The NAIC has taken another step toward approving model legislation that would require the fingerprinting of insurance agents, but not of company executives.

The NAIC’s Market Regulation & Consumer Affairs (D) Committee passed the Authorization for Criminal History Record Check Model Act on to the Executive/Plenary Committee on Tuesday, March 7 2006. The version of the model passed by the Committee also did not include a provision establishing a centralized fingerprint repository, which had become a major focus of controversy when Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken has halted her department’s participation an NAIC pilot repository.

The model passed by the Committee does not include language exempting securities dealers.  Language including officers and directors of insurance companies in the fingerprint requirements was also deleted. 

With these changes, the Committee quickly passed the model, taking no comments from interested parties. sent the Fingerprint Model Act to the NAIC’s Executive Committee and Plenary.  

What It Means to Agents:  PIA National will continue to monitor this issue and work on more palatable alternatives.

March 14, 2006