About Us
History
California has long been a bellwether state for trends that have swept across the country and, indeed, the world. Such being the case, it became a major battleground in 1988 when five competing referenda dealing with the regulation of insurers were placed on the general election ballot. Proposition 103, the only one of the five initiatives ratified by 51% of the voters, imposed new regulatory requirements on the business of insurance and marked the beginning of an era characterized by uncertain litigation.
Proposition 103 instituted a system of prior approval of rates, provided for intervention in the rate hearing process and created an elected Insurance Commissioner. Since implementation of Proposition 103, a number of other legislative proposals were introduced that would further compromise the free market precepts that allow insurers to thrive and serve their customers.
In 1989, two leading insurers in the state, Farmers Insurance Group and State Farm Mutual, formed the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC) to serve as the principal advocate for the property-casualty insurance industry before the California Legislature. Today PIFC represents five insurance company groups and one national trade association which collectively provide more than half of the personal lines property and casualty insurance written in California.
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Mission Statement
The mission of PIFC is to protect the interests of buyers and sellers of personal insurance through legislative advocacy, media relations, and consumer education programs. To accomplish this, PIFC's mission is to change public policy in order to achieve a personal lines insurance system characterized by:
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Affordable and innovative services for consumers.
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A free market approach which promotes vigorous competition.
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An atmosphere of integrity, trust, respect, cooperation and open communication between insurers, public officials, the media and the general public.
It is PIFC's policy to maintain the highest ethical standards and comply with the letter and spirit of the law, including, but not limited to, all laws relating to legislative advocacy, the Political Reform Act, anti-trust laws and rules of professional conduct.
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Member Companies
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Legislative Advocacy
PIFC is dedicated to protecting the interests of the personal lines insurance industry and its customers through legislative advocacy.
As an advocate for the insurance industry, PIFC plays a leadership role in developing and passing legislation that is beneficial to PIFC member companies and their customers, and in defeating legislation that would increase costs and harm the competitive market.
Located in Sacramento, PIFC is comprised of a highly skilled professional staff which closely monitors legislation affecting the California personal lines insurance market. PIFC proposes, drafts and sponsors legislation and writes amendments for legislative consideration.
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The Legislative Education Process
With the advent of legislative term limits, it is important that PIFC assist the California Legislature by offering institutional knowledge and educational information on key public policy issues. PIFC also works with legislators and regulators to craft solutions to the complex insurance problems facing the state. PIFC maintains a close relationship with legislators and their staff, along with a commitment to accuracy and integrity in the policy-making process.
PIFC has been in the forefront of passage of major legislation that has affected every aspect of California 's burgeoning economy. PIFC played a major leadership role in the development and passage of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), at a time when the housing insurance marketplace had all but collapsed following the 1994 Northridge earthquake. PIFC continues to play a key role in assuring that CEA remains a financially strong public/private earthquake insurance company. PIFC will continue its leadership role in the recent passage of expansion of the Low-Cost Auto Insurance Program; auto insurance rating issues and homeowners' insurance. PIFC will also continue its efforts to pursue change through the legislative process for the benefit of its insurer members and their customers.
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Regulatory Advocacy
Overseeing the $80 plus billion insurance industry in California is the responsibility of the Insurance Commissioner. The Commissioner, through the California Department of Insurance (CDI), regulates, investigates, and audits insurance companies and agents to ensure that they comply with the insurance laws of the State of California and meet their obligations to their policyholders.
The narrow passage of Proposition 103 in 1988 brought sweeping changes to the regulation of insurance in California . It politicized the position of Insurance Commissioner of California by changing it from an appointed to an elected position.
Proposition 103 created a burdensome regulatory system requiring prior approval of all rate changes. The system has had an anti-competitive effect on insurance pricing due to delays in rate reductions that have harmed consumers and insurers alike. Nevertheless, one of the purposes of Proposition 103 is "to encourage a competitive insurance marketplace," and PIFC is dedicated to furthering this purpose.
PIFC represents its member insurers before CDI on personal lines insurance matters. PIFC advocates for regulatory reform and provides vital information to CDI explaining the impact of regulatory proposals on the California insurance marketplace and the eventual effect on the cost of personal lines insurance products.
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Media Relations
California's media--newspapers, broadcast, and trade press--play a critical role in informing consumers, the industry, business leaders and legislators about the legislative and regulatory issues addressed by PIFC and its member companies.
