Florida Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services Initiates Rulemaking on Property Insurance Mediator Regulations
Oct 25, 2016
The Florida Department of Financial Services’ (“DFS”) Division of Insurance Agent and Agency Services has published a Notice of Rule Development for the following proposed Rules relating to property insurance mediators:
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Florida’s DFS administers two insurance claim mediation programs:
The first program is for property insurance claims (homeowner and commercial residential) pursuant to section 627.7015, F.S., and the second program is for automobile insurance claims pursuant to section 627.745, F.S.
The mediators must be approved by the DFS to conduct such mediations.
The requirements for approval as a DFS mediator in paragraph 627.745(3)(b), F.S. were amended in 2014 to allow an individual who possesses an active certification as a Florida Supreme Court certified circuit court mediator to qualify as a DFS mediator. The amendment also grandfathered in current and active DFS mediators if they conducted at least one mediation for DFS from July 1, 2010, through July 1, 2014.
Paragraph 627.7015(4)(b), F.S. was amended to require the DFS to adopt rules for the denial of applications, suspension, revocation, and other penalties for mediators as provided in section 627.745, F.S., and the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators.
Subsection 627.745(4), F.S., sets forth the grounds for the denial of an application and for the suspension or revocation of the approval of a mediator.
The proposed Rules establish mediator qualifications, specify grounds for the denial of applications, and specify grounds for the suspension or revocation of mediator approval.
To view the Notice of Rule Development, click here.
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