ADVOCACY on the total gross premiums charged , less any return premiums . The bill amends this rate to 3.0 percent , commencing with the tax year beginning January 1 , 2024 .
• Prepaid Service Plans : The bill modifies requirements for reporting individuals who solicit memberships on behalf of prepaid service plans from semi-annually to annually . The bill also discontinues payment of annual registration fees .
• Agent Fees : The bill amends provisions in the Uniform Insurance Agents Licensure Act and the Public Adjusters Licensing Act to allow the Commissioner to set fees in an amount lower than the maximum amount of the fees established in law . The bill also amends fingerprinting criteria for resident agents .
• Resident agents . Under current law , an applicant for a resident agent license must pay a nonrefundable fee of $ 30 to the Commissioner . The bill instead requires each applicant to pay the fee in an amount not to exceed $ 30 . The bill requires the Commissioner , no later than December 1 , to annually set and publish the application fee for the next calendar year in the Kansas Register . Continuing law permits the Commissioner to use information from an applicant ’ s background check , fingerprinting , and criminal history for the purpose of verifying identification and fitness of the applicant to be issued a license . The bill requires , rather than allows , the Commissioner to use this information in determining whether a license should be issued .
• Non-resident agents . Under current law , an applicant for a non-resident agent license must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $ 30 and a biennial fee of $ 50 . The bill instead requires non-resident agents to pay the respective fees in an amount not to exceed $ 30 and $ 50 . The bill also requires the Commissioner to annually set and publish this application fee for the next calendar year .
Travel Insurance : The Governor approved a bill related to the regulation of travel insurance . SB85 enacts the Kansas Travel Insurance Act as part of the Kansas Insurance Act and removes the requirement that the Kansas State Employees Health Care Commission offer as a benefit the option to purchase long-term care insurance and indemnity insurance .
The bill addresses the licensure and registration of limited lines travel insurance producers ( travel insurance producers ) and travel retailers , establishes a premium tax for travel insurers , regulates the sale and marketing of travel insurance and travel protection plans , provides for travel administrators , and establishes standards for travel insurance policies .
Legal Reform : To address the Kansas Supreme Court ’ s decision ruling that the statutory caps on noneconomic damages caps were unconstitutional , the Kansas Chamber-led Legal Reform Task Force – KAIA participates in this Task Force – continues to introduce bills that the business community believes will make the pursuit of frivolous lawsuits more difficult and less enticing . One of those bills , Sub for HB2016 , passed out this year .
This bill enacts the Act Against Abusive Website Access Litigation to create a civil action for determining whether litigation that alleges any website access violation under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act ( ADA ) or similar law constitutes abusive litigation . The bill was drafted to address predatory , out-of-state attorneys who have abused the ADA to file website compliance claims . However , there is no guidance from the federal government on what makes a website ADA-compliant .
Unfortunately , SB74 , a bill providing for joint liability for costs and sanctions in third-party funded litigation , requiring certain discovery disclosures , and requiring payment of certain costs for nonparty subpoenas , did not move out of the Senate Judiciary Committee . This bill , which KAIA testified in favor of , would attempt to address the growing concern of