General Matters

General Matters. A. Description of Department –The Insurance Department generally regulates all insurance companies and their agents doing business in the State of Mississippi. The Department’s responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following: granting or withholding of charters, issuing certificates of authority; issuing licenses; approving policies, proxies, and advertising material; conducting hearings on rates; and any other matters affecting the regulation of the insurance industry in this state; administering and collecting surplus lines premium taxes; receiving and examining reports and financial statements from all insurance companies authorized to do business in this state; and preparing annual reports of the Insurance Commissioner. The Commissioner has the further responsibility for the promulgation of rules and regulations concerning the activities of insurance companies and insurance producers engaged in the business of insurance in this State. The Department is composed of several divisions that deal directly with the public including, but not limited to: • Producer Licensing; • Financial and Market Regulation; • Life and Health Actuarial; • Consumer Services; • Investigations and Consumer Protection; Property and Casualty Rating; • Legal. The Insurance Department of the State of Mississippi also houses the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The Commissioner of Insurance is by virtue of his office the State Fire Marshal and conducts investigations into all fires of a suspicious nature; ensures compliance with the Mississippi Fire Prevention Code, provides fire safety education, and regulates manufactured housing, liquefied compressed gas, electronic alarms, pyrotechnics and elevators/escalators. B. Office and Hours -The Office of the Department is located at Suite 1001, 501 N. West Street, Woolfolk State Office Building, in Jackson, Mississippi. The office shall be open during business hours each day, Saturday, Sunday, and holidays excepted. The mailing address of the Department is P. O. Box 79, Jackson, Mississippi 39205, and its telephone number is (601) 359-3569. C. Custody Of Records – The Commissioner shall have custody of the Seal and records of the Department including the transcripts of testimony and exhibits with all papers and requests filed in proceedings, the minutes of all actions taken by the Department and all of its findings, determinations, reports, opinions, orders, rules, regulations, and approved forms. D. Public Records – Except as limited by Miss. Code Ann. §§25-61-9 and 25-61-11, and any other applicable statutory restriction, all public records of the Department are available to the public and may be inspected or copied at the office of the Department. a. Records Request - A public records request may be made by using the Department’s online public records request system, which can be found at the Department’s website: www.mid.ms.gov , or it may be made by written request or by telephone. If a request is made verbally, the requestor may be asked to also submit a written request. b. Copies of Records - Copies may be requested and shall be made under the supervision of Department personnel. Records may also be provided by e-mail or by providing scanned copies on a compact disc. The Department may not be able to produce the records in any other type of requested format, such as an electronic format. The Department shall prepare an invoice pursuant to the Public Access Information Fee Schedule located on the Department’s website. The fees shall be collected by the Department in advance of complying with the request pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. §25-61-7. c. Production Schedule - Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. §25-61-5, the Public Records Request will be fulfilled within seven (7) working days of the submission of the request. After seven (7) working days, MID will either produce the requested documents, will request an additional seven (7) working days, or another date that is mutually agreed upon by the parties .Denials by the Department for a request for access to or copies of public records shall be in writing and shall contain a statement of the specific reasons for the denial. Some information produced may contain publicly identifiable information or exempted information that is not subject to disclosure. MID will redact that information before producing the public documents as provided in Miss. Code Ann. §§25-61-9 and 25-61-11. E. Computation Of Time – In computing the time period within which an act must be performed, the first day shall be excluded and the last day shall be included, but if the last day shall fall on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then the next business day shall be construed as the last day.