2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 22:1922 — Advisory committee on equal opportunity

§1922.  Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunity

A.(1)  There is hereby created within the Department of Insurance, in the division of minority affairs, the Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunity.  The committee shall be composed of fifteen members.  Fourteen members shall be appointed by the governor and shall serve at his pleasure. The deputy commissioner for minority affairs shall serve ex officio as the fifteenth member.  Four members shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the Louisiana chapter of The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, Inc., the Baton Rouge chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Shreveport chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.  Two members shall be appointed from a list of nominees submitted by the deans of the business schools of Dillard University, Xavier University, Southern University, and Grambling University.  Eight members shall be appointed from a list of nominees, one nominee to be submitted by each of the following associations or groups:

(a)  Louisiana Insurers' Conference.

(b)  American Council of Life Insurance.

(c)  Life Insurers' Conference.

(d)  National Association of Life Companies.

(e)  Louisiana Association of Fire and Casualty Companies.

(f)  National Association of Independent Insurers.

(g)  American Insurance Association.

(h)  Alliance of American Insurers.

(i)  Health Insurance Association of America.

(j)  Property and casualty insurers unaffiliated with the trade associations designated above.

(k)  The state chapter of the Louis A. Martinet Society.

(l)  National Independent Insurance Agents.

(m)  Louisiana Realtists Association.

(n)  National Business League, Louisiana chapter.

(o)  An organization representing Hispanic Americans, as identified by the commissioner of insurance.

(p)  An organization representing Asian Americans, as identified by the commissioner of insurance.

(q)  An organization representing Native Americans, as identified by the commissioner of insurance.

(2)  Each appointment by the governor shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation.

(3)  The committee shall serve without compensation, except for compensation for mileage and meals expenses incurred in connection with actual attendance at meetings of the committee or while on business of the committee assigned by the committee, but only when properly vouchered.

B.  The committee shall assist the commissioner of insurance and the division of minority affairs in establishing educational and informational services to foster a greater awareness of the opportunities available in the insurance industry and of the skills, training, and education necessary to prepare for opportunities in employment, appointment as agents, and contracting for services with insurance companies transacting business in Louisiana.  The commissioner of insurance shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this Part.

C.  The committee shall review all complaints alleging a violation of the provisions of this Part.  Upon receipt of a complaint, the committee shall notify the insurer against whom the complaint was filed of the nature of the complaint and provide him with an opportunity to make a written explanation.  As a part of the response, the insurer may submit to the committee any affirmative action plan it may have in effect.  The committee shall consider any affirmative action plan submitted to it, along with any other pertinent information submitted to it, in determining whether the insurer has engaged in a pattern or practice of employment discrimination prohibited by R.S. 23:1006.

D.  The committee shall report apparent violations of this Part to the commissioner of insurance, who may then, and only then, commence enforcement proceedings in accordance with R.S. 22:1923.

E.  Nothing contained in this Section or in R.S. 22:1921 shall be construed to expand the coverage of R.S. 23:1006 for purposes of the sanctions authorized against insurers under R.S. 22:1923.

Acts 1984, No. 850, §1; Acts 1992, No. 1134, §1; Acts 1993, No. 89, §1; Acts 1999, No. 885, §1, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 168, §1.