ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS LISTED BY INDIVIDUAL STATES California California Department of Insurance The State of California’s Department of Insurance works to protect the rights of Holocaust survivors and their heirs. California was instrumental in the establishment of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (ICHEIC) and continues to participate in finding a solution to this issue through active participation in ICHEIC, including membership on ICHEIC’s executive committee. The California Department of Insurance is one of three states representing the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on the international commission. The California Department of Insurance maintains a Web site as a public resource for all people to learn more about Holocaust-era insurance claims. Contact: California Department of Insurance Consumer Communications Bureau 300 South Spring Street, South Tower Los Angeles, CA 90013 USA E-mail: 927HELP@insurance.ca.gov http://www.insurance.ca.gov/docs/FS-Holocaust.htm Senate Resolution Number 28 — Relative to Holocaust Survivors' Insurance Claims On May 24, 2000, California State Senator Tom Hayden introduced Senate Resolution Number 28, resolving that the state senate call on the United States Department of State to support California's legislation as a crucial catalyst in advancing the cause of survivors; that the state senate call on the United States Department of State to view a just resolution of survivors' claims as a human rights precedent and moral priority for present and future generations; and that the Secretary of the Senate of California transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the United States Senate, the United States House of Representatives, and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. The complete text of the bill may be found at http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/99-00/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sr_28_bill_20000525_enrolled.html. Florida Florida Department of Insurance The Florida Department of Insurance maintains a Web site concerning past state legislation and efforts to recover unpaid insurance claims in Florida. Contact: Telephone: + 1 800 342 2762 Florida Department of Insurance 200 East Gaines Street Tallahassee, FL 32399-0300 USA http://www.fldfs.com/Holocaust/index.htm Georgia Commission of Insurance and Fire Safety for the State of Georgia Information for Georgia residents wanting to make claims regarding Holocaust-era insurance policies may be found at http://www.gainsurance.org/ANNOUNCEMENTS/holocaust.asp. Contact: John W. Oxendine, Insurance Commissioner State of Georgia Suite 708 West Tower 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Atlanta, GA 30334 USA Telephone: + 1 800 656 2298 +1 404 656 2070 Iowa Iowa Insurance Division The Iowa Insurance Division is a member of a multistate working group charged with investigating allegations of claims in which Holocaust victims and their heirs were denied insurance benefits on policies they paid for in good faith. Contact: Iowa Insurance Division 330 Maple Street Des Moines, IA 50319-0065 USA Telephone: + 877 955 1212 Fax: + 515 281 3059 E-mail: insurance@iid.state.ia.us Massachusetts Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Insurance Massachusetts’ Division of Insurance and Division of Banks work with the New York State Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) to provide information to Holocaust survivors and their heirs. The Insurance and Banks divisions will provide general information and HCPO claim packets to Massachusetts Holocaust survivors and their heirs who seek to recover either unpaid monies from insurance policies or assets deposited in Swiss banks between 1933 and 1945. Claim packets can be obtained from the Holocaust Claims Processing Office in New York at (800) 695-3318 or by linking with the Holocaust Claims Processing Office from the Division of Insurance Web site. Contact: Linda Ruthardt, Commissioner of Insurance One South Station Boston, MA 02110-2208 USA http://www.state.ma.us/doi Michigan Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services The Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services (OFIS) has participated in the efforts of the working group of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) on behalf of Holocaust survivors’ claims. The OFIS Web site contains press releases that are intended to remind survivors and their heirs about the claims process through NAIC. Contact: Julie K. Smith, Communications Coordinator Telephone: +1 517 335 1700 http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-10555_13222_13250-39339--M_2002_1,00.html Missouri Missouri State Treasurer's Office The Missouri State Treasurer has developed a Web page as part of the State Treasurer’s Office Web site to provide assistance to the public in filing claims and returning World War II–era funds deposited by Holocaust victims and their families. The office is a resource to help Holocaust victims and their heirs complete and submit claims for dormant European bank accounts from the Holocaust era. Contact: Nancy Farmer, State Treasurer P.O. Box 210 Jefferson City, MO 65102 USA http://www.sto.state.mo.us/holocaust/holocaust.htm New York Holocaust Claims Processing Office of the New York State Banking Department On June 25, 1997, Governor George E. Pataki authorized the creation of the Holocaust Claims Processing Office of the New York State Banking Department. The office’s mission is twofold: to assist individuals of all backgrounds seeking to recover assets deposited in Swiss banks prior to and during World War II, and to assist individuals of all backgrounds seeking to recover monies never paid in connection with insurance policies issued by a European insurance company prior to and during World War II. Contact: Holocaust Claims Processing Office New York State Banking Department One State Street New York, NY 10004-1417 USA Telephone: (800) 695-3318 (U.S. toll free) +1-212-709-5583 (outside U.S.) Fax: +1-212-709-5592 E-mail: claimsques@banking.state.ny.us http://www.claims.state.ny.us/ New York State Insurance Department The New York State Insurance Department maintains a Web site of news releases relating to Holocaust insurance claims at http://ins.state.ny.us/hlcst.htm. Oregon Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Insurance Division The Oregon Insurance Division supports the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims’ Task Force as part of the continuing effort to restore justice to victims of the Holocaust. The Oregon Insurance Division would like to identify as many Holocaust survivors and heirs as possible and provide assistance to any who may have been denied insurance benefits on policies they paid for in good faith. It asks that anyone who has a claim, thinks he or she has a claim, or has any information about these issues contact the Oregon Insurance Division. It is particularly interested in life, health, or property policies issued from 1920 to 1945. Contact: Telephone: + 1 503 947 7980 E-mail: DCBS.INSMail@state.or.us http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/ins/docs/holocaust.htm Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Treasury Department Pennsylvania Treasurer Barbara Hafer is one of five members appointed to a national executive committee of state and local finance officers monitoring the progress of Swiss banks in returning World War II–era funds deposited by Holocaust victims and their families. The Pennsylvania Treasury Department has developed a page entitled “A Search for Justice” as part of its Web site to provide assistance to the public in filing claims and to document the progress of Swiss banks in returning World War II–era funds deposited by Holocaust victims and their families. The Treasury Department is a resource to help complete and submit claim forms for dormant Holocaust-era European bank accounts. http://www.treasury.state.pa.us/DefaultASearch.html Pennsylvania Insurance Department The Pennsylvania Insurance Department is a member of the Holocaust Insurance Issues Working Group formed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The Insurance Department has developed a questionnaire to be completed by Pennsylvania Holocaust survivors and their heirs who believe they may have unresolved insurance claims with European insurers. The specific information provided by claimants on this form will be added to a national database maintained by the NAIC to assist those