The National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") now is accepting applications for the 2020 Consumer Liaison Program.
"Consumers are at the heart of what we do as regulators," said the NAIC's president and the insurance superintendent of Maine, Eric A. Cioppa. "Incorporating a wide variety of expertise and experience from consumer representatives informs our work in a direct and meaningful way."
In a statement, the NAIC explained that the program, established in 1992, promotes consumer representation and interaction with NAIC members by providing a way for individuals who are qualified consumer representatives of consumer organizations to participate in NAIC meetings. The NAIC defines a consumer organization as a national, state, or local organization that serves to protect the interests of consumers as they relate to the regulation of insurance.
"The Consumer Liaison Program continues to provide regulators with valuable insights as we craft regulations and policies," said Stephen C. Taylor, the chair of the NAIC's consumer participation board and the insurance commissioner for the District of Columbia. "Anyone interested in shaping insurance regulation and promoting strong consumer protections should consider applying."
One option for individuals to participate in the Consumer Liaison Program is for the NAIC to provide funding in the form of travel expense reimbursement. The NAIC said that, to qualify for such funding, an individual candidate must have a commitment to representing consumer interests in insurance regulation, be willing to fully participate in NAIC national meetings and related conference calls, have demonstrated expertise and experience on insurance-related issues addressed by the NAIC, and require NAIC funding to fully participate in NAIC national meetings and conference calls. An individual candidate must not have obligations or commitments to an industry that conflict with his or her responsibilities to represent consumer interests.
Individuals who do not need funding may apply to participate in the Consumer Liaison Program as an unfunded consumer representative.
The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. central time on October 31, 2019. All applicants are required to complete the application, sign the conflict of interest statement, and attach all requested documents. Applicants will be selected in December and notified prior to the spring national meeting in 2020.
Learn more: www.naic.org.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].