Press Release

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty and Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine today (Friday 7/24) announced that they have renewed a partnership agreement that will ensure continuity of operations of mission critical functions in the event of a catastrophe that causes significant disruption to either state’s insurance regulatory operation.

Under the agreement, members of an affected state’s office will use temporary work spaces in the other state until the infrastructure has been adequately restored in either Tallahassee or Atlanta. The memorandum of understanding lays out the terms and conditions of the host state's support requirements as well as the responsibilities of the mobilizing state.

“I hope we never have to use this element of our disaster plan,” said Commissioner McCarty. “But it is important that we have this kind of arrangement in place so that we can quickly move our key operations and continue serving the people of Florida in the event of a significant disaster. I want to thank Commissioner Oxendine for his involvement and cooperation."

The essential elements of the agreement are as follows:

Host state will provide space for 20 employees for a period of 45 days
Host state will provide logistical support to include a limited number of laptop and desktop computers, Internet capabilities and fax machines
Mobilizing state will be responsible for paying for expenses incurred
Mobilizing state will use cell phones, where available, to limit long-distance phone costs to host state
Mobilizing state will promptly notify host state contacts when a disaster occurs and operations must be moved to the host state

Today’s agreement revises and replaces a previous agreement from February 2006.

About the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. The Office protects Florida consumers through regulatory oversight of: insurance company solvency, policy forms and rates, market conduct performance and new company entrants to the Florida market. For more information about the Office, please visit www.floir.com.