Procedural Updates

The November 2021 SMART release includes updates to existing Broker Search/Edit components, such as creation and maintenance of insurer contracts and an improved layout for online filing user maintenance. Additionally, users may now utilize the SMART system to reset passwords instead of using the System Password Reset Request form from SLTX’s website. In most cases, users may now utilize the “Forgot Password?” link from the SMART landing page instead of submitting a password reset request through SLTX. Most significantly, November’s SMART release includes Manual Filing (or Data Entry) transactions. Users may now enter New Policy or New Binder filings in SMART, utilizing the Transaction Entry User Guide as necessary.

We encourage you to contact SLTX’s TechSupport team to schedule an individualized discussion on how existing SMART features can improve your agencies online filing experience. Additionally, TechSupport can schedule in-depth SMART trainings for you and your agency based on your processes, workflows, and lines of business.

For your convenience, previous SMART releases  API, Report, Advanced Search, and Export capabilities are attached. Testing is underway for External Filing to include additional manually input transactions within SMART. The following transactions are expected in the December release: Renewal Policy and Binder, New and Renewal Policy Replacing Binder.

Note: All current processes and procedures in EFS remain available and will work concurrently with SMART until all features are fully delivered in 2022.

With each new release or significant deployment, additional notifications will be sent to all Electronic Filing System (EFS) users. These notifications may also be found on our website under News>Procedural Updates.

SMART’s Agent User Guide is updated with each release and may be obtained directly from SLTX’s TechSupport team for any agency ready to utilize SMART’s features. Contact SLTX Tech Support by email or phone (512) 531-1880 or (800) 681-5848 with any questions.

The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas has added new content to its website!

New Additions include:

• Required Disclosure for Occupational Policies form (effective 1/1/2022)
• Title 5, Chapter 564. Disclosures for the Sale of Certain Occupational Insurance Policies State Law
• Broker FAQ: Which “occupational” policies require a separate disclosure relating to an employer not maintaining workers’ compensation insurance?

These additions can be found through links provided or on our website. Please contact the SLTX Tech Support team by email or phone at (512) 531-1880 or (800) 681-5848 with any questions.

The Stamping Office Board of Directors held a meeting on October 28, 2021. The meeting was conducted in person and via teleconference. The board discussed various topics on the agenda including approval of previous board minutes, 2022 Budget, Konica Minolta SOW, Global Search update, S&P Global Software Agreement, and the Headspring 2022 SOW.

This is a broad summary of the meeting and not intended to reflect official meeting minutes or detail the scope of any actions taken by the board. Once minutes are reviewed and approved by the Board, they will be added to the website under board minutes.

The dates for the next Audit & Finance Committee meeting and Board of Directors meeting are to be announced. As always, board meetings are available to the public, and information will be posted as they are announced.

On September 22, 2021, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas held their Audit & Finance Committee meeting pursuance to section 2(c)(10) of SLTX’s Plan of Operation. The committee discussed agenda topics including approval of the previous meeting minutes, discussion over the Year-to-Date Financial Updates, and discussion over the proposed 2022 budget.

The committee also discussed and passed motions regarding the approval of previous meeting minutes as well as the proposed 2022 budget.

On September 23, 2021, the Stamping Office Board of Directors held their fourth meeting of the year. The meeting was held in person and via teleconference. The board discussed various topics on the agenda including approval of previous board minutes, Insurance policies, Executive Director update, Operations Department update, IT Department update, Finance & Audit committee discussions regarding the YTD Financial update, and the 2022 Budget.

The Board of Directors also discussed and passed motions regarding the approval of previous meeting minutes, Insurance policies, Headspring SOW, and the 2022 budget.

This is a broad summary of the meeting and not intended to reflect official meeting minutes or detail the scope of any actions taken by the board. Once minutes are reviewed and approved by the Board, they will be added to the website under board minutes.

The dates for the next Audit & Finance Committee meeting and Board of Directors meeting are to be announced. As always, board meetings are available to the public, and information will be posted as they are announced.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Cassie Brown as the new Texas Commissioner of Insurance. Brown is the current Chief Executive of the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). Prior to this role, she served as Commissioner of the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

With more than 20 years of public service experience, Brown has overseen various regulations, markets, and activities related to the Surplus Lines industry.

She received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from St. Edward’s University and attended the Governor’s Executive Development Program at The University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs.

For more information on the new Commissioner, please utilize TDI’s website.

SLTX recorded $767.1M in Texas surplus lines premium during the month of August, totaling $6.18B year-to-date. This results in a 6.9% (or $49M) increase and a 14.9% increase in YTD premiums compared to the same period in 2020, making it the highest recorded August for SLTX and the 7th largest premium in SLTX’s 33-year history.

Several lines of business demonstrated significant increases when compared to August 2020. The most notable growth was Property Multi-Peril / Package (residential, commercial, and historical codes) coverage, which rose $21.7M (or 113.9%). Additionally, Commercial General Liability and Allied Lines (residential, commercial, and historical codes) coverages recorded growth, up $20.9M (or 25.4%) and $11.2M (or 181.1%) respectively.

August 2021also showed a 3.5% decrease in the overall number of transactions filed (90,984) over the same period in 2020, resulting in a 0.7% decrease in transactions filed YTD. This same period also reflected a 7.7% decrease in policies filed (58,878), resulting in a 3.2% decrease YTD.

As with prior months, 56.8% of premium reported this month is attributed to renewal policies, which accounted for 37.1% of the items reported. Additionally, 38.7% of premium (and 27.6% of the items) reported is related to new business, and the remaining 4.5% of the premium (and 35.3% of the items) is a result of non-policy transactions such as endorsements, cancellations, audits, installments, etc.

Texas surplus lines premiums will continue to trend with the existing hard-market conditions into the fall, including results of the changes to the diligent effort requirements (TX87 SB1367). SLTX will continue monitoring the Texas surplus lines market and share additional data as it is recorded, or analysis is completed.

Jeffrey M. Klein has been appointed to the SLTX Board of Directors as a non-public member with a term ending December 31, 2023, by the Texas Department of Insurance.

Klein currently serves as Of Counsel to DC-based insurance regulatory firm, McIntyre & Lemon, PLLC. His practice includes counseling insurance carriers, brokers, agents, financial institutions, and advocacy before state banking and insurance regulators, including the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Klein holds over 40 years of experience representing insurance carriers, brokers, and financial institutions in regulatory and government relations matters. Prior to this position, he served with an insurance trade association, a carrier, a major broker, and its parent bank.

Prior to his role as a member of the SLTX Board of Directors, Mr. Klein served on the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB), Legal Counsels Working Group, the AIA Government Affairs Committee, NAIC SERFF Board (an industry-NAIC collaboration on rate/form filings reform and on the NAIC Industry Liaison Committee), numerous American Bankers Association committees, a number of state bankers associations, and was a member of the Financial Services Roundtable Insurance Working Group.

He received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and his B.A. in political science from New York University (Cum Laude). He is admitted to practice in New York and North Carolina and works primarily from Charlotte, North Carolina.