BMI NEWS AND UPDATES
February 2018
President's Message

Todd Williams, Executive Vice President of Buckman-Mitchell, was installed as President of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of California (IIABCal) on January 31 for the 2018/2019 term.
 
Todd's presidency is legendary in the history of the association as he becomes the fourth individual from Buckman-Mitchell to assume that role. No other agency in the state of California has had four state association presidents.
 
Clem Buckman was Buckman-Mitchell's first state association president in 1933/1934. He was followed by Harold Barnhart in 1948/1949 and Stan Simpson in 2005/2006.
 
Todd's induction was held in Fresno. It was the first time the annual meeting of IIABCal has been held in the Central Valley since 1986. As Central Valley agents we are proud to report that the three-day
conference attendance of 335 was a sellout.
 
There are numerous associations to which independent insurance agents belong - nationally, statewide and locally. For independent agents, such as Buckman-Mitchell, the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America is dominant. In that vein, IIABCal is the dominant association in our state.
 
Locally we are represented by the Independent Agents & Brokers of Tulare & Kings Counties. Many individuals from Buckman-Mitchell have served as president of that association over the years.
These associations represent what we believe as independent agents to be the best for not only our industry, but for our customers and our communities. IIABCal has long taken a leadership role in setting insurance-related policy in our state and will continue to do so under the leadership of Todd Williams.
 
Congratulations Todd!

Brent Swanson
President / Chief Operating Officer
 
Ag Leadership Farm Show Breakfast

A Partnership Between Agriculture & Insurance

By Lisette Agundis

World Ag Expo 2018 is here, and as such, so is the California Ag Leadership Breakfast, which will be held at the World Ag Expo grounds the morning of Thursday, February 15th. The breakfast is hosted annually by a committee comprised of local Alumnus of the program in partnership with Buckman-Mitchell Inc. (BMI)

The breakfast is a fundraiser for the California Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF), the organization that runs the California Ag Leadership Program. The program is the premier Agricultural leadership program in the country producing over 1,000 alumnus throughout the state and is in its 48th year of operation.   The program was created with the goal of taking emerging leaders within the agricultural industry and teaching them all aspects of leadership by exposing them to unique and different opportunities outside of the agricultural industry to develop a well-rounded leader.

 

Read more

 

TOPBMI News & Updates

We love to support our community! Below are some upcoming events BMI has sponsored:
  • February 13th-15th, 2018 - World Ag Expo & Ag Leadership Farm Show Breakfast
  • February 27, 2018 - Tulare County ACSA Annual Conference: "Your Mathematical Heartprint: Sustaining Student Effort and Perseverance Every Day!"
  • March 17, 2018 - Soroptimist International of Visalia Annual Spring Fling


Our office will be closed on the following, upcoming dates:
  • February 19, 2018
In addition, we will be closing early on Friday, March 30, 2018.
In This Issue
Property & Casualty Trends
  
Drones: The Risk Exposures to Your Business

While the military and hobbyists have been using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), better known as drones, for some time now, businesses are just starting to adapt the technology for their own uses. UAS are creating new opportunities-and new risks-for businesses to evaluate, and regulators and insurance carriers are scrambling to keep pace.
 
Regulation
UAS are still considered aircraft, and must be registered with the FAA unless a recreational UAS meets all of the FAA's requirements to fall under the agency's special rule for model aircraft. Here are the basic guidelines for registering UAS:

Life & Health Insurance Updates
  
Medicare Part D Disclosures due by March 1, 2018 for Calendar Year Plans

OVERVIEW
Group health plan sponsors are required to complete an online disclosure form with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on an annual basis and at other select times, indicating whether the plan's prescription drug coverage is creditable or noncreditable. This disclosure requirement applies when an employer sponsored group health plan provides prescription drug coverage to individuals who are eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D.

Read more

Spending Resolution Affects ACA Taxes

OVERVIEW
On Jan. 22, 2018, President Donald Trump signed into law a short-term continuing spending resolution to end the government shutdown and continue funding through Feb. 8,
2018. The continuing resolution impacts three taxes and fees under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
 

professional-adults.jpg
Human Resource News
  
Job Killer Bill to Start 2018

By Laura Curtis

The Assembly Appropriations Committee today will consider a California Chamber of Commerce-opposed job killer bill that subjects employers to costly fines and multiple avenues of litigation for technical violations that do not actually result in any harm to the employee, is inconsistent with existing law and will limit job opportunities for unemployed workers.

Please click here to continue reading the article.

Visit www.hrmobileservices.com for more helpful information.

Loss Control Bulletin
 
Workplace Violence: What's the Problem?

Workplace violence: just the thought of it can conjure up visions of images we've all seen on the television screen - images accompanied with sadness and lingering fear of "this might happen at our workplace."
 
Here are some statistics to alleviate some of that fear:
  • An estimated 99.8% of all workplace violence victims survive the attack.
  • Most workplace violence incidents do not involve physical contact.
  • Estimated 98% of all workplace violence incidents can be prevented, provided someone recognizes AND addresses the precursors.
  •  
Please click here to continue reading the article.
Visit www.borettinc.com for more helpful information. 

A Word from the Worker's Comp Department

Reminder

Our 2018 All-in-One Labor Law posters have been mailed out.  If you need additional posters, please email the Workers' Compensation Team at WCTeam@bminc.com.
 
Reminder... Your OSHA 300 log needs to be posted from February 1 through April 30, even if no incidents occurred.  Please see attached for additional information.

Read more

la-traffic-cars.jpg
Claims Department Report
  
Vehicle Crashes Involving Road Debris

We've all seen it; a vehicle in front of us in traffic with a load that looks like it could come flying at us at any minute.

Danger on the roads
Road debris can be extremely dangerous but all of these crashes are preventable. Drivers can easily save lives and prevent injuries by securing their loads and taking other simple precautions to prevent items from falling off the vehicle.

Deaths in road debris crashes can result from the driver swerving to avoid hitting an object.
Overcorrecting at the last minute to avoid debris can increase a driver's risk of losing control of their vehicle and make a bad situation worse.

Debris-related crashes are much more likely to occur on Interstate highways. Driving at high speeds increases the risk for vehicle parts to become detached or cargo to fall onto the roadway.
  

Personal Lines Note

Flood Insurance

We have all seen and heard about the natural catastrophes happening right here in our own state of California.  Even areas that have never flooded before are flooding.  Home and Commercial property policies do not cover the peril of flood.  A separate Flood Insurance policy must be purchased to provide that protection.  The attached article (link below) talks about the importance of Flood Insurance.  Keep in mind that the National Flood Insurance program does provide a maximum of $250,000 coverage on dwellings (residential property) and  a maximum $500,000 of coverage on commercial buildings (nonresidential).  Private insurance carriers may also sell Flood Insurance.  Excess coverage over those maximums are available when the dwelling or  commercial building is valued over those maximums.