California Insurance Commissioner

Insurance Commissioner of California
Great Seal of the State of California
State flag
Incumbent Ricardo Lara since January 7, 2019
Government of California Department of Insurance
Style	The Honorable
Term length	Four years, two term limit
Inaugural holder	John Garamendi 1991
Formation	Proposition 103
Succession	Ninth
Website	www.insurance.ca.gov

The California insurance commissioner has been an elected executive office position in California since 1991. Prior to that time, the insurance commissioner was appointed by the governor. The officeholder is in charge of the California Department of Insurance.

The current insurance commissioner is Democrat Ricardo Lara.

Duties

• Oversees and directs all functions of the Department of Insurance.
• Licenses, regulates, and examines insurance companies.
• Answers public questions and complaints regarding the insurance industry.
• Enforces the laws of the California Insurance Code and adopts regulations to implement the laws.
• The mission is to ensure vibrant markets where insurers keep their promises and the health and economic security of individuals, families, and businesses are protected. ^[1]

Office

As a result of the passage of Proposition 103 in 1988, the elected office of the California Insurance Commissioner was created in 1991. Previously, the position was held by a person appointed by the Governor. The Insurance Commissioner oversees the Department of Insurance.

The Insurance Commissioner does not oversee the majority of Health Plans and Health Insurance. ^[2] HMO Health Plans and PPO Plans offered by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of California are overseen by the California Department of Managed Health Care.

Name	Term	Party
John Garamendi	January 7, 1991 – January 2, 1995	Democratic
Chuck Quackenbush	January 2, 1995 – July 10, 2000	Republican
J. Clark Kelso	July 10, 2000 – September 17, 2000	Republican
Harry W. Low	September 18, 2000 – January 6, 2003 [3]	Democratic
John Garamendi	January 6, 2003 – January 8, 2007	Democratic
Steve Poizner	January 8, 2007 – January 3, 2011	Republican
Dave Jones	January 3, 2011–January 7, 2019	Democratic
Ricardo Lara	January 7, 2019–present	Democratic

References

1. "Mission of California Department of Insurance". California Department of Insurance . Retrieved July 8, 2008.
2. Gorn, David (February 8, 2014). "Insurance Regulation Shifted Toward Health Plan Regulator".
3. "AsianWeek.com". Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2007.

External links

• Official website