS, contact Rick
Maka, director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com,
or by calling 800/564-AAIS.
AAIS members companies that have not responded to the
customer survey distributed in June can still do so while the results are
being tabulated. Tabulation is expected to be completed this week.
The response rate has been unusually high, with nearly
half of the AAIS affiliates who were mailed a survey form filling it out
and submitting it or using the online version.
If you no longer have your survey form and want to
access the online version, contact Joseph Harrington, communications
director, at joeh@AAISonline.com
or by calling 800/564-AAIS.
