| FROM THE COMMISSIONER |
Working with KAIA
Official rollout of the Education Initiative
K
AIA agents working with automobile policy clients who will be renewing their insurance in 2017 are reminded that liability coverage has changed .
The motor vehicle liability insurance minimum coverage for property damage on all Kansas policies is now $ 25,000 . The previous minimum was $ 10,000 .
House Bill 2446 , passed by the Kansas Legislature during the 2016 session and signed into law by the governor , increased the coverage of loss . The law becomes effective on Jan . 1 , 2017 .
The new legislation is part of a continual review of our insurance laws . We want to make sure that insurance regulation is relevant to current situations .
Prior to the increase in the loss coverage , Kansas was in the lower range of states for required coverage . The law now gives more protection to vehicle insurance policyholders who are liable for property damage following an accident .
We appreciate your publicizing this information to your vehicle policyholders . It ’ s just another way that we can all help communicate the complex world of insurance to those who purchase it .
Another session of the Kansas Legislature is just around the corner . The Kansas Insurance Department has been reviewing suggestions for insurance legislation , not only for our own possible introduction but for those bills to be introduced by organizations such as KAIA . We appreciate your input as agents on issues that affect you and your clients . If you have concerns or suggestions , please contact Clark Shultz , Deputy Commissioner , ( 785 ) -296- 7803 .
Education Initiative Update : The new insurance education initiative , coordinated through several Kansas colleges and universities , had an official rollout Oct . 5 , and the startup progress is encouraging .
KEN SELZER Kansas Insurance Commissioner
For the fall semester 2016 , approximately 80 students at the participating schools are enrolled in insurance-related core courses that advance them toward an Insurance Certificate . College graduates who complete the 12 hours of insurance-related coursework will hit the ground running as viable and knowledgeable candidates for jobs in the Kansas insurance industry .
Fort Hays State University , Washburn University , the University of Kansas-Edwards campus , and Johnson County Community College are current schools now offering the certificate program . Kansas State University and Pittsburg State University are expected to join the list in 2017 .
We hope you will talk up the program to college students and their families that are your clients . You can learn more about the program by going online to www . ksinsurancecertificate . org .
License applications , renewals update : As of Nov . 17 , KID was responsible for licensing 125,422 agents--23,161 resident agents and 102,261 non-resident agents . Each one of those agents goes through a licensing application or renewal process that includes background checks on each agent . That ’ s a lot of information our licensing staff has to sift through . In order for that process to go smoothly , we encourage all new applicants and renewal agents to carefully complete and accurately answer all the questions to avoid any delay in the processing . If you have new applicants in your agency , please encourage them to follow the procedure so we expedite their applications .
We also encourage them to take advantage of the continuing education classes that KAIA offers . We appreciate KAIA ’ s efforts in providing the courses to their members . It is a win-win situation for all of us connected to the insurance industry in Kansas .
| November - December 2016 | KANSAS INSURANCE AGENT & BROKER
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