20-127. Fire insurance review task force; membership; duties; annual report; public posting

472 words·~2 min read·/az/title-20/20-127

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(Rpld. 1/1/28)

A. The fire insurance review task force is established in the department and consists of the following members:

1. The director of the department or the director's designee, who shall serve as chairperson of the task force.

2. Two members who are appointed by the director, one of whom is an employee of an insurance company that represents the homeowners insurance industry.

3. One member who is appointed by the director of the department and who represents a wildfire risk reduction organization that is informed on wildfire risk.

4. The state forester or the state forester's designee, who shall serve as vice chairperson of the task force.

5. Four members who are appointed by the state forester and who have expertise in wildfire areas and wildfire prevention and mitigation.

B. Appointed members serve two-year terms beginning and ending on the third Monday in January and may be reappointed for not more than two consecutive terms. On the expiration of a member's term, the member may continue to serve until that member is reappointed to another term or a new member is appointed.

C. Any vacancy in the membership shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

D. The department shall provide the task force with both of the following:

1. The annual aggregated and deidentified insurance premium and policy coverage data reported by insurers pursuant to section 20-123.

2. The total number of consumer complaints for the calendar year that is related to nonrenewal or cancellation of homeowners policies due to risk of fire loss and related to increases in homeowners insurance premiums.

E. The task force shall:

1. Review the data received from the department.

2. Identify possible current and historic trends in homeowners coverage availability, insurance rates, nonrenewal and cancellation.

3. Review data related to fire risk mitigation science and make recommendations related to building codes, defensible space requirements and ordinances that reduce the risk of wildfire.

F. The task force may establish ad hoc work groups to carry out the purposes of this section and consult with experts in the field of wildfire risks and the impact of wildfires and wildfire risk on homeowners insurance premiums.

G. The task force shall hold at least four meetings per calendar year.

H. Task force members are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses under title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

I. On or before December 31 of each year, the task force shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the minority leader of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the senate and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state and the department. The director shall post the report on the department's website.