[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6366859,"mediaKeyId","2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37","parentId",2159301,"title","Panel hears bill to shorten insurer response time for complaints, allow longer value‑added pilot programs","audioSeconds",428,"startMs",876000,"endMs",1304000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37&start=876&end=1304","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37/thumbnail_876000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6366859/Kansas/Panel-hears-bill-to-shorten-insurer-response-time-for-complaints-allow-longer-valueadded-pilot-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366859-13e7c11c09a8b3cabc27bccdf74a30f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135876&Signature=cHTr5k3FeKHwqC~QOOldj5V-unGZVvnjCLeg8pZFQi0WTD0PbBwxhm67eKxeaz6VEqEjhBo3OQdasFAoIQF4x7ucJrZU3K2qK1CMLX2CDqr0ukVgm~LqNbZOm9aRjPvSmSIBlMHDsWaIPawyoPrAwkR-zTjTs07SY~25A4aM1pdV0WglDYkXODaOBZqHF1pYP~jB16OW3MVPTWzkt9Af5GIhcqaYcHNwVmA1zcySWGne5xi3Vjslnj5a5wIOJFJbE9wS1A~2ohGopYraXDtsy-tK~PqyBQMsV6xLACaGMjApK8EUaRhdNEbwoYnwgx-O-wPTlCcRlf1bfYXFuUtfsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance, KS","date","2025-01-28T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Bill 23 would require insurers and producers to respond to inquiries from the Kansas Insurance Commissioner concerning consumer complaints within 14 calendar days and would allow rebate or value‑added pilot programs to run longer than the current one‑year statutory pilot period if additional time is needed to determine whether the program meets statutory criteria.

Eileen, Revisor of Statutes, told the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance the bill amends KSA 42‑404 (the statute addressing unfair methods of competition or unfair and deceptive acts or practices) to add a 14‑calendar‑day response requirement for inquiries about complaints and to allow the extension of pilot programs beyond one year. The bill also amends KSA 40‑49 0 9 (the Uniform Insurance Agents Licensing Act) to include failure to respond to such inquiries among grounds the commissioner may use to deny, revoke, suspend or refuse to renew a license.

Eric Turek of the Kansas Department of Insurance testified in support, saying the department handled about 3,600 consumer complaints last year (not including general inquiries) and that technological advances and a NAIC portal pilot make a 14‑day calendar response window for consumer complaints reasonable. Turek said the 15‑business‑day standard currently in statute dates to a 1981 NAIC model regulation and translates to roughly 21 calendar days; the change narrows that to 14 calendar days specifically for consumer complaint responses.

“The 15 business day threshold that dates back to 1981…translates into 3 weeks or 21 calendar days. We are hoping to move the requirement for the insurance companies to respond to the department concerning consumer complaints to 14 calendar days,” Turek said.

Senators asked operational questions about how the department sends inquiries and how an insurer or agent would demonstrate receipt. Committee members noted most correspondence is now electronic and the department has piloted a secure portal for company filings; an agent portal is not yet implemented. Senator Francisco suggested clarifying that the commissioner — not merely the insurer or producer — would have discretion to grant extensions for pilot programs; Eileen said the reviser and department would not object to language making commissioner discretion explicit.

Committee members also asked whether the pilot‑extension language should specify limits for additional time; Turek said the department would exercise discretion in granting extensions and could set a reasonable period case by case.

The committee received a neutral filing from the Kansas Association of Property and Casualty Insurance Companies, which indicated it had worked with the department on the timing change. No opponent testimony was presented and the committee closed the hearing on Senate Bill 23 without taking a vote.

The bill would affect insurer and agent response obligations under the cited KSA sections and change the statutory pilot program rules for value‑added products and rebate programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance 01/28/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 23 would require insurers and agents to respond to inquiries from the Insurance Commissioner about consumer complaints within 14 calendar days and allow rebate or value‑added pilot programs to extend beyond the current one‑year limit.","taxTitle","Financial Institutions and Insurance, Standing, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Kansas","taxId",20418,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366863,"Committee hears bill to require separate fiduciary accounts, bankruptcy notice from third-party administrators",222,269000,491000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37&start=269&end=491","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37/thumbnail_269000.jpg","/articles/6366863/Kansas/Committee-hears-bill-to-require-separate-fiduciary-accounts-bankruptcy-notice-from-third-party-administrators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366863-7dbd53b71313f3fa1459621d66c4be2b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135876&Signature=aobw3i58Edc8zA7gGLDawEGBh6PhLj0cnYOOzWJZDXATpujlHJ~N5cuLCwMDr8wZFblL6R7ggcYJWbxnMmJjxHss6LK9e5~AGqGNtUDL3HNspwPbCtPZWP-60x0wU50FZIi7SJh4fJUpgQ67K4erCmn~BE6e63XJ8IvxrgLgL6n77RWmw8RJQo9RyUlG--EQcM1qUhRJJRnMpgSkY4gFti9TWSGly529w95K3J8EJlgzwVjyDKkw782vaBS9ppz8Fmqegvnh2to281HaAmhrpQ~9qUUht0ejBR-G0OkUmitM6pbq-VDS7eokcN685-PNo04PW~teN1-9RVZ~dt5b7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 21 would require third‑party administrators that handle premiums and claims to maintain a separate fiduciary account for each payer and to immediately disclose any bankruptcy petition filed by or on behalf of the administrator under chapter 9 or chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code to the Kansas Insurance Commissioner.

