Kansas: Legislature Approves Silica & Asbestos Reform

The Kansas House and Senate both adopted a conference committee report on SB 512, the Silica and Asbestos Reform Act.

If approved by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, SB 512 would adopt the American Medical Association's medical criteria and other reforms supported by NAMIC and other industry advocates. NAMIC believes the medical criteria approach is a sound and fair process for ensuring that symptomatic claimants are given priority over asymptomatic claimants.

The bill was modeled after the Ohio law and was amended in conference committee to clarify that certain secondhand asbestos claims are only permissible if such claims are permissible under current law.

According to local advocates, Sebelius is expected to sign the bill. If so, Kansas will join Ohio, Florida and Georgia as states that have recently enacted asbestos and silica reform laws.

Direct questions to State Affairs Manager Joe Thesing.

Posted: Monday, May 08, 2006 12:00:00 AM. Modified: Monday, May 08, 2006 10:09:42 AM.

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We are 1,400 property/casualty insurance companies serving more than 135 million auto, home and business policyholders, with more than $196 billion in premiums accounting for 50 percent of the automobile/homeowners market and 31 percent of the business insurance market. We are the largest and most diverse property/casualty trade association in the country, with regional and local mutual insurance companies on main streets across America joining many of the country’s largest national insurers who also call NAMIC their home. More than 200,000 people are employed by NAMIC members.