California Department of Insurance News

Insurers Get Tax Credits for Investments in Underserved California Communities

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Thursda announced $9.3 million in tax credits awarded to insurance companies and other investors that made more than $46.6 million in capital investments into California’s underserved communities through the second round of the 2015 …

California School Security Officer Arrested for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Valentino H. Douglas, 45, of Rialto, Calif., was arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on multiple counts of felony insurance fraud after receiving more than $112,000 in workers’ compensation benefits for an alleged work injury that actually …

Workers’ Comp Hearing Rep. in California Caught Cashing Dead Client’s Settlement

A California workers’ compensation hearing officer was arrested for allegedly trying to steal a settlement check from his client. Department of Insurance detectives arrested Ramon Humerto Otero, 37, of Adelanto, and Efrain Heredia Ojeda, 43, of Corona, on multiple felony …

Survey: Insurers Spent $1.52B with Diverse California Suppliers Last Year

Diverse California businesses supplied $1.52 billion in goods and services to insurance companies last year, according to a survey by the California Department of Insurance. The 2014 tally was a $587 million increase since 2012, according to Insurance Commissioner Dave …

Wildfires, and Now El Niño May Boost Californian’s Appetites for Surplus Lines

There’s little question that the drought and the recent wildfire season that it unleashed pushed more California homeowners into the surplus lines market. Now with the onset of what appears to be a strong El Niño this week in the …

FEMA Urges Californians to Buy Flood Insurance Ahead of El Nin᷈o

Federal emergency officials are urging Californians to buy flood insurance – even those who don’t live near creeks or rivers – as El Nin᷈o conditions get underway in the Pacific Ocean, increasing chances for heavy storms this winter. Roy Wright, …

California Commissioner Approves Reduced 2016 Pure Premium Rate Filing

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones approved workers’ compensation rates for 2016 that are 2 percent below the average approved in July. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau submitted its Jan. 1, 2016 pure premium rate filing to the California Department …

Insurers in Massive California Fires Agree to Claim Handling Reforms

Insurers handling wildfire damage from the Valley and Butte wildfires last month in Northern California has agreed to a claims handling process to help fire victims begin their recovery more quickly, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced on Wednesday. More than …

California Governor Signs Bill Dealing with Insurance Code

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1515, which clarifies and corrects sections in the insurance code. The omnibus bill was authored by the Assembly Committee on Insurance and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. AB 1515 restores the requirement …

California Blazes Destroy 2,000-plus Homes, Curb Insurer Appetites

A pair of massive California wildfires that have destroyed more than 2,000 structures are now considered among the most damaging fires in state history, and they could change the way insurers view risk or conduct underwriting in rural areas in …