A. Description of
Department - The Insurance Department generally regulates all insurance
companies and their agents doing business in the State of Mississippi. The
Department's responsibilities include, but are not limited, to the following:
granting or withholding of charters, issuing certificates of authority; issuing
licenses; approving policies, proxies, and advertising material; conducting
hearings on rates; and any other matters affecting the regulation of the
insurance industry in this state; administering and collecting surplus lines
premium taxes; receiving and examining reports and financial statements from
all insurance companies authorized to do business in this state; and preparing
annual reports of the Insurance Commissioner.
The Commissioner has the further responsibility for the
promulgation of rules and regulations concerning the activities of insurance
companies and insurance producers engaged in the business of insurance in this
State. The Department is composed of several divisions that deal directly with
the public including, but not limited to:
* Producer Licensing;
* Financial and Market Regulation;
* Life and Health Actuarial;
* Consumer Services;
* Investigations and Consumer Protection; Property and
Casualty Rating;
* Legal.
The Insurance Department of the State of Mississippi also
houses the State Fire Marshal's Office. The Commissioner of Insurance is by
virtue of his office the State Fire Marshal and conducts investigations into
all fires of a suspicious nature; ensures compliance with the Mississippi Fire
Prevention Code, provides fire safety education, and regulates manufactured
housing, liquefied compressed gas, electronic alarms, pyrotechnics and
elevators/escalators.
B.
Office and Hours - The Office of the Department is located at Suite 1001, 501
N. West Street, Woolfolk State Office Building, in Jackson, Mississippi. The
office shall be open during business hours each day, Saturday, Sunday, and
holidays excepted. The mailing address of the Department is P. O. Box 79,
Jackson, Mississippi 39205, and its telephone number is (601)
359-3569.
C. Custody Of Records -
The Commissioner shall have custody of the Seal and records of the Department
including the transcripts of testimony and exhibits with all papers and
requests filed in proceedings, the minutes of all actions taken by the
Department and all of its findings, determinations, reports, opinions, orders,
rules, regulations, and approved forms.
D. Public Records - Except as limited by
Miss. Code Ann. §§25-61-9 and 25-61-11, and any other
applicable statutory restriction, all public records of the Department are
available to the public and may be inspected or copied at the office of the
Department.
a. Records Request - A public
records request may be made by using the Department's online public records
request system, which can be found at the Department's website:
www.mid.ms.gov, or it may be made by
written request or by telephone. If a request is made verbally, the requestor
may be asked to also submit a written request.
b. Copies of Records - Copies may be
requested and shall be made under the supervision of Department personnel.
Records may also be provided by e-mail or by providing scanned copies on a
compact disc. The Department may not be able to produce the records in any
other type of requested format, such as an electronic format. The Department
shall prepare an invoice pursuant to the Public Access Information Fee Schedule
located on the Department's website. The fees shall be collected by the
Department in advance of complying with the request pursuant to Miss.
Code Ann. §
25-61-7.
c. Production Schedule - Pursuant to
Miss. Code Ann. §
25-61-5, the Public Records
Request will be fulfilled within seven (7) working days of the submission of
the request. After seven (7) working days, MID will either produce the
requested documents, will request an additional seven (7) working days, or
another date that is mutually agreed upon by the parties. Denials by the
Department for a request for access to or copies of public records shall be in
writing and shall contain a statement of the specific reasons for the denial.
Some information produced may contain publicly identifiable information or
exempted information that is not subject to disclosure. MID will redact that
information before producing the public documents as provided in Miss.
Code Ann. §§
25-61-9 and
25-61-11.
E. Computation Of Time - In computing the
time period within which an act must be performed, the first day shall be
excluded and the last day shall be included, but if the last day shall fall on
a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, then the next business day shall be
construed as the last day.
