BestWeek: NAIC Model Laws Face Tough Climb to Legislative Success.

OLDWICK, N.J. -- In 2007, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners expects to spend $1.94 million in meeting registration fees, which include four quarterly gatherings in cities across the United States, according to an exclusive article in this week's BestWeek.

The group creates updates to statutory accounting practices, updates to NAIC Annual Statement blanks, and updates to financial examiners' and market conduct handbooks. But then there's the NAIC model law. While the ultimate intent is to streamline the regulatory process among 51 U.S. jurisdictions by capturing the attention of state legislatures for their ultimate adoption, NAIC model laws meet with mixed success.

Of the seven model laws passed out of the NAIC in 2005, three model laws were adopted by states.

Also in BestWeek, Best's Global Insurance Composite Index finished the week of March 8 up 11.65% from a year ago. The composite index reflects the performance of 183 insurance stocks. The week's top performers were Bristol West Holdings; Pacific Century Insurance; Specialty Underwriters' Alliance; Atrium Underwriting; and First American. The bottom five performers were Citizens Financial; National Interstate; Safety Insurance; EMC Insurance; and Sompo Japan Insurance.

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Founded in 1899, A.M. Best Company is a full-service credit rating organization dedicated to serving the financial services industries, including the banking and insurance sectors. For more information, visit www.ambest.com.