Registry and Report on Slavery Era Insurance

MARTIN O'MALLEY Governor ANTHONY G. BROWN Lt. Governor [LOGO] INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION RALPH S. TYLER Commissioner BETH SAMMIS KAREN STAKEM HORNIG Deputy Commissioners 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 1-800-492-6116 TTY: 1-800-735-2258 www.mdinsurance.state.md.us # BULLETIN 09-32 Date: December 18, 2009 To: All Property & Casualty Insurers and Interested Parties Re: Registry and Report on Slavery Era Insurance During the 2009 Legislative Session, the Maryland General Assembly adopted Insurance Article, Title 30, Annotated Code of Maryland. The newly added title obligates insurers to produce documents relating to slaveholder insurance policies issued in Maryland during the slavery era, defined in the new title as the years prior to 1865. The new title also requires the Maryland Insurance Commissioner (Commissioner) to issue a report based on the information provided by insurers regarding slaveholder insurance policies. In December 2009, the Commissioner adopted new chapter COMAR 31.16.09 Registry and Report on Slavery Era Insurance. The new chapter specifies the form and content of reports to be provided by insurers pursuant to § 30-102(c) of the Insurance Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. While the new chapter was awaiting final adoption, the Commissioner received several inquires regarding the applicability of the new chapter. Several insurers noted that they were not in existence during the slavery era, and neither were their holding companies. These insurers questioned whether they would be required to report pursuant to Insurance Article, § 30-102(a), Annotated Code of Maryland, if the insurer was not in existence prior to 1865. In order to ensure a complete and accurate report, the Commissioner will require all insurers to report pursuant to the new chapter and Title 30 of the Insurance Article. Any questions regarding this Bulletin should be directed to the Government Relations & Policy Development Unit at (410) 468-2202. Ralph S. Tyler Insurance Commissioner By: Signature on file with original document Tinna Damaso Quigley Director of Government Relations and Policy Development