FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 3, 2010

CONTACT:

Melissa Wheeler, Director-Public Policymaker Education The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation 623 High Street Worthington, Ohio 43085 P: 614-880-9870 F: 614-880-9872 [email protected]

STATE LEGISLATORS FROM SIXTEEN STATES ATTEND INSURANCE 101 SEMINAR Presentations include emerging issues and trends in Life & Health and Property & Casualty

COLUMBUS, OH (August 30, 2011)—Griffith Insurance Education Foundation conducted an Insurance 101 Seminar at The Ohio State University August 19-21, which was attended by twenty state legislators from sixteen states, eight of whom serve as Chair of their state insurance committee and four who serve as Vice Chairs. Information presented by noted professors in the field of risk management and insurance was intended to illustrate how insurance can be used to manage certain kinds of risk.

“After 29 years in office, this was one of the best conferences I have ever attended,” said Senator David O’Connell, Senate Minority Leader, North Dakota. “I am going home with a basic knowledge about insurance, and I would recommend this program to anyone.” Added Pennsylvania State Representative Marguerite Quinn, “I am in my third term in office, and I wish I knew about this seminar 3 terms ago.”

The seminar provided an overview of emerging trends and issues within both the Life & Health and Property & Casualty fields. Concepts ranged from the pooling of risks to workers comp and from globalization of insurance to the regulatory environment and health care reform. State Representative Wesley Richardson, Maine, Chair- Insurance and Financial Services Committee, not only called the program “terrific,” but illustrated its potential impact on legislative policy when he explained, “In our legislature, we have had a bill on fraud come before us twice, and I was opposed. After this program, I am now in favor.” The three day seminar featured academic sessions taught by Dr. John Fitzgerald of Ball State University, Griffith Foundation board member Dr. Vickie Bajtelsmit of Colorado State University, and Dr. Rob Drennan of Temple University. “The professors really talked about practical issues and brought it down to our level,” said Senator John McComish, Arizona Chair-Banking and Insurance Committee. The legislators also heard presentations from the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL), the National Insurance Crime Bureau and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The seminar's final day included two panel sessions. The first dealt with Life & Health insurance issues with representatives from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA), the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). The second panel covered Property & Casualty insurance, incorporating presentations by The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), The National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds (NCIGF), and The Insurance Information Institute (III).

All materials presented at the seminar can be viewed on the Griffith Foundation’s website at http://www.griffithfoundation.org/public-policy/resources/

Attending legislators included the following state senators: John Andreason (Idaho), Colin Bonini (Delaware), Bill Brown (Oklahoma), Maralyn Chase (Washington), Jack Crumbly (Arkansas), Swati Dandekar (Iowa), Travis Holdman (Indiana), Jean Hunhoff (South Dakota), John McComish (Arizona), and David O'Connell (North Dakota). State representatives in attendance included: Nancy McLain (Arizona), Robert Megna, (Connecticut), Reginald Murdock (Arkansas), Dawn Pettengill (Iowa), Marguerite Quinn (Pennsylvania), Wesley Richardson (Maine), Dan Saddler (Alaska), Michael Stinziano (Ohio), Dennis Williams (Delaware), and Ryan Yamane (Hawaii).

About The Griffith Insurance Education Foundation: The Griffith Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational institution that promotes the study and teaching of risk management and insurance. The Foundation offers risk management and insurance education programs and resources for students, teachers, academic institutions, and public policymakers. www.griffithfoundation.org