Bill Text: NJ S587 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Creates office to advocate for consumers on insurance issues.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee [S587 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S587-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Middlesex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
SYNOPSIS
Creates office to advocate for consumers on insurance issues.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning advocacy for consumers on insurance and supplementing P.L.1996, c.45 (C.17:1-13 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. There is established in, but not of, the Division of Insurance in the Department of Banking and Insurance an Office of the New Jersey Consumer Insurance Advocate. The position of advocate shall be filled through an appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years and shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. Any vacancy occurring in the position of advocate shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If the advocate shall be unable for any reason to serve a full term of office, the Governor may designate an acting advocate until a successor is appointed and qualified. The advocate shall have at least a baccalaureate degree and at least five years' experience in property and casualty or life and health insurance, which may include experience as a broker or an agent.
b. The appointed individual shall have the responsibility to advocate on behalf of consumers in the State, including before the State Legislature, the Executive and Judicial branches of the State, and any political subdivisions, on matters regarding any line of insurance provided for in New Jersey law.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill creates an Office of the New Jersey Consumer Insurance Advocate, to be in, but not of, the Division of Insurance in the Department of Banking and Insurance. The position of advocate is to be filled through an appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of four years and to be performed at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office. Any vacancy occurring in the position of advocate is to be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. If the advocate is unable for any reason to serve a full term of office, the Governor may designate an acting advocate until a successor is appointed and qualified. The advocate is to have at least a baccalaureate degree and five years' experience in property and casualty or life and health insurance, which may include experience as a broker or an agent.
Under the bill, the individual appointed is to advocate on behalf of consumers in the State, including before the State Legislature, the Executive and Judicial branches of the State, and any political subdivisions, on matters regarding any line of insurance provided for in New Jersey law.