The measure was explained to the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance by Eileen, Revisor of Statutes, and supported in testimony by Eric Turek of the Kansas Department of Insurance. Turek told the committee the department licenses about 400 third‑party administrators (TPAs) doing business in Kansas and that most are based out of state. He said the bill responds to a bankruptcy last year involving a TPA whose parent holding company also went bankrupt and whose funds were “completely commingled.” The department learned of the filing only after another state insurance department notified it, by which time employees had been dismissed and records and equipment were unavailable, Turek said.

“The funds were completely commingled and because of our delay in…we really weren't able to ascertain which funds belong to which clients,” Turek said.

Committee members asked whether earlier notice from the bankruptcy court would have reached the department and whether immediate notice to the department would meaningfully improve recovery for individual clients. Turek said he was not aware the department received formal notice before the process began and that earlier notification would likely have allowed the department to help ensure clients’ funds were returned more quickly. He noted the bankruptcy litigation has concluded.

Senators also raised a drafting question about the bill’s requirement that an administrator “immediately disclose” a bankruptcy filing, with Senator Warren asking whether the statute should define a specific deadline (for example, three or seven days). Turek said the department is open to working with the reviser and the committee to clarify a reasonable period for compliance.

Eileen told the committee the bill amends KSA 40‑38 7 (pertaining to collection of premiums and payment of claims by administrators) and KSA 40‑38 09 (pertaining to notices and disclosures required of administrators). The committee did not take a vote on the bill during the hearing. No opponents testified.

The committee closed the hearing on Senate Bill 21 with no further action recorded; supporters said the bill is intended to prevent recurrence of the recent commingling issue by requiring per‑payer fiduciary accounts and earlier notice of insolvency filings.

Senate Bill 21 may return for further drafting on the timing language for the bankruptcy disclosure requirement.","Senate Bill 21 would require third‑party administrators to keep separate fiduciary accounts for each payer and immediately notify the Kansas Insurance Commissioner of bankruptcy petitions under chapter 9 or 11; supporters said the change responds to a recent TPA bankruptcy in which client funds were commingled.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6366854,"Committee receives bill introductions on accreditation standards, dental loss ratio, and banking code change",190,41000,231000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37&start=41&end=231","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2159301-b9cdf0c886e27e8e816e935560fc8d37/thumbnail_41000.jpg","/articles/6366854/Kansas/Committee-receives-bill-introductions-on-accreditation-standards-dental-loss-ratio-and-banking-code-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6366854-8271f697fa73a624a3b3577971455f5f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135876&Signature=NM0sKH25NbN6p--TPNqBkuPWfhVCB2Exu6FE~RThlWexY0qT0IH16Z0tUmUKGF-S488p8-YO5ysI7xy8bWBdcyVcDWSwG9qHEXy3AFvVc4T1PI6ccM6Qvnei-7Qo15Gql1RkNRPjMsP2lv8VOj5Yrkgo~50jgHx98iwUgAcNyGXZEl69bsPWF63GRL5V1SkUc1tKR0xR40XhecJbjEiQY-FTXzA44i4Xz9lf1Ma1Bf~UcliYMnXi-pzCM5tCancgzgxHLPKNumustskmnq-OlFN48eWg83Z6vkxIVLBdnpEqpWccABwcYULJGDusS-Cc3lio~9DWvRjoYR8zQPZRCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the opening of the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance meeting members of several organizations requested that the committee introduce three legislative requests (RS):

- Eric Turek of the Kansas Department of Insurance requested RS0832, described briefly as concerning accreditation standards and an “annual date change” to make that date permanent.

- Kevin Robertson of the Kansas Dental Association requested RS0707 to create a dental loss ratio (DLR). Robertson said the proposal would define the calculation for a dental loss ratio, give oversight authority to the Insurance Commissioner, and include reporting and transparency requirements.

- Brock Railer, general counsel for the Office of State Bank Commissioner, requested RS0528 to amend the state banking code and repeal K.S.A. 16‑8 4 2. The committee asked whether members had objections; none were raised and staff said the requests would be entered.

The requests were presented at the committee opening and no hearings or testimony on the substance of those bills occurred during this meeting. Where the transcript did not specify further detail (for example, the exact statutory numbers or full text of proposed changes), the committee record notes the items as “not specified” and indicated the RS numbers will be entered for future consideration.","Three requests for bill introductions were presented: RS0832 (accreditation standards/annual date change) from the Department of Insurance; RS0707 from the Kansas Dental Association to create a dental loss ratio; and RS0528 from the Office of State Bank Commissioner to amend the state banking code and repeal K.S.A. 16‑8,42.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Panel hears bill to shorten insurer response time for complaints, allow longer value‑added pilot programs

Committee hears bill to require separate fiduciary accounts, bankruptcy notice from third-party administrators

Committee receives bill introductions on accreditation standards, dental loss ratio, and banking code change