An active approach to disseminating information to the media has become the mainstay of PIFC communications. Because PIFC provides accurate, factual and timely information to the media on an ongoing basis, PIFC has become the California media's most reliable source for personal lines insurance information.
The PIFC Insurance Reference Book contains definitions of insurance terms, a list of industry resource experts, an analysis of major California personal lines legislative and regulatory issues, and a directory of insurance trade associations and organizations. The Reference Book is updated regularly and distributed to the media statewide. It also serves as a valuable insurance reference book for legislators and their staff members.
In addition, PIFC provides timely reference materials, background issue papers, press releases, and briefing papers detailing key legislative and regulatory issues throughout the year.
Press teleconferences featuring PIFC's lobbying staff are held three times a year to update the mainstream media and trade press on PIFC's legislative and regulatory activities.
PIFC is also committed to maintaining a strong communication link with the media to provide factual information during and immediately following any natural disaster that occurs in the state. PIFC is a member of a coalition of insurance groups that has produced a disaster communications plan that can be implemented at a moment's notice. The disaster plan includes immediate contact with media, government disaster offices, the Legislature and the insurance industry during and following a disaster in California. The information provided by PIFC to the media, Legislature and member company personnel is an important part of PIFC's commitment to build better relations and understanding between the insurance consumers and the personal lines insurance industry.
Insurance touches the lives of every Californian daily. A knowledge of insurance and its proper use is the cornerstone of successful future customer-insurance company relations. PIFC is committed to providing consumers, legislators, regulators and the media with relevant educational materials and information on personal lines insurance.
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Public Education
PIFC strives to educate consumers in order for them to make informed choices when purchasing insurance.
PIFC member insurance companies are committed to providing insurance products that meet the needs of their customers, and ensuring that consumers receive excellent coverage for their premium dollars.
Equally important to PIFC's members is providing the highest level of customer service.
PIFC is the only California insurance organization with the express purpose of serving the interests of the personal lines insurance marketplace.
Whether it is a consumer purchasing an insurance policy, a legislator voting on important personal lines insurance legislation, or a regulator writing regulations to implement an insurance law that will affect millions of policyholders, PIFC will continue to work hard to keep Californians informed on all matters dealing with personal lines insurance.
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Meet Our Staff
PIFC maintains a full-time professional staff in Sacramento to conduct legislative and regulatory advocacy, and collateral public education and media relations programs. As an advocate for the major personal lines property and casualty companies in California, PIFC works hard to explore and innovate new ideas, and expand the ability of its member companies and the industry to meet the insurance demands and needs of the state while working to mitigate or oppose those concepts that will prove detrimental to the insuring public and industry alike.
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Rex Frazier
President
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Rex Frazier serves as President of the Personal
Insurance Federation of California, and previously served
as General Counsel.
Prior to joining PIFC, Mr. Frazier was an attorney with
the law firm of Pillsbury Madison & Sutro LLP, focusing
on insurance and banking issues. Mr. Frazier also held positions
with the California Department of Insurance (CDI), including
serving as Deputy Insurance Commissioner. At the CDI, Mr.
Frazier supervised the Department's legislative, statistical
and policy development bureaus. In 1996, Mr. Frazier briefly
left state service to manage the Proposition 213 campaign,
a successful ballot initiative that substantially reduced
auto insurance premiums. Mr. Frazier also served as legislative
staff in the California State Assembly.
Mr. Frazier received his law degree from the McGeorge School
of Law at the University of the Pacific, graduating as valedictorian.
In addition, Mr. Frazier received his Master's Degree and
Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Chicago.
Mr. Frazier lives in Sacramento with his wife, April Manatt,
and their two sons, Owen and Garrett.
You can email Rex with comments or questions at, rfrazier@pifc.org.
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Michael Gunning
Vice President
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Michael Gunning serves as the Vice President for the Personal Insurance Federation of California (PIFC). He represents PIFC's member companies before the California State Legislature on personal lines insurance matters including: auto, homeowners, community investment, finance and other issues. Michael also provides assistance on issues before the California Department of Insurance (CDI).
