CS/CS/HB 79 - Property Insurance Appraisal Umpires

• Establishes comprehensive licensing and regulatory framework for property insurance appraisal umpires, including qualifications, appointment procedures, and disciplinary grounds

• Requires umpire applicants to meet educational requirements (19 hours claims estimating, 5 hours insurance law/ethics), submit fingerprints, and qualify through specific professional credentials (retired judge, engineer, attorney, licensed adjuster with 5+ years experience, or contractor/architect)

• Sets ethical standards and fee restrictions for umpires including mandatory hourly billing (not percentage-based), $500 maximum fee for claims under $2,500, prohibition on contingent fees, and requirements for record retention and professional conduct

• Requires licensed adjusters serving as appraisers on residential property claims to hold both adjuster and appraiser licenses, and prohibits public adjusters from charging excessive fees during appraisal work

• Establishes $60 biennial appointment/renewal fees for umpires deposited in Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund and appropriates $24,000 recurring and $73,107 recurring funds plus $39,230 nonrecurring funds with one FTE position for implementation effective October 1, 2016