Authority

Authority The 2005 Hurricane season has been extremely destructive for Mississippi. Extensive and devastating damage was caused by Hurricane Katrina, which hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, as a category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Katrina continued northward, blanketing the State and causing widespread major damage to homes, loss of personal belongings and corresponding loss of employment. In response in part to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Senate Bill 2381, 2006 Regular Legislative Session, was passed by the Mississippi Legislature, signed by Governor Barbour on March 1, 2006, and made effective that date. Pursuant to Senate Bill 2381, the Commissioner of Insurance has the authority to establish a non-adversarial alternative dispute resolution procedure for the handling of personal lines residential insurance claims. This Regulation is promulgated by the Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to the authority granted to him by Miss. Code Ann. §§ 83-5-1; 83-5-29 through 83-5-51; and 83-17-1 through 83-17-89 (Rev. 2001), Senate Bill 2381, 2006 Regular Legislative Session; as well as the provisions of Mississippi Department of Insurance Regulation No. 88-101, said regulation being the Rules of Practice and Procedure before the Mississippi Insurance Department.