Michigan’s Office Of Regulatory Reinvention Appoints Area Residents To Its Insurance And Finance Advisory Rules Committee

On May 27, 2011, the Office of Regulatory Reinvention ("ORR"), a division of Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ("LARA"), appointed thirteen individuals to its Insurance and Finance Advisory Rules Committee ("IFARC"). The ORR was created under Executive Order 2011-5, which required the ORR to establish certain Advisory Rules Committees in order to obtain input from a wide range of stakeholders.¹

According to LARA, the IFARC will assist the ORR with identifying duplicative, obsolete, unnecessary, or unduly restrictive rules affecting the insurance, banking, and finance industries.² The IFARC will issue a report to the ORR containing advisory recommendations upon the completion of its work.

As of May 27, 2011, the ORR had identified approximately 575 rules to be evaluated by the IFARC appointees based upon the factors enumerated in Executive Order 2011-5, including: (1) the health and safety benefits of the rules, (2) the cost of compliance with the rules, and (3) whether the rules are duplicative or obsolete.³ After reviewing the IFARC's final report and recommendations, the ORR will ultimately submit its findings and recommendations to Governor Snyder.

The ORR appointed the following thirteen individuals to serve on the IFARC:

• Bill Berenson, Lansing, Michigan Market President, AETNA;
• Lorray Brown, Ypsilanti, Michigan Poverty Law Program;
• Patty Campbell, Roseville, President & CEO, Christian Financial Credit Union;
• Kevin Clinton, East Lansing, Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation (OFIR) Commissioner;
• Mark Cook, Lansing, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, BCBSM;
• Allan Daniels, Bloomfield Hills, President, AA Mortgage Corp.;
• David Field, Northville, Regional Counsel, Law and Regulation, Allstate Insurance Company;
• Kurt Gallinger, Brighton, Vice President & Counsel - Government Relations, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company;
• Lawrence Kish, Okemos, President and General Counsel, Life Insurance Association of Michigan;
• W. Howard Morris, Detroit, President & Chief Investment Officer, Prairie & Tireman;
• Robert Pierce, Lansing, CEO, Michigan Association of Insurance Agents;
• Jeanne Richter, Williamston, President/CEO, Farmers State Bank of Munith; and
• Robert Worthington, Grand Rapids, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Risk Management Director, Mercantile Bank of Michigan.

According to Steve Hilfinger, Michigan's Chief Regulatory Officer, director of the ORR, and chair of the IFARC, "Michigan is fortunate to have so many highly-credentialed citizens excited to serve and put in the time necessary to make Michigan's regulatory system more efficient and effective."⁴

Hilfinger also noted that "all members of the regulated community - including insurers, credit unions, banks, and consumers - will have their voices heard on this committee."⁵

Footnotes

1See EXECUTIVE ORDER 2011-5, State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (February 23, 2011) (http://www.michigan.gov/documents/snyder/2011-5_346312_7.pdf).

2 OFFICE OF REGULATORY REINVENTION APPOINTS MEMBERS TO THE INSURANCE AND FINANCE ADVISORY RULES COMMITTEE, Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (May 27, 2011) (http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,1607,7-154-10576_35738-256951--,00.html)

3 Id.

4Id.

5Id.

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