The 4th meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance was held on Thursday, November 12, 2009, at 10:00 AM, at Marriott Downtown, Louisville, Kentucky. Representative Jeff Greer, Chair, called the meeting to order, and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Tom Buford, Co-Chair; Representative Jeff Greer, Co-Chair; Senators Julian M. Carroll, Gerald A. Neal, and Brandon Smith; Representatives James R. Comer Jr., Will Coursey, Ron Crimm, Ted Edmonds, Jim Gooch Jr., Mike Harmon, Dennis Horlander, Brent Housman, Dennis Keene, Adam Koenig, Brad Montell, Sannie Overly, Jody Richards, and Steve Riggs,.
Guests: Representative Larry Clark, Speaker Pro Tem, Steve Kinkade, President and Peggy Porter, Executive Vice President, Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky, David Daniel, President, National Independent Insurance Agents Association, and Sharon Clark, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Insurance.
LRC Staff: Rhonda Franklin, Emily Bottoms, Jens Fugal, and Jamie Griffin.
Steve Kinkade, President and Peggy Porter, Executive Vice President, Independent Insurance Agents of Kentucky (IIAK), welcomed and thanked the committee for holding its interim meeting in conjunction with the association’s annual convention at the Marriott Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky. Mr. Kinkade stated that IIAK is the largest trade association in Kentucky and was founded in 1896.
Representative Larry Clark, addressed the committee regarding 10RS BR 213-AN ACT relating to continuity of health care, and gave a brief summary of the bill. He stated that his sponsorship of the bill was to protect consumers who are involved in a situation similar to the recent Anthem Healthcare/Norton Hospital contract dispute.
Representative Jeff Greer stated that this legislation will give patients peace of mind, that it is good legislation, and he looks forward to the committee considering the bill for a vote in January.
Sharon Clark, Commissioner, Kentucky Department of Insurance, addressed the committee regarding the legislative package the Department of Insurance will be presenting for passage in January. She gave a brief summary of the legislative package and stated that it contained many consumer protection issues as well as necessary changes to the current law in order to maintain the department’s accreditation status and for compliance with federal law.
Representative Jeff Greer thanked the IIAK for the opportunity to meet in conjunction with the annual convention. He stated that the next meeting of the Banking and Insurance Committee would be when the General Assembly convenes for the 2010 Regular Session in January.
The meeting adjourned.