OCT. 9 WEB SEMINAR TO DESCRIBE
2008 AAIS BOATOWNERS REVISION

AAIS will host a web seminar at 10 a.m. Central time (11 a.m. Eastern) on Thursday, Oct. 9 describing the recent comprehensive revision of its Boatowners Program.

Participation is open to individuals from companies affiliated with AAIS for use of one or more of its insurance line programs. Individuals from organizations not affiliated with AAIS can request permission to participate by contacting Joseph Harrington, director of corporate communications, at joeh@AAISonline.com, or by calling 800-564-AAIS.

To register,

Pamela Nykaza, AAIS senior product development specialist for inland marine, will describe features of the program's base form and selected endorsements. She will also provide a brief overview of the manual rules and rating procedure. Nykaza is the principal developer of the latest revision of the AAIS Boatowners Program, recently filed countrywide and approved in 39 states so far.

The AAIS Boatowners Program, first introduced in the early 1990s, is the property/casualty industry's first standardized program for insuring small- privately owned watercraft.

Under the latest revision of the program, coverage can be written for property only, liability only, or property and liability; a policy can be written on a stand-alone basis or as an endorsement to another personal lines policy. Uninsured boaters coverage is automatically provided under every policy written to provide liability coverage.

FIRST INTERNET SOLUTIONS
DEVELOPS RATING SYSTEM
FOR AAIS HOMEOWNERS PROGRAM

First Internet Solutions, Sheboygan Falls, Wis., recently announced that it has adapted its "Universal Rater Web-Service Application" to support the 2007 AAIS Homeowners Program manual.

First Internet Solutions is an application service provider (ASP) that develops, supports, and manages remotely hosted, fully integrated technology applications for the property/casualty insurance industry.

Universal Rater is a Microsoft .NetŪ web service that can be used by existing policy processing or quoting systems. Rating information is maintained in a user-friendly manner and available to anyone with knowledge of the steps required to rate a policy.

For information on using Universal Rater, contact Kathy Schuette, First Internet Solutions marketing manager, at kschuette@1netsol.com, or by calling 920-467-1200, x211.

For information on affiliating with AAIS for use of its Homeowners Program, contact Rick Maka, AAIS director of marketing, at rickm@AAISonline.com or by calling 800-564-AAIS.

NEW YORK ISSUES REMINDER
OF FLOOD NOTICE REQUIREMENT

A recent circular letter from the New York Insurance Department reminds insurers of an impending requirement regarding flood insurance.

As of Aug. 31, insurers are required to provide annual notices to homeowners and dwelling fire policyholders stating that their policies do not provide coverage for loss due to flood or landslide, but that such coverage is available under separate policies issued through the  National Flood Insurance Program.

Companies can use prescribed wording of a notice included in the letter, or file their own for approval by the department.

RHODE ISLAND REQUIRES CREDITS
FOR FIRE PREVENTION, SUPPRESSION,
AND LOSS MITIGATION

AAIS will be filing manual changes in coming months under its commercial lines programs in Rhode Island.

Changes in rating information are required to comply with a new statute mandating premium reductions or credits for commercial property insureds that install and maintain fire prevention and suppression equipment. Companies are also required to provide premium reductions or credits for use of building materials or building techniques demonstrated to mitigate fire loss.

The statute takes effect Jan. 1, 2009. AAIS affiliates effected by the change will be informed of filing action by bulletin.

MICHIGAN WARNS PRODUCERS
REGARDING MISREPRESENTATIONS

A recent bulletin from the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation states that the office has learned that some insurance producers have been asked to provide certificates of insurance that seek to amend, extend, or alter the coverage of the policies they represent.

The bulletin suggests (but does not require) that carriers include statements on certificates indicating that a certificate does not change the coverage provided under the policy referenced in it.

The bulletin states that individuals found to have misrepresented the terms of a policy can have their licenses suspended or revoked and be subject to a fine.

AAIS STAFF AVAILABLE AT
UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS

AAIS staff members will be in attendance at several upcoming industry events:

• Paul Baiocchi, president, Joyce Tignino, vice president of marketing and industry relations, and Joseph Harrington, director of corporate communications, will be at booth #603 at the annual meeting of the CPCU Society, Sept. 6-8 in Philadelphia.

• Rick Maka, director of marketing,  will be at the annual convention of the Wisconsin Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, Sept. 14-16 in LaCrosse, Wis.

• Paul Baiocchi, Joyce Tignino, and Rick Maka will be at booth #500 at the annual convention of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies, Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Philadelphia.

• Robert Guevara, vice president of inland marine, will speak at the annual conference of the Association of Insurance Compliance Professionals, Oct. 5-8 in Atlanta, Ga. Joyce Tignino and AAIS compliance staff members Laura Lemke and Pallavi Shah will also be in attendance at booth #117.

• Sherry Taylor, manager of farm and agribusiness, and Rick Maka will attend the Midwest Agribusiness Conference, Oct. 22-23 in Des Moines, Iowa.