The Fingerprint Subgroup of the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s (NAIC) Producer Licensing Working Group held a conference call on Thursday, August 5, 2004. The call focused on the latest draft of the Authorization for Criminal History Record Check Model Act.

The purpose of the model is to facilitate access to FBI criminal background information by state insurance commissioners and to provide the commissioners access to a centralized electronic database that houses fingerprint information for insurance producers, and certain company officers, directors and controlling persons, as defined by the model.

In accordance with PIA National policy, PIA’s goal for the model is to have a uniform fingerprinting process for all producers, including life insurance producers, that will incorporate new producers at the application process and will stagger the process for producers already licensed. The NAIC seems to agree with this position, but the way in which they are attempting to achieve these goals is problematic. Read PIA’s complete briefing on the current status of this drafting process.

What It Means to Agents:  Another draft of the model will be released later in August so that comments can be prepared for the NAIC Fall Meeting in September. PIA will continue to actively seek improvements in the model and work with the NAIC to “hammer out” a final product that does not overly burden independent agents.

August 10, 2004