Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Rescinding Temporary Producer Licensing

WEST VIRGINIA INSURANCE BULLETIN No. 20 – 06a Insurance Bulletins are issued when the Commissioner renders formal opinions, guidance or expectations on matters or issues, explains how new statutes or rules will be implemented or applied, or advises of interpretation or application of existing statutes or rules. ► Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Temporary Licensure of Producers ◄ As of May 19, 2020, the Commissioner has been advised that third-party vendors under contract with the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner to provide producer testing and fingerprinting services have begun to reopen their facilities and are currently operating at approximately 50% capacity using appropriate physical distancing, cleaning and other precautions in accordance with governmental reopening guidelines. Therefore, because there is no longer a need for temporary licensure of producers, Bulletin No. 20-06 is hereby rescinded, in its entirety, and replaced by this Bulletin. All temporary licenses issued pursuant to Bulletin No. 20-06 shall expire and be null and void at midnight, August 31, 2020, at which time anyone holding such temporary license will no longer be licensed, will immediately revert to the status of applicant, and must complete all the usual requirements for licensure in order to obtain a producer license. Applicants, producers and others may contact Rob Grishaber, Director of Licensing & Education, at (304) 414-8412 or Robert.E.Grishaber@wv.gov with questions regarding this Bulletin. Dated: May 20, 2020 On March 17, 2020, the C producers ommissioner issued Bulletin No. 20-06 addressing the temporary licensure of insurance producers during the novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The need for temporary licensure of arose because third-party vendors under contract with the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner to provide producer testing and fingerprinting services had suspended and were continuing to suspend operations and/or close facilities in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The suspension of operations and/or closure of facilities by these third-party vendors quickly resulted in a backlog of producer licensure applications and action by the Commissioner was necessary to alleviate the backlog, prevent it from further increasing, and to facilitate continuity of operations by agencies, brokerages and other producers in the State of West Virginia.