2020 Sierra National Forest Creek Fire in California
Credit: USFS
November 9, 2024 - The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) reports on Thursday, November 7, the nonpartisan Little Hoover Commission adopted a report on California's ongoing property insurance crisis which was issued for public review earlier in the week. The report, which was developed over the course of 2024 through hearings, interviews and public comment from impacted stakeholders, contains several recommendations to state lawmakers for addressing the insurance crisis, including:
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Allowing insurers to use catastrophe models for pricing, but requiring that wildfire mitigations performed by homeowners are reflected in those models;
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Creation of an independent panel of experts to evaluate the usage of those models, rather than relying on the California Department of Insurance's internal processes; and,
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Forming a state working group of wildfire experts to develop a minimum set of wildfire mitigation standards for homeowners and communities to undertake.
The report was developed without the input of California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who declined to participate in the process. However, many local representatives, including RCRC and RCRC member counties, gave input into the report to help paint the full picture of how the crisis is impacting rural homeowners across California.
To read the report or for more information on the study, visit the Little Hoover Commission website or contact Staci Heaton at sheaton@rcrcnet.org.
ABOUT RURAL COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES OF CALIFORNIA (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-seven member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties. To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Source: RCRC
