NU Online News Service, May 8, 6:03 p.m. – The New York State Insurance Department is asking all insurers authorized to do business in the state to help it root out terrorism.
The department says each insurer must designate a primary intelligence officer and a secondary intelligence officer by May 31.
The New York department will give the primary intelligence officers access to the New York Information Network, a new, Web-based, password-protected service that will distribute intelligence-related information to insurers and give insurers a fast, secure channel for sending information to senior insurance regulators.
The department will also pass any terrorism-related information or advice for individual insurers through the primary intelligence officers. When the department cannot reach the primary officers, it will try to reach the secondary officers.
Gregory Serio, superintendent of insurance, announced the creation of the information network and the new insurance intelligence officer system Friday, in Circular Letter Number 12.
Serio, whose predecessor, Neil Levin, died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the New York World Trade Center, warns insurers in the circular letter against trying to assign the intelligence officer jobs to low-level employees.
