Each year, the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office (FSLSO) conducts an online customer service survey to evaluate its products and services. The feedback provides the opportunity for FSLSO to continually reevaluate whether they are meeting the needs of their customers. From last year's results, which were posted on FSLSO's website, several enhancements have either been put in place or will be released in the coming months.

In December of 2005, FSLSO implemented the Surplus Lines Insurance Portal (SLIP), for which more than a third of Florida's licensed surplus lines agents have begun to use. In addition, FSLSO implemented eAlerts (an electronic bulletin) to inform Florida licensed surplus lines agents of important information they need to know concerning upcoming changes in the rules and regulations affecting the surplus lines marketplace.

FSLSO is also currently working on the release of further service enhancements. Staff are working to enhance the submission software (Agent, FTP Submit and Insurer software); provide a new online course for retail agents, geared to help them understand their responsibilities in the surplus lines process; and to make an auto-filled Quarterly Report Affidavit available through SLIP.

The surveys are being conducted by Beacon Research, Inc., an independent research company who will insure that all feedback provided from the survey is kept anonymous. After sufficient time to analyze and respond to the results, FSLSO will publicize the results in September/October.

Surveys will be going to the following groups of customers:

• surplus lines agents;
• agency submission contacts;
• agency accounting contacts;
• insurer contacts; and
• IPC filers

There are differences in the questions between the survey groups, and FSLSO encourages each recipient to complete the survey. Please note that if the surplus lines agent is also the submission and/or accounting contact, please only complete the surplus lines agent survey. If your office has separate staff handling these functions, each is encouraged to complete their own survey, which should take no more than 15 to 20 minutes and will assist FSLSO as they prepare for their strategic planning for 2007.

Surveys are scheduled to be emailed on Monday, June 5, 2006. Should you not receive a survey by end of day on Monday, please monitor your spam blocker or contact our office at 1-800-562-4496, x109.

The officers of two national insurance policymaking groups today announced a collaboration to create a joint national catastrophe plan. State Senator Steven Geller (D-Hallandale Beach) and Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said they would be presenting proposals to their respective organizations and would ask each to create and finalize a joint plan for adoption.

Sen. Geller chairs the National Conference of Insurance Legislator's (NCOIL) Subcommittee on Natural Disaster Insurance Legislation and McCarty chairs the National Association of Insurance Commissioner's (NAIC) Property and Casualty (C) Committee. McCarty and Geller pointed out that during a recent two year period the federal government issued 115 major disaster declarations in more than 30 different states.

"I am very pleased to see NCOIL and NAIC working together on an issue of such critical importance to people in this country and to Floridians," said Sen. Geller. The ultimate solution for availability and affordability of insurance in disaster prone areas is to have an effective federal program. We are in need of a plan which recognizes that flooding, hurricanes and other natural disasters don't respect state boundaries."

"While we are seeing increased interest and support for a national catastrophe plan, we recognize we have much more work to do," said McCarty. "Our chances for success will be much greater if we work together with one plan and use the unique expertise of both organizations to get a program passed to better protect our country."

The proposals Geller and McCarty will present for joint action include:

• Encouraging states to establish privately funded, tax-exempt catastrophe funds, such as Florida has, and allowing state cat funds to purchase high levels of protection from the federal government for extreme events at actuarially sound prices.
• Allowing insurance companies to accumulate reserves on a tax-deferred basis to respond to natural disasters.
• Establishing a national backstop for mega-catastrophes over $50 million, similar to the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act.
• Changing IRS tax policy to allow insurers to accumulate tax deferred reserves to be dedicated solely to paying for catastrophic claims. 
• Create a framework for prompt redevelopment after a disaster.
• Instilling a culture-of-preparedness amongst the U.S. population.

Sen. Geller is the past national president of NCOIL where he made passage of a national natural disaster program his top priority.