PIANJ Applauds State Senate, Assembly for Passage of Producer Duty-of-Care Bill.

• Position: [IN THE ASSOCIATIONS]

* Trenton, N.J. -- The Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey applauds the state Senate and the state Assembly for passing its top-priority bills S-2475/A-2034, unanimously on Feb. 21 and Feb. 25, respectively. The bills, which would prohibit application of a fiduciary standard to insurance producers, will be sent to Gov. Phil Murphy for his consideration.

The bills were sponsored by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, D-3; Senate Commerce Committee Chair Nellie Pou, D-35; Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-19; and Assemblymembers BettyLou DeCroce, R-26, John McKeon, D-27, and Carol Murphy, D-7.

The bills also would strengthen the existing "affidavit of merit" statute that, in theory, makes sure that lawsuits must have some merit before proceeding, but which, in practice, often falls short of that goal.

"PIANJ has been a strong advocate for the passage of this legislation, and we applaud the state Legislature for working to clarify that insurance producers are expected to exercise ordinary and reasonable care and skill in renewing, procuring...