Mr. Gunning is a 20-year veteran of finance, investments, public policy and community development in California. He served as Managing Director for the Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund (NCRF) before joining PIFC. Mr. Gunning organized and facilitated over $24 million in NCRF investments throughout California. At the CDI, Mr. Gunning served as Director of the California Organized Investment Network (COIN). In that capacity, he sought to match insurance industry investment capital with safe and sound investments for economic development and affordable housing in urban and rural areas throughout the state. Mr. Gunning has also served as a policy consultant for the California Legislature, Assembly Republican Office of Policy - for the Insurance and Banking committees and Senior Consultant for the Assembly Republican Caucus. He worked on a number of issues while working in the Legislature including the California Earthquake Authority, regulatory issues within the CDI, workers' compensation reform, Proposition 103 and affordable automobile insurance.He also served as Vice President, California Public Finance Office of George K. Baum & Company, located in Sacramento, California. He was responsible for the development and structuring of financing transactions for local government clients. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Gunning served as Executive Assistant to the Treasurer of the State of Missouri. He was very active in the Missouri Housing and Development Commission where he was involved in the issuance of over $200 million in housing bonds for the state.Mr. Gunning holds a BA in Political Science and History from Claremont McKenna College and an MA from Claremont Graduate School in Public Policy. He is also a Fellow, The Coro Foundation, St. Louis, Missouri. He was one of twelve selected through a nationwide process to participate in the Foundation's Fellows program. This full-time, post-graduate program in public affairs is designed for individuals who have demonstrated potential for public leadership. Mr. Gunning has published in Comstock's Business Magazine and other publications in California. He also holds the 1999 Achievement Award from the Black Insurance Professional Association and serves as Chairman of the Black Republican Council, Sacramento Chapter. He is a speaker at numerous conferences on Community Development Finance. Mr. Gunning lives in Elk Grove with his wife, Kelly, and their daughters, Elon and Emma.
You can email Michael with comments or questions at, MGunning@pifc.org |
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Kimberly Dellinger
General Counsel
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Kimberley Dellinger joined the PIFC team as General
Counsel in November of 2007, coming to us from her most
recent position as Senior Government Affairs Advocate and
Attorney for the California Building Industry Association
(CBIA).
Prior to her work with the CBIA, Ms. Dellinger was an Attorney/Partner
in the Roseville, California-based law firm Sandburg, Loduca
and Dellinger. She has also been a Legislative Advocate
for the Association of California Water Agencies and the
North State Building Industry Association. From 1995-1998,
Ms. Dellinger served in state government as the Deputy Director
of the Policy Division at the California Department of Housing
and Community Development under Governor Pete Wilson.
Ms. Dellinger also has experience in the public affairs
arena having worked from 1984-1987 as Vice President of
Goddard Claussen Public Affairs.
Ms. Dellinger graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
from the California State University, Sacramento and earned
her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific,
McGeorge School of Law. Ms. Dellinger is married with two
children.
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Ermelinda Ruiz
Legislative Advocate
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Ermelinda Ruiz serves as Legislative Advocate.
She has an extensive background in the California Legislative
Process, serving as a Senior Consultant to the Assembly
Insurance Committee, as well as Legislative Director for
Assembly Member Juan Vargas.
As Senior Committee Consultant, Ms. Ruiz analyzed bills
relating to insurance and advised individual Members and
staff of pending legislation. As Legislative Director,
Ms. Ruiz developed and coordinated a legislative program
for Assembly Member Vargas. In addition, she worked on legislation
in several policy areas including business and professions,
health, human services, judiciary, labor, and public safety.
Ms. Ruiz will represent PIFC on key issues relating to
personal lines insurance before the California Legislature
and the California Department of Insurance.
Ms. Ruiz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government
from the California State University, Sacramento and is
fluent in Spanish.
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Dan Edwards
Director of Communications
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Dan Edwards joined the Personal Insurance Federation (PIFC) team on January 11, 2007 as the Communications Director.
Mr. Edwards oversees all elements of communications related to the Federation’s mission to represent its member companies, including strategic communications, day-to-day media, member company communications partnering, and expansion of PIFC’s grassroots outreach and communications efforts.
Mr. Edwards comes to PIFC from his most recent professional undertaking as the Director of Communications and Member Services for the Assembly Republican Caucus, where he served for three Republican Leaders.
He brings nearly 20 years of communications, legislative, political and regulatory experience to the job, having previously been a Senior Writer to Governor George Deukmejian, Deputy Education Secretary for Communications to Governor Pete Wilson, and Communications Director for Senator Bruce McPherson. He also spent two years overseeing communications and strategic planning at the California Department of Insurance, and several years at PG&E working on bankruptcy-related crisis communications and grassroots development and outreach.
Mr. Edwards is a long-time resident of Elk Grove, where he resides with his wife and three children.
You can email Dan with comments or questions at dedwards@pifc.org.
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