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Arizona Director of Insurance
From Ballotpedia
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current director is Christina Urias, who was first appointed in November 2003. As directors serve six year terms, Urias will next come up for reappointment in 2015. Prior to her appointment as director, Urias was a partner at the law firm of DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C from 1989 to 2003. Earlier in her career, she worked as a property and casualty claims adjuster in the insurance industry from 1973 to 1985.[2]
Authority
The director of insurance's authority stems from Arizona law. The director is appointed "pursuant to section 38-211" of the Arizona Revised Statutes, meaning the nominee must receive the consent of the Arizona Senate.[3]
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 20, Chapter 1, Article 2, Section 141
| A. There shall be a director of insurance who shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38-211. |
Qualifications
Per state law, the director must be at least eighteen years old, a citizen of the United States and able to speak English. He or she must also be "well versed in insurance matters" and have been a resident of the state for at least three years prior to appointment.[4]
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 20, Chapter 1, Article 2, Section 141
| C. The director shall be a person well versed in insurance matters who has been a resident of the state for at least three years prior to appointment. |
Appointments
The director is appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate.[3]
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 20, Chapter 1, Article 2, Section 141
| A. There shall be a director of insurance who shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38-211. |
Term limits
There are no term limits for the office of director of insurance.
Vacancies
If a vacancy occurs, the governor nominates a new appointee to the senate. If the departing incumbent is able to continue to hold office until the new appointee qualifies, he or she does so. Otherwise, the nominee assumes office pending confirmation. If the senate subsequently rejects the nominee, the governor makes a new appointment.
In general, a vacancy appointee serves the unexpired term of the previous officeholder.[5]
Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 38, Chapter 2, Article 2, Section 211
| B. If the term of any state office which is appointive pursuant to this section expires, begins or becomes vacant during a regular legislative session, the governor shall during such session nominate a person who meets the requirements of law for such office and shall promptly transmit the nomination to the president of the senate. If the incumbent is capable of continuing to serve until his successor has qualified, a nominee to that position shall not assume and discharge the duties of the office, pending senate confirmation. If the incumbent is unable to continue to discharge the duties of office, the nominee shall assume and discharge the duties of the office pending senate confirmation. If the senate consents to the nomination, the governor shall then appoint the nominee to serve for the term or, in the case of a vacancy, for the unexpired term in which the vacancy occurred. If the senate rejects the nomination the nominee shall not be appointed and the governor shall promptly nominate another person who meets the requirements for such office. If the senate takes no formal action on the nomination during such legislative session, or if a nomination other than one that is required to be sent to the senate during the first week of the legislative session is not received during the session, the governor shall after the close of such legislative session appoint the nominee to serve, and the nominee shall discharge the duties of office, subject to confirmation during the next legislative session. |
Duties
The director oversees the Arizona Department of Insurance, the agency charged with enforcing state insurance regulations. The department collects licenses insurance companies to operate within the state and collects various financial filings and reports from them. It makes specific rules based on regulations passed by the state legislature and, with the cooperation of the attorney general, enforces them.[6]
The department also interacts with consumers through its education and outreach initiatives. The department's website publishes a variety of educational materials, verify an insurer's license or peruse its financial info, ask questions about insurance agents or companies, and file a complaint.
Divisions
The Department of Insurance is composed of several divisions:
- Consumer Services
- Producer Licensing
- Fraud Unit & Administrative Enforcement
- Healthcare Appeals
- Captive Insurance
- Arizona Guaranty Fund
- Insurer Financial Affairs
- Property & Casualty
- Life & Health
- Receivership
- Market Oversight
- Business Services
- Public Information Officer
Compensation
In 2010, the director received compensation in the amount of $115,650.[7] His or her compensation is determined by the Department of Administration in its annual recommendation to the legislature.[8]
Contact info
Physical address:
2910 N. 44th St., Ste. 210
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 364-3100
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Arizona Department of Insurance, "Home," accessed June 13, 2011.
- ↑ Arizona Department of Insurance, "Bio of Christina Urias," accessed June 13, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Arizona Revised Statutes, "Section 20-141," accessed June 13, 2011.
- ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "Sections 38-201 and 20-141," accessed June 11, 2011.
- ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "Section 38-211," accessed June 13, 2011.
- ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "Section 20-152," accessed June 13, 2011.
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010, Table 4.11," accessed May 20, 2011.
- ↑ Arizona Revised Statutes, "Title 38, Chapter 4, Article 1, Section 611," accessed June 7, 2011.
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