We'd like to congratulate one of our very own, Richie Clements, for being installed as PIA National's President. The new national officers of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National) were installed during the group's September 21, 2014, Board of Directors meeting held in San Antonio, Texas. Each of the officers will serve one-year terms that begin on October 1, 2014, and run through September 30, 2015.

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (LCPIC) is in the process of implementing the next round of the Depopulation program. This program has been well received by both the participating companies and many agents in prior rounds and has proven to be beneficial to all involved.

In this round there are six Insurance companies who are in the process of selecting policies from LCPIC for their assumption.

• Access Home
• Centauri Specialty
• Coastal Select
• Lighthouse Property
• Maison
• United Property and Casualty

While these companies are selecting policies for their assumption it is very important to note that no policy can or will be assumed by any company without your specific authorization. Your participation is entirely voluntary and if you desire not to participate you do not have to do anything to "opt-out". Only your authorization will allow any company to assume a portion or all of their requested policies.

LCPIC is, once again, making the agent authorization process as efficient as possible. LCPIC is providing a Web based portal for your agency to access where you will be able to review which of your policies a company (or companies) desire to assume. This portal will also allow you to select which policies you wish to allow authorization to a requesting company, review and/or change your authorization determination and control and manage your authorization selections. This depopulation portal can be accessed through the LCPIC Agents' portal and clicking on the Depopulation Program link under "Quick Links". You do not need a separate id and password to access the Depopulation portal.

LCPIC has updated the LCPIC agent's portal with the round 8 user guides and other important information and will have the LCPIC agent's portal ready for your use. The actual authorization processes will be available to you starting October 1, 2014 and will continue until November 15, 2014.

The State of Louisiana Office of Risk Management is taking proposals for a property insurance broker for the Statewide Property Program and the LSU Property Program. Firms/individuals who are interested in providing services requested under this RFP must submit a proposal containing the mandatory information specified on or before October 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (CST). To obtain more information regarding this opportunity click here.

PIA supports the insurance-related fix to the Dodd-Frank Act contained in the Insurance Capital Standards Clarification Act (S.2270), known as the Collins amendment fix. The bill would clarify that the Federal Reserve should regulate insurance companies differently than banks. S.2270 would modify a provision of the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act written by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), who testified at an April hearing that the 2010 amendment on capital standards was never meant to apply similarly to insurers and banks.

The Senate passed S. 2270 in July by unanimous consent, with wide bipartisan agreement. Before departing last week for recess until after the November mid-term elections, the House passed H.R. 5461, a package of bills that includes the Collins amendment fix, with the same language as S. 2270. Unfortunately, instead of passing a clean Collins amendment fix, the House has packaged the amendment with three other pieces of legislation that include broader changes to Dodd-Frank.

These amendments would change rules governing mortgages, derivatives end-users and collateralized loan obligations, and will likely face hurdles passing the Senate. As a result, the Collins amendment fix will not move forward without further negotiation between the House and Senate, hopefully when Congress returns following the election.

What It Means to Agents: PIA supports the Collins amendment fix as a common-sense solution, and will continue to work with Congress to urge its enactment during the lame-duck session.

PIA National has named National General Insurance as the recipient of its prestigious 2014 Company Award of Excellence. The presentation was made on September 19, 2014, at a gala ceremony held in conjunction with PIA's Board of Directors meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

"National General Insurance is fully aligned with Professional Insurance Agents," said PIA National President John G. Lee, in presenting the award. "They know that they succeed when we succeed. National General is a company that believes in all of us — and backs up that belief with its investments in our success. It is a pleasure to know and work with a company whose commitment to the success of independent agents is unwavering."

"It's both humbling and validating that the PIA recognizes National General for this honor," said Byron Storms, President of National General. "The award confirms our belief that success comes from providing exceptional value to agents and brokers through competitive products, state-of-the-art technology, performance based compensation, unique wealth building opportunities and superior service. We are thankful to the PIA and PIA agents across the country who support National General."

National General Is PIA National's Company of the Year

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