E-News May 25, 2007

NAPSLO Issues Paper Supporting HR 1065
In an effort to encourage the adoption of the Non-Admitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2007 (H.R. 1065) by the U.S. House of Representatives and a companion bill, S. 929, in the Senate, the National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices recently published and distributed a paper, Why HR 1065, to members of the Association, public, and the press.

The paper, which is also available on NAPSLO’s web site, reviews how HR 1065 would simplify the payment of surplus lines premium taxes, establish one state compliance on multi-state risks, streamline access to the surplus lines market for large commercial purchasers; and create uniform surplus lines insurer eligibility standards.

"The one issue I am constantly asked about is how to resolve the tax and licensing issues regarding multi-state surplus lines risks," said NAPSLO President Bill Newton. "We believe both brokers, and companies want this issue resolved. Brokers want to pay the surplus lines taxes to just one state. They want only one state to regulate the transaction and not have to complete duplicate, triplicate, 10, 20 or 40 affidavits and make an equal number of tax filings. Companies want to see one-state reporting as more and more insurance departments are asking carriers to reconcile their premiums with the brokers' filings."

H.R. 1065 would:

• Establish national standards for how states regulate the surplus lines market   
• Create a uniform method of surplus lines premium tax calculation and remittance   
• Create one-state compliance on multi-state surplus lines risks   
• Provide direct access to the surplus lines market for sophisticated commercial purchasers.

Career Campaign Moves Forward
The Communications & Technology Committee has been working on a number of projects on the talent recruitment project, including:

•  Launching a "student-careers" section on the NAPSLO web site which features career path information, background on the industry, and features success stories profiling successful, young NAPSLO members.  
• Establishing a Job Locator to allow members to link their site to the NAPSLO website to help connect interested students with membership. (If you haven't  listed your firm on the Job locator, notify NAPSLO at careers@napslo.org.) In addition, NAPSLO is notifying college career centers at a group of select schools about its career efforts.
• An online video, highlighting the benefits of a career in Surplus Lines, has also been produced with the assistance of the Insurance Journal.  The video features several NAPSLO members and will be distributed to interested college career centers.
• Articles have been placed with media and with www.jobweb.com, a website owned and sponsored by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). 

RAA Reinsurance program available to NAPSLO Members
The Reinsurance Association of America and NAPSLO have worked out an arrangement for members to attend the RAA's ReContracts: The Art of Designing Reinsurance Contracts and Programs program in June in Chicago at a discounted rate. The program is a four-day educational seminar designed for professionals who want comprehensive and in-depth treatment of reinsurance contracts. 

The program is scheduled for June 12-15 at the Radisson Hotel in Chicago. NAPSLO members will receive a discounted registration of $1,850, and an additional $50 off the registration fee if registering on-line.

Upcoming NAPSLO Events 
E&S School (Session 1) June 9-12 - St. Louis, MO (Sold out)
E&S School (Session 2) June 12-15 - St. Louis, MO (Sold out)
2007 Annual Convention - October 3-6 - New Orleans, LA
2007 Advanced School - St. Louis, MO - October 27-30
2008 Mid-Year Workshop - February 20-23 - Scottsdale, AZ