Department seeks modernization of market‑conduct and licensing rules, with consumer protections for paperless notices

House Bill 64‑37, presented to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee, would modernize a range of insurance licensing and market‑conduct provisions, the Connecticut Insurance Department said.

Commissioner Andrew Mays outlined measures in the bill: authorize more efficient electronic transmission of notices and documents, permit remote audits of third‑party administrators, introduce a time limit for insurers to report producer terminations for cause, and remove outdated requirements for an annual automobile‑fraud report and mandatory on‑site audits of third‑party administrators because comparable data are available from the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Mays said the changes are intended to "improve and streamline department" operations and promote efficiency, but he emphasized consumer protections for any move to electronic communications. On the question of opt‑in versus opt‑out for digital communications, Mays said he would prefer an opt‑out for consumers, explaining that some groups need paper and outreach: "If the consumer says they wanna do this, that is 1 thing... If she had to do this online Right. Get it done." He illustrated the point with a personal example about his 95‑year‑old grandmother to underscore access concerns.

Representatives asked about remote audits and the department answered that remote auditing is an accepted, efficient alternative to site visits when technology permits. The transcript excerpts do not show a committee vote on HB 64‑37.