Licensing

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis announced the Department of Financial Services’ emergency adjuster license system has been activated to support homeowners’ and businesses’ efforts to get back on their feet following the impacts of Hurricane Sally in the Florida Panhandle.

From the Monday, September 21, 2020 Press Release

The below is from the bulletin.

March 24, 2020

To:   All TDI-regulated carriers, agents, adjusters, and licensees

Re:   COVID-19: Suspension of certain licensing requirements and fees

On March 13, 2020, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor authorized the use of all available state and local government resources necessary to cope with the disaster.

TDI expects carriers to work with their policyholders as they prepare for and respond to the spread of COVID-19. Carriers should look to the Governor’s ongoing declarations related to COVID-19 for guidance on how long to extend relief.

"As the nation continues to recover from the damage caused by hurricanes, floods and fires from coast to coast, we are reminded yet again that unforeseen, life-changing disasters can strike at any time. After the initial chaos subsides, it’s only natural that those affected would want to move quickly to start rebuilding their lives.

For many, the first step is a call to the insurance company, who should be able to resolve claims promptly, offering timely financial assistance when it’s needed most. But unfortunately, a complicated patchwork of state laws governing claims adjusters provides exactly the opposite: an inefficient, time-consuming, and expensive process that fails to serve the needs of consumers in the wake of a disaster."

As of October 15, 2014, Governor Neil Abercrombie signed an emergency proclamation in anticipation of the arrival of Tropical Storm Ana, which is forecast to impact the state this weekend, possibly as a hurricane. 

Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) § 431:9-201(b), Insurance Commissioner Gordon I. Ito has determined that nonresident adjusters can operate in the state without a Hawaii license to assist with the anticipated amount of work that could be more than current capacity in the islands. 

The Insurance Division wants to ensure that adjusters and insurance companies will be able to respond to the homeowners' needs within a reasonable time.  Nonresident adjusters must comply with the following in order to operate in the state without a license pursuant to this statute for up to 30 days from the date of registration:  see the attached pdf for additional details

“The last hurricane that hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and Kauai took the brunt of the damage,” said Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito. “Hurricane Iniki caused almost $2 billion in damages, which is about $3 billion in today’s dollars. It can take just one major storm to cause severe property damage, and we urge you to be prepared.”