Quick Links   IIAG Lobbyist Georgia IPAC Georgia Grass Roots U.S. House of Representatives (Ga.) U.S. Senators (Ga.) Insurpac IIABA Grass Roots IIABA Governmental Affairs Page Resources Who We Are Membership Application Why Join IIAG Errors & Ommissions Insurance   Governmental Affairs Since 1897, IIAG has supported pro-business legislation and regulation that keeps the insurance climate in Georgia healthy, ensuring that the future of the independent agency system stays viable.   IIAG is a high-impact organization on legislative issues in Georgia, as well as on the federal level in D.C.  No other insurance agents’ group comes close to having the    influence of IIAG and IIABA.   The Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia operates an active and effective governmental affairs program.   At the state level, IIAG works closely with the legislative and executive branches of government to  ensure that government policy and action are consistent with the interest of agents, the insurance industry, and the insurance-buying public. How IIAG lobbying efforts worked for YOU in 2011 HB 66 (Rep. Maxwell, Dallas) addresses agents’ longstanding problems with certificates of insurance:   A certificate is: A synopsis of coverage A snapshot of coverage as it exists at the time the cert is issued Provided for information purposes A certificate is not: A contract with the certificate holder A document conferring rights on the certificate holder, a party with which neither the agent nor the company has a business relationship of any kind A document which alters coverage in any way HB 66 makes two substantive changes to the law.  First, it requires that certificate forms be filed with and approved by the Insurance Commissioner.  The second substantive change puts cert holders under the  regulatory authority of the Insurance Commissioner. HB 66 took effect on July 1, 2011.  The Insurance Department is working on a regulation to help implement the law.  IIAG has made suggestions to the Department concerning the content of the regulation. IIAG's Professional Lobbyist on the Scene IIAG's lobbyist, Gould Hagler, CAE, AAI, represents the membership at the General Assembly, the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's Offices, and the Georgia Insurance Department. Ranked in the top ten lobbyists in the state, Gould monitors legislative and regulatory action and makes sure that IIAG members' views are presented effectively. Contact Gould by email ghagler@iiag.org or call 770-458-0093 ext. 101.   Power of the PAC The U.S. Congress is constantly considering legislation that can potentially affect independent insurance agents and brokers on issues including taxes, regulation, licensing, federal programs and much more.  The success of the independent agency system today and down the road is largely dependent on staying active in the political process and encouraging others in the industry to do the same.   Political Action Committees (PACs) are one of the quickest and most effective ways to become engaged in this process.   InsurPac is the Big “I”’s federal political action committee and it is one of the largest P&C insurance industry PAC in the nation.   IIAG Gets the Job Done Georgia Honored with Maurice G. Herndon National Legislative Award in 2009 The Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia was honored with the prestigious Maurice G. Herndon National Legislative Award on April 30 in recognition of its outstanding governmental affairs achievements in 2008.Awarded annually by IIABA and the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois, the Herndon Award is bestowed upon the state association whose legislative achievements on behalf of IIABA members have been deemed most outstanding. The honor is named after the former head of IIABA's government affairs operation. IIABA presented the honor to National Director Jack Sherrill, IIAG President Bryan Burke and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Royal during the breakfast session at the National Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The Georgia association was honored for its effectiveness in representing its members' interests before the state's legislature and department of insurance and the active role it takes in IIABA's overall government affairs program and InsurPac, the association's political action committee (PAC). A key success in for IIAG in 2008 was the adoption of S.B. 276, the rate modernization bill. Private passenger auto rates and rating plans are now effective upon filing in the state of Georgia and do not require prior approval of the Commissioner. Georgia IPAC   IIAG administers Georgia IPAC, the Independent Agents of Georgia Political Action Committee. Member agencies have built the largest P & C PAC in Georgia which supports pro-business candidates for the House of Representatives, the Senate, and selected statewide races GrassRoots The most important element in IIAG’s governmental affairs program is the association's grassroots program. IIAG communicates regularly with its members to keep them informed on legislative and regulatory issues. Members act when necessary and make sure that government officials hear from the people who count the most - agents from their own districts. IIAG believes that agents are their own best advocates, and devotes considerable resources to keep them up-to-date through The Dec Page and the Capitol Report.