On January 31, 2006, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco issued a call for a 12 day First Extraordinary Legislative Session (a special session) prompted, in part, by needs brought on by last year's hurricanes. This session, running from February 6 to February 17, will focus on a limited number of items, with all others to be kept for the regular session that is scheduled to convene March 27. Among the items slated for discussion during this Extraordinary Session: amendments to the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and legislation concerning insurance policy information that is provided to policyholders. For a complete list of the call items listed for discussion, go to http://www.gov.state.la.us/assets/docs/ Proclamations/2006/Pro.NO.12.KBB.2006.pdf.
Maybe it is timely that Louisiana is focusing on insurance, rebuilding, and citizen services now rather than waiting for the start of the 2006 legislative session. As the CAI Advocacy Center's 2/1/06 posting reports, last year's hurricanes have almost bankrupted the federal flood insurance program.