Commissioner Lara statement on San Bernardino County Supervisors’ resolution supporting the goals of his Sustainable Insurance Strategy
News: 2024 Press Release
LOS ANGELES — Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara today released the following statement regarding the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors passing a unanimous resolution last June calling on Commissioner Ricardo Lara, Governor Gavin Newsom, and the State Legislature to declare a State of Emergency and take immediate measures to expand insurance coverage options, streamline the approval process, and ensure the long-term viability of both the homeowners' and commercial insurance markets — actions the California Department of Insurance has been undertaking through the Sustainable Insurance Strategy:
“Since June 1, more than 25 wildfires have raged across California prompting evacuations and threatening our communities. I understand the challenges consumers throughout the state are facing and the need for action. The regulatory goals set forth in San Bernardino County’s recent resolution support the ambitious reforms set forth in my Sustainable Insurance Strategy set into motion last September.
“My Department is moving with all deliberate speed — balancing the urgency of the issue with the need for transparency — on several actions to move forward with the state’s largest insurance reform in 30 years since the passage of Prop. 103 in 1988.
“I appreciate the County’s support of our urgent on-going regulatory work to solve this insurance crisis and stabilize our state’s insurance marketplace in order to benefit and protect consumers while increasing the availability of insurance.
“We want fair and modern regulations, not overregulation that will ultimately harm consumers. To date and up through the end of this year, my Department will have completed several regulations, administrative actions, and open public meetings to transform our state’s insurance marketplace that results in more insurance companies returning and expanding in all areas of our state.
“We will continue to assist San Bernardino County, and all California counties, as we urgently continue to take on this unprecedented insurance crisis."
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Media note:
The resolution can be found at https://sanbernardino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=13051512&GUID=0CC21CF4-0DC5-4B96-845D-47EAD824B95D
Led by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace and safeguards all of the state’s consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner’s direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, oversee insurer solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud. Consumers are urged to call 1-800-927-4357 with any questions or contact us at www.insurance.ca.gov via webform or online chat. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800-927-4357. Teletypewriter (TTY), please dial 800-482-4833.
