Call to action: Certificates of insurance bill delivered to governor

PIANY’s highest-priority certificates of insurance bill (A.3107-Morelle, D-136) finally has been sent to the governor’s desk (despite being passed by both houses back in June) and now needs a last-minute push to get it signed into law. The governor has until Dec. 18 to take action on the bill. PIANY members are encouraged to contact the governor and ask him to request the bill and give it favorable consideration. Members may email the governor here, or contact the office by phone at (518) 474-8390. More …   

PIANY announces 2014 legislative agenda

PIANY announced its agenda for the upcoming legislative session in 2014. PIANY’s comprehensive agenda, as identified by its member agents through a formal survey and input obtained by directors and Advisory Council members, is important to consumers and businesses statewide, and includes a number of reforms, including: certificates of insurance; labor law (240/241); and automobile photo inspections. PIA members also told the association to renew its efforts to eliminate the competitive advantages of the State Insurance Fund. More …   

Flood insurance premium increase amendment not part of defense bill

Legislation to delay flood insurance premium increase will not be added as an amendment to the pending defense authorization bill. Members of Congress who want to delay the premium increase had hoped to add the amendment to the defense bill, which both chambers hoped to enact before Congress breaks for the holidays. More …   

Northeast states, Colo., see largest growth in NFIP policies

In the past year, the National Flood Insurance Program saw policy counts grow the most in the Northeast and in Colorado, which are areas of the country that have seen catastrophic events in recent years, like hurricanes and massive wildfires. New York saw the largest growth in flood policies in force from Sept. 30, 2012, to Sept. 30, 2013, which was the most recent by-state policy count report available. The count grew by 15.5 percent to 194,650, according to statistics from the NFIP. Parts of New York were devastated in October 2012 by Sandy, which bought massive storm surge into some downstate areas. Overall, the NFIP policy count for the 50 states increased by about 0.5 percent in the past year. The top five states that saw policies grow the most, behind New York, were Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey and Massachusetts. More …   

The truth about registering for federal disaster assistance

The Federal Emergency Management Agency released a press release to dispel some of the myths about registering for federal disaster assistance. The crux of the advice to those who have experienced a disaster: "register, even if you’re unsure whether you’ll be eligible for assistance."   

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2013 excess line premium tax reports

An Annual Premium Tax Statement must be filed with the New York State Department of Financial Services by every excess-line broker on or before March 15, whether or not excess-lines business was produced in the preceding year. In preparation for the annual tax summary reports that the Excess Line Association of New York will send to members, you are reminded that all affidavits for accounts incepting in 2013, as well as premium bearing endorsements effective during 2013 or earlier, must be received in ELANY’s office by Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, in order to be included in your tax summary report. ELANY has posted an instructional video online for your use in preparing your year-end Premium Tax Statement.   

Retrospective rating elements published by NYCIRB

The DFS has approved revised tables of Excess Loss Pure Premium Factors, State Hazard Group Differentials and Retrospective Rating Pure Premium Development Factors to be effective Tuesday, April 1, 2014, for new and renewal business. These are posted on the New York Compensation Insurance Rating Board website in Bulletin 2355.   

Grow your agency with PIA’s Steps to Success tool kit

The PIA member-exclusive Steps to Success tool kit is geared toward the newer agency principal, but also offers tips for all agency owners, to assist you in growing your business. The tool kit includes information on licensing, financial planning, sales, office organization, personnel management, internal workflow, technology and more.   

Getting ready for annual performance appraisals?

During this time of year, many businesses conduct annual employee performance reviews and/or update/create job descriptions for their agency employees. PIA’s HR Info Central offers the tools you need, from sample job descriptions right down to performance appraisal tools, including a sample meeting checklist, self-evaluation form to a goal-setting form. Don’t go it alone—check out these handy tools that will, hopefully, make this task a bit easier. Designed specifically for the HR manager in your agency, PIA HR Info Central offers access to a wealth of tools, including: information to assist you in developing your agency personnel manual; an HR administrator’s guide; common forms; information on federal and state labor laws; and much more.   

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PIANY two-minute survey on cyber liability

Q. What percentage of your clients currently have cyber coverage? 0-5 percent | 6-15 percent | 16-25 percent | 26-50 percent | 51 percent or more   

NYAIP allows continued certification via webinar, PIANY offers options

Need to take the New York Auto Insurance Plan producer procedures course? For the first time, NYAIP is allowing continued certification via webinar—for continued certification and producers who seek new certification when there isn’t an in-person course available (within a 50-mile radius, within 60 days of the date of certification). The next NYAIP Producer Procedures Course will be held Jan. 14-15, 2014, from 10 a.m.-noon. PIANY’s NYAIP Producer Procedures Course live Webinars deliver "continued" NYAIP certification, plus NYCE credits—right to your desktop. This course is not for first-time certifications. Two-part packaging is available. This two-part Webinar has been approved for 2 BR, C3, PC, PA NYCE. For more information, or to register, click here.   

PIANY to hold Webinar on E&O, loss prevention

An upcoming PIANY Webinar: Errors and Omissions—Loss Prevention^{^FF^UM} will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. It will cover: E&O prevention, exposure analysis, preparation for marketing, proposals, policy issuance, binders, certificates of insurance, I.D. cards, endorsements and changes, payments and audits, claims processing, interim and renewal reviews, key elements of E&O claims and more. Taught by Steve Lyon, CPCU, CIC, CRM, AAI, ARM, AIS, this Webinar has been approved for 3 BR, C3, LB, C1, LSB, LA, PC, PA NYCE. ^{^FF^UM}—Approved for E&O loss-prevention credit by Fireman’s Fund and Utica Mutual. For more information, or to register, click here.   

Is it mobile equipment or auto?

The line between business autos and mobile equipment has to be drawn somewhere with relation to the commercial general liability and business auto policies. If the insurer provides both, then it may not matter how the line is drawn. But, if the insurers differ, the policy forms are nonstandard, or even more critical, if there is an absence of either policy, then the line drawn warrants close scrutiny. To learn more, see QuickSource document QS31181.   

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