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SACRAMENTO – The Legislature on Friday approved a bill from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that would eliminate the confusion and delays caused by uninformed, out-of-state or multiple insurance adjusters during the 2017 North Bay wildfires.
Senate Bill 240 requires the California Department of Insurance to produce information on the most significant state insurance laws related to disasters and set training standards for agents handling catastrophic events. It also mandates that insurers provide a single point of contact for customers to make processing claims easier.
“After the devastating 2017 wildfires, we heard numerous complaints about insurance industry practices that delayed the processing of claims, and really, re-victimized the victims,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill will prevent that from happening again when the next fire or disaster strikes.”
SB 240, which would become the Insurance Adjuster Act of 2019, is supported by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara as well as state and local consumer advocates.
“As I have met with survivors of California’s devastating wildfires, I have seen first-hand that a well-trained insurance adjuster often makes the difference in resolving their claims,” said Commissioner Lara. “SB 240 will help ensure that out-of-state adjusters and insurers have the training to provide accurate information to survivor of future fires.”
“Legal Aid of Sonoma County assisted hundreds of wildfire survivors, many of whom faced insurmountable obstacles to rebuilding their lives,” said Ronit Rubinoff, Legal Aid’s executive director. “Much of the problem, which resulted in substantial financial loss, could have been avoided if a bill like SB 240 had been in place.”
SB 240 bill heads next to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a signature.
Sen. Bill Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Sen. Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd .
Senate Bill 240 requires the California Department of Insurance to produce information on the most significant state insurance laws related to disasters and set training standards for agents handling catastrophic events. It also mandates that insurers provide a single point of contact for customers to make processing claims easier.
“After the devastating 2017 wildfires, we heard numerous complaints about insurance industry practices that delayed the processing of claims, and really, re-victimized the victims,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill will prevent that from happening again when the next fire or disaster strikes.”
SB 240, which would become the Insurance Adjuster Act of 2019, is supported by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara as well as state and local consumer advocates.
“As I have met with survivors of California’s devastating wildfires, I have seen first-hand that a well-trained insurance adjuster often makes the difference in resolving their claims,” said Commissioner Lara. “SB 240 will help ensure that out-of-state adjusters and insurers have the training to provide accurate information to survivor of future fires.”
“Legal Aid of Sonoma County assisted hundreds of wildfire survivors, many of whom faced insurmountable obstacles to rebuilding their lives,” said Ronit Rubinoff, Legal Aid’s executive director. “Much of the problem, which resulted in substantial financial loss, could have been avoided if a bill like SB 240 had been in place.”
SB 240 bill heads next to Gov. Gavin Newsom for a signature.
Sen. Bill Dodd represents the Third Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Sen. Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd .
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is now accepting grant applications for its Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program and its Proactive Integrated Pest Management Solutions Program, administered by the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis.
Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program grants
The goal of the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program, or BIFS, is to fund on-farm demonstration and evaluation of innovative biologically-based farming systems that employ Integrated Pest Management, or IPM strategies.
CDFA is responsible for supporting agricultural production in California by fostering innovative, efficient and scientifically sound practices.
Applications are due on 5 p.m., Oct. 31, 2019.
Detailed information on the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems program, including the application process and requirements, is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/bifs.html.
The Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis received a one-time appropriation of $2 million for BIFS as part of the 2019-2020 budget that will be allocated in two blocks: $1 million in the current solicitation and another $1 million in 2020-2021.
Proactive IPM Solutions grants
The goal of the Proactive IPM Solutions Program is to anticipate exotic pests likely to arrive in California and to identify and test IPM strategies which can then be quickly implemented if the pests are detected. CDFA is responsible for preventing and mitigating invasive pests.
Techniques resulting from this proactive approach will allow for rapid deployment of management plans.
Applications are due at midnight, Oct. 31, 2019.
Detailed information on the Proactive IPM Solutions Program, including the application process and application requirements, is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/proactive-ipm.html.
A total of $1.2 million amount is available for Proactive IPM Solutions in this grant cycle. Funds for the current Request for Proposal come from two sources.
First, OPCA received an annual appropriation of $544,000 for this and other research as part of the 2019-2020 budget.
An additional $3.5 million was allocated in the 2019-2020 budget to specifically help California’s farmers transition away from chlorpyrifos, an insecticide that has long been used to combat newly-arrived invasive pests but is being phased out in California.
OPCA provides consultation to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on pesticide regulatory matters.
The office’s consultative activities focus on potential pesticide regulatory impacts and pest management alternatives that may mitigate or prevent such impacts on production agriculture. OPCA staff is also involved in other projects relating to pesticide use and alternatives.
Information on the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/.
Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program grants
The goal of the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems Program, or BIFS, is to fund on-farm demonstration and evaluation of innovative biologically-based farming systems that employ Integrated Pest Management, or IPM strategies.
CDFA is responsible for supporting agricultural production in California by fostering innovative, efficient and scientifically sound practices.
Applications are due on 5 p.m., Oct. 31, 2019.
Detailed information on the Biologically Integrated Farming Systems program, including the application process and requirements, is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/bifs.html.
The Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis received a one-time appropriation of $2 million for BIFS as part of the 2019-2020 budget that will be allocated in two blocks: $1 million in the current solicitation and another $1 million in 2020-2021.
Proactive IPM Solutions grants
The goal of the Proactive IPM Solutions Program is to anticipate exotic pests likely to arrive in California and to identify and test IPM strategies which can then be quickly implemented if the pests are detected. CDFA is responsible for preventing and mitigating invasive pests.
Techniques resulting from this proactive approach will allow for rapid deployment of management plans.
Applications are due at midnight, Oct. 31, 2019.
Detailed information on the Proactive IPM Solutions Program, including the application process and application requirements, is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/proactive-ipm.html.
A total of $1.2 million amount is available for Proactive IPM Solutions in this grant cycle. Funds for the current Request for Proposal come from two sources.
First, OPCA received an annual appropriation of $544,000 for this and other research as part of the 2019-2020 budget.
An additional $3.5 million was allocated in the 2019-2020 budget to specifically help California’s farmers transition away from chlorpyrifos, an insecticide that has long been used to combat newly-arrived invasive pests but is being phased out in California.
OPCA provides consultation to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) on pesticide regulatory matters.
The office’s consultative activities focus on potential pesticide regulatory impacts and pest management alternatives that may mitigate or prevent such impacts on production agriculture. OPCA staff is also involved in other projects relating to pesticide use and alternatives.
Information on the Office of Pesticide Consultation and Analysis is available at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/oefi/opca/.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
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