memo

LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR JAMES R. AIONA, JR. LT. GOVERNOR • STATE OF HAWAII INSURANCE DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS P. 0. BOX 3614 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96811-3614 250 S. KING ST., 5TH FLOOR HONOLULU, HAWAl'I 96813 June 20, 2003 • MARKE. RECKTENWALD DIRECTOR J. P. SCHMIDT INSURANCE COMMISSIONER Memorandum 2003- lLC MEMORANDUM TO: Continuing Education Course Providers FROM: J.P. Schmidt, Insurance Commissioner SUBJECT: Act 55, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003 New Insurance Code Provisions Relating to Continuing Education Course Providers This memorandum is intended to provide continuing education course providers with information on Act 55 of the 2003 Legislative Session which adopts new provisions relating to continuing education for insurance licensees. Attached is a copy of Act 55 which became effective on May 13, 2003 upon Governor Linda Lingle's signature. The provisions of Act 55 will be recorded into Hawaii Revised Statutes and, shortly thereafter, a copy of the pertinent portions of Hawaii Revised Statutes shall be distributed to you. Course providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new law. Act 55 adopts, for the most part, the Insurance Division's current continuing education procedures. As such, we wish to direct your attention to just a few provisions: 1) The course provider is responsible for providing course schedules at least thirty days prior to the start date of each class. See Act 55, Session Laws of Hawaii 2003, page 4, lines 11-12. 2) The Commissioner may refuse to grant credit for course work that focuses on personal development, motivational or public speaking, salesmanship, product presentation, mechanical office skills, or subjects that are not related to the business of insurance. See Id. page 6, lines 5-15. 3) No course shall be approved for more than twenty credit hours. See Id. page 7, lines 1-2. 4) The course provider shall submit course completion information in an electronic form to the Insurance Division within forty-five days after the course is completed or the competency examination is scored. See Id. page 11, lines 14-19. 5) Credit Hour is defined for classroom instruction and self-study courses. See Id. page 14 lines 11-16. Memorandum 2003-lLC • June 20, 2003 Page 2 Finally, Act 55 supercedes the Midwest Zone Continuing Education Reciprocity agreement. The Insurance Division may review all courses and may grant credit hours in accordance with Hawaii's own statutory criteria. Hawaii continues to participate in the Midwest Zone Continuing Education Reciprocity Agreement, but Hawaii is bound to comply first with its own laws. If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Branch at (808) 586-2788.