Legislature(2013 - 2014)BARNES 124
04/17/2014 09:00 AM House LABOR & COMMERCE
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB214 | |
| SB193 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 214 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 193 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SB 214-PORTABLE ELECTRONICS INSURANCE ADJUSTERS
9:08:23 AM
CHAIR OLSON announced that the first order of business would be
CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 214(L&C) am, "An Act relating to
independent portable electronics adjuster licensing."
9:08:48 AM
STEVEN RICCI, Staff, Senator Mike Dunleavy, Alaska State
Legislature, on behalf of the sponsor, the Senate Labor &
Commerce Committee, stated that SB 214 is "part b" of SB 52, a
bill the committee heard last year that pertains to portable
electronic insurance and relates to the adjusting aspect.
Essentially, if someone sends in a portable electronic device
with hopes of making an insurance claim, the device is broken
and it will be replaced or not. He explained that there isn't a
judgment call on the value of the damage so individuals dealing
with the claims are largely performing clerical functions and
not adjusting. This bill, SB 214, would allow 25 members
performing [this type of] clerical to work under one registered
insurance adjuster. Some provisions in the bill pertain to non-
resident licensure of these adjusters, typically working for
large telephone, Internet, or mail-based nation-wide companies.
He characterized this as a technical cleanup to allow these
clerical staff to be licensed in the state while holding out-of-
state licenses. He deferred to the Division of Insurance to
answer any technical aspects.
9:10:57 AM
CHAIR OLSON asked whether the bill has one zero fiscal note.
MR. RICCI answered yes.
9:11:41 AM
MARTY HESTER, Deputy Director, Division of Insurance (DOI),
Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development
(DCCED), stated that the division believes that this bill will
still provide consumer protection while making it easier for the
industry to adjust claims. He has reached out to other states
that have enacted similar legislation and none have encountered
any issues with the portable electronic adjuster legislation.
9:13:05 AM
CHAIR OLSON asked whether any problems have arisen with this
type of coverage.
STEVEN MCDANIEL, Attorney, Meenan P.A., stated that Meenan P.A.
is outside counsel for Asurion. He said this issue is simple,
which is why he thinks the division is comfortable with the 25
to 1 ratio. He agreed that the phones either work or they don't
so this differs from a homeowner's claim in which the value is
adjusted and repairs are being made to a home or an automobile.
He characterized the process, such that phones are typically
shipped out within one or two days of the claim being processed.
He reiterated that the claim is very simple.
CHAIR OLSON, after first determining that no one wished to
testify, closed public testimony on SB 214.
9:14:04 AM
REPRESENTATIVE REINBOLD moved to report CSSB 214(L&C) AM out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
fiscal notes. There being no objection, CSSB 214(L&C) AM was
reported from the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.