Mar 21, 2018

PIACT, CTYIP host ‘Day on the Hill,’ honor Scanlon as Legislator of the Year

HARTFORD, Conn.—The Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut and its affiliate the Connecticut Young Insurance Professionals held its first “Day on the Hill” yesterday. During the event, PIACT and CTYIP members met with members of the Insurance & Real Estate Committee and their elected officials to discuss issues of importance to the insurance industry and the insurance-buying community.

Additionally, PIACT presented Insurance & Real Estate Committee Chair Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-98, with the 2018 PIACT Legislator of the Year award. The award is presented to a legislator who has contributed to the improvement of the insurance industry as a whole and/or who has either supported or opposed issues that would positively or negatively affect independent agents and producers.

(L-R) PIACT past President Robert C. Shanley, CIC; Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-98; PIACT-YIP President Katie Bailey, CPIA; and PIACT past President Augusto Russell, CIC.

In addition to his willingness to discuss issues that are important to PIACT members, Rep. Scanlon was nominated for and received this year’s Legislator of the Year award because he co-sponsored a bill that became a law last year. The act (Public Act 17-140), which was a top-priority legislative issue for PIACT, regulates transportation network companies and taxicabs. The original bill was amended when PIACT and other organizations cautioned that the lack of definitions in the bill created insurance coverage gaps. The amended bill, which later became the law, included a tiered-rating system that closed these gaps.

“Rep. Scanlon was open to discussions when the TNC bill was introduced last year and listened to our concerns about the coverage gaps in the bill,” said PIACT President Ken Distel. “As a result, the bill was amended to address these gaps and Scanlon was instrumental in the passage of Public Act 17-140, which makes the ride-hailing vehicles and taxicabs safer for everyone involved. We are honored to present him with this award and look forward to working with him on additional legislation in the future.”

“I am truly honored to have been selected as PIACT’s Legislator of the Year and it has been a privilege to work with PIACT and their members from all over the state during my tenure as House Chair of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee,” said Rep. Scanlon.

The PIACT and CTYIP “Day on the Hill” offered members from both associations the chance to discuss PIACT’s and CTYIP’s legislative agenda for 2018 with their elected officials, including: Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Sen. Len Fasano, R-34; Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-98; and representatives from the office of House Majority Leader Rep. Matt Ritter, D-1.

Top issues for both associations include:

• legislation to address the accurate quoting of automobile policies to prevent some insurance companies from re-rating an insurance policy after quoting or binding it, which could result in a higher premium for the customer;
• a regulation that would allow the insurance commissioner to grant continuing-education credits for active membership in good standing of a qualified association; and
• monitoring any legislation that addresses cybersecurity regulations.

“PIACT’s ‘Day on the Hill’ was a great opportunity for insurance professionals to meet with their elected officials to discuss the issues that are important to the insurance industry and the insurance-buying public,” said CTYIP President Katie Bailey, CPIA. “I encourage CTYIP members to become active in their association and to take advantage of other events such as this to make sure the voice of the next generation of insurance professionals is heard at the state level.”

CTYIP is an organization dedicated to the professional and personal growth of newcomers to the insurance industry and an affiliate of PIACT, a trade association representing professional, independent insurance agencies, brokerages and their employees throughout the state.

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