In some states, such as Delaware, the authority already exists, according to Delaware Deputy Insurance Commissioner Peter Stone.
Exempting producers who are serving on active duty outside of Delaware is covered by statute and regulation, Stone says. General licensing requirements are covered in 18 Del. Code 1707(h) as well as in Regulation 47, which specifically addresses continuing education requirements.
The exemption request was raised recently during the NAICs spring meeting by the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies, Fairfax, Va.
The request asked that each state insurance commissioner waive continuing education requirements for insurance producers during any calendar year in which the producer is called into active duty.
In a letter to regulators, Jack Dewald, chairman of NAILBA, wrote, "Our citizen soldiers are guaranteed their jobs when they return from the military. We must ensure producers remain qualified to perform those jobs. Waiving CE requirements will enable producers to return to work immediately and support their families."
Reproduced from National Underwriter Edition, March 24, 2003. Copyright 2003 by The National Underwriter Company in the serial publication. All rights reserved. Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
