WSR 98-23-003

RULES REVIEW PLAN

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE

[Filed November 4, 1998, 3:35 p.m.]

Reviser's note: The following Rules Review Plan has been electronically generated directly from the agency and has not been through the usual editing and proofing processes.

REVIEW OF TITLE 284 WAC

by

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DEBORAH SENN

October, 1998

Submitted by

Jon Hedegard, Rules Coordinator

Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn began implementation of the Regulatory Improvement process. The first phase of the process was to solicit internal and external recommendations on each section of Title 284 WAC. The second phase was to begin an in-depth review of each section. Each section is closely scrutinized. If changes or repeal is desired, the rule-making process is begun. In addition to the review of rules, Commissioner Senn has also withdrawn 103 Bulletins, Technical Assistance Advisories and other guidance documents.

Areas of Review

The review of the Rates and Contracts chapters is on-going. Numerous chapters have been all or partially completed. Included in this are of review are WAC chapters: 284-05, 284-10, 284-19, 284-20, 284-21, 284-23, 284-34, 384-43, 284-44, 284-46, 284-49, 284-50, 284-51, 284-52, 284-53, 284-54, 284-55, 284-58, 284-60, 284-66, 284-84 and 284-85. These twenty-two chapters include 402 of the 785 sections in Title 284 WAC.

After the conclusion of the Rates and Contracts review, the next subjects will include Unfair Practices (Chapters 284-30 and 284-95 WAC) and Company Supervision and Examinations (Chapters 284-07, 284-13, 284-16, 284-18, 284-26, 284-28, 284-36, 284-92 WAC).

Involvement by Interested Parties

Any person interested in providing comments on any rule in Title 284 WAC or any Bulletin or Technical Assistance Advisory is urged to provide their comments in writing. Comments may be made:

1) Via the Commissioner's website (http://www.wa.gov/ins)

2) Mailed to Kacy Brandeberry, P.O. Box 40256, Olympia, WA 98504-0256

3) E-mailed (Kacyb@oicwa.gov)

4) Faxed (360/407-0186)

Interested persons may call Kacy at 360/407-0729 for further information on the Regulatory Improvement process or with any other questions regarding the rule-making by Commissioner Senn.

The Regulatory Improvement Plan

The Commissioner's plan to review the rules in Title 284 WAC is available via the website (http://www.wa.gov/ins). The plan will be updated soon to reflect changes in personnel but the objectives, standards, and overall time-lines remain a top priority for Commissioner Senn.

Examples of Regulatory Improvement

One section that was repealed, WAC 284-17-135, required some prospective licensees to wait a year before retaking a failed exam. The reason was to eliminate the potential for memorization of a limited amount of potential questions. This reason was no longer appropriate, the pool of questions has grown tremendously and is more random due to computerization. Since the basis for the rule no longer existed, the rule was repealed as unnecessary.

In the initial review, it was noted that changes would likely be desired in Chapter 284-19, the chapter is titled the "Washington essential property insurance inspection and placement program." The chapter had not been amended in 29 years, language had become archaic and provisions had become outdated. Initially, there was some external reluctance to making any changes. Staff from the Insurance Commissioner's Office worked with affected parties and ended up repealing one and amending seventeen of the nineteen sections in the chapter. The chapter is clearer, more concise, and more effective. The process and the changes earned the praise of the affected parties.

attachment

An inventory of all sections of Title 284 is shown below. This includes various the initial projected review time-tables and the final action for sections that have completed the review.