As of today,
October 3, 2011, the New York Insurance Department, believed to be the oldest
state regulatory agency in the United States, no longer exists! Today the
former insurance and banking departments are merged into the new Department of
Financial Services, and the new Superintendent of Financial Services, Benjamin
Lawsky, becomes the chief regulator of both the banking and insurance
businesses. The picture gallery of past insurance superintendents on the 3rd
floor of 25 Beaver Street, which begins with William Barnes in 1860, will end
with James Wrynn 151 years later.
The new agency
has the opportunity to demonstrate that this sea change in the regulatory
framework in New York is a new beginning, and that it intends to fulfill the
stated goals of the merger legislation.
This starts with the first stated goal: “[T]o encourage, promote and assist banking,
insurance and other financial services institutions to effectively and
productively locate, operate, employ, grow, remain, and expand in New York state;
. . .” Nothing could be more in
line with this goal than the revival of the insurance exchange!
As many of you are
aware, over a year ago the industry working group established by Superintendent
Wrynn issued its preliminary recommendations for the reestablishment of an
insurance exchange. After several
fits and starts, a draft plan to implement these recommendations was
drafted. However, even though a
draft, and with little if any downside to the regulators, release of the draft
plan release was repeatedly postponed at the request of the administration.
Today is a new
day, and in honor of the old insurance department, and in support of the principal
goal of its successor agency, I have posted the draft plan for the implementation
of the industry working group preliminary recommendations on the “NY Insurance Risk Exchange (NY-REX)" page of my web site. Here is the link to that page. It is my hope
that the new agency will embrace the exchange concept under its stated goals,
and that it is not too late for its successful reincarnation.
Farewell Insurance
Department! Hello Insurance Bureau of the Department of Financial Services!
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