Legislative Update/IIAA Insider - February 22, 2019

 
     

SIX WEEKS DOWN AND COUNTING!

We just finished our sixth week of the current legislative session. As of yesterday, 939 bills have been introduced, not counting the numerous resolutions and proposed constitutional amendments that have been introduced. Five hundred forty-five bills have been introduced in the House and 394 in the Senate. There has been a House Resolution presented to extend the current session until April 12th. That would give us seven more weeks of deliberation...

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! 
ANOTHER TERRIFIC LEARNING AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY!
2019 Leadership Conference hosted by the Big I Young Agents Committee - March 27-28 at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs
Featuring Ryan Hanley - International Keynote Speaker and Best-Selling Author
    
  Sign up today
 
 


FEDERAL UPDATE - PAC COMPARISONS
 
Political clout in Washington, D.C. is largely measured by political (PAC) fundraising, grassroots strength, and relationships with elected officials. The Big "I" has proven itself unparalleled when it comes to representing main street independent insurance agents in these areas.
 
Year-end financial disclosure reports have been filed with the Federal Election Commission, officially closing the 2018 fundraising year and election cycle.  
 
Last year, InsurPac not only established a new fundraising record by topping $1.13 million in receipts, but also set a new standard for contributions for insurance friendly candidates.
 
Below is a comparison of the BIG I PAC (InsurPac) versus the PIA PAC.
In the 2018 election cycle the Big I Pac contributed $29,500 dollars to Arkansas Federal Candidates and the PIA Pac contributed $1000 to Arkansas Federal candidates. 

BALLOT INITIATIVE REFORM
 
Considering the fiasco and controversies regarding the initiated acts and constitutional amendments for the November Elections, SJR 10 and HJR 1008 by Sen. Mathew Pitsch and Rep. DeAnn Vaught are identical measures that will help to clarify the process. They seek to a mend the constitution to revise the process for ballot petitions. It repeals the 30-day signature cure period, moves the filing deadline for initiatives and signatures to January 15 and sets a deadline to file legal challenges on April 15, both dates in the General Election year. It also increases the vote majority required by the Legislature to make amendment referrals from a simple majority to a three-fifths (60%) majority and increases the number of counties from which a set number of signatures are required from 15 counties to three-fifths of the counties (45).


CHANGES IN CONTRACTORS LICENSING

SB 342 by Sen. John Cooper m akes various changes to the Contractor's Licensing Board's authority and procedures for financial statements, surety bond requirements, and other regulatory functions.  Among the proposed requirements are:
 
Provide that an applicant may provide a surety bond from an authorized surety business in the state, or a surety listed on the current United States Department of the Treasury's list of approved sureties, requires that the bond must be 10 times the required net worth for the applicant's license, and that the surety must maintain an A rating.
 
Provide that the surety bond can be canceled if the applicant presents a financial statement that meets the net worth requirements for the license notification and must be made to the board by the surety 60 days before cancellation

COVENANTS NOT TO COMPETE

As reported in the last two Legislative Updates, HB 1068 by Rep. Brian Evans and Sen. Ricky Hill would repeal all the current statutes pertaining to non-compete agreements. This would, of course, impact hundreds of insurance agencies in Arkansas. The bill has been placed on the deferred list on the House Insurance and Commerce Committee agenda and we continue to have discussions with the bill's sponsor. Rep. Evans is purportedly working on some amendments to the bill. We will follow this closely and hope that it goes away...


NEW HOUSE INTRODUCTIONS
 HB 1497 
Provides civil immunity for owners of stolen agricultural equipment or off-road vehicles stolen and used by another person to commit a criminal offense that results in damages, injuries or deaths.

  HB 1510  
Defines circumstances under which a the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences or a similar state-funded entity can provide billable clinical or coverage services to a private health system.

 
 
 HB 1536   

       
Creates the Compassionate Care End-of-Life Option, exempting physicians from liability for counseling patients on an independent decision to self-administer a lethal dose of medication.  
   
   
NEW SENATE INTRODUCTIONS

Decreases the amount of insurance premium tax credits that insurers may claim against the cost of salaries and wages, from the current eighty percent of the tax due to fifty percent of the tax due in 2023. 
 
 
SB 380 
  
 
Adds fully insured large group insurers to the requirements for insurers to provide mammography and breast ultrasound benefit coverage.
 
                        
   SB 388
       
 
  
 
Authorizes bicycle riders to yield at stop signs, and to proceed through red traffic lights after coming to a complete stop.  
 
 SJR 8   
A Constitutional Amendment to permit limits on awards of punitive and noneconomic damages in civil actions. 
   
SJR 17   
Amends the constitution authorizing the General Assembly to enact laws limiting the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded in civil actions. 
    

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

 

State Senators: 501-682-2902

State Representatives: 501-682-6211

 

To view schedules, calendars, bill information and legislator information, visit: www.arkleg.state.ar.us.

To view live stream video and audio from the Arkansas House of Representatives, visit www.arkansashouse.org.

 

Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas phone: (501) 221-2444

IIAA web site: www.iiaar.org

  

 

The Weekly Legislative Update is written by Lynn Zeno;

edited and distributed by Kari McAfee.

  

 
 
As a reminder, the Legislative Update is sent to all IIA of Arkansas members via electronic communications unless you notify us otherwise at [email protected] or by telephone at 501-221-2444
  
The Legislative Update is a publication of the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas to members and associate members of this Association. Reproduction, by any means, of material appearing in the Legislative Update is strictly forbidden without permission.