New York
Bill sets licensing rules for mass marketing
Senator Guy J. Velella (R-C, Bronx/Westchester) is sponsoring a bill to require large automobile insurers that sell insurance directly to the public by phone, direct mail or other mass-marketing techniques to use licensed insurance agents to perform their sales.
Velella, who is chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, introduced S. 1617 to protect the public from unscrupulous sales techniques and make certain that insurance sales people have adequate knowledge about the products they sell. "The purpose of this bill is to ensure that only qualified, knowledgeable and trained personnel are permitted to sell insurance to New York State consumers," he said.
The new requirement would apply only to those automobile insurers that have an annual combined direct premium written exceeding $200 million.
Connecticut
PIACT elects officers and directors
The 1997-98 officers and directors of the Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut, Inc. (PIACT), were elected during the association's recent annual convention. They are:
President--Kevin S. Ray, CIC, of Farmington, vice president of The Deming Insurance Agency, Farmington.
President-elect--Kathleen S. Stephens, CIC, CPIW, of New Haven, commercial lines manager for Nicholson Associates, Milford.
Vice president--David LaManna, CIC, AAI, of Thomaston, principal with the Thomaston Insurance Center, Thomaston, and a partner in the Heritage Insurance Agency in Waterbury.
Vice president--Edwin G. Kline of Brookfield, producer for The John M. Glover Agency, Inc., Ridgefield.
Treasurer--Michael R. DelGallo of Windsor, vice president of AG Insurance, Inc., Windsor.
Secretary--Michele A. DiScala of Norwalk, vice president of S.J. Stewart & Son, Inc., Norwalk.
Immediate past president--Peter L. Wilson, CPCU, CPIA, of Darien, president of Emmons & Wilson, Inc., New Canaan.
The association elected the following members to three-year terms on its board of directors:
James Benson, CPCU, of Stratford, vice president of Merit Insurance, Inc., Bridgeport.
John Cochener of Granby, president of The Granby Insurance Agency, Inc., Granby.
Judith W. Kiernan, CIC, CPIW, of Meriden, vice president of John M. Sutherland, Inc., Naugatuck.
Craig D. MacGovern, CIC, AAI, of Wethersfield, supervisor at The Watson Group, Wethersfield.
Thomas A. Moeller of Orange, vice president of Wolff-Zackin & Associates, Inc., Vernon.
Gary A. O'Brien, CPCU, of Watertown, owner of The O'Brien Russo Quint Agency, Inc., Watertown.
Ronald E. Palmer of Glastonbury, president of Palmer & Associates, Glastonbury.
Gerard Prast, CPIA, of Wallingford, vice president of The Continental Insurance Agency of Connecticut.
David Sinclair of Madison, president of The Sinclair Insurance Group, Inc., Wallingford.
Donna L. Spescia, CIC, CPIW, of Canton, president of The Ralph C. Dowd Agency, Inc., Collinsville.
John A. Tracy, CIC, of Lyme, owner of The Tracy Agency, Old Saybrook.
Pennsylvania
Court dismisses attempt to invalidate WC reform law
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania dismissed an action by organized labor that would have invalidated Act 57, the workers compensation reform legislation passed last year. The AFL-CIO and other labor groups had challenged the bill on legislative procedural grounds.
Steven Bennett, counsel for the American Insurance Association, praised the court's move, saying, "Act 57 is a substantial measure that will go a long way toward restoring balance to Pennsylvania's workers compensation system. It will reduce costs associated with the litigation and administration of claims, while ensuring that injured workers get the benefits they need quickly and fairly."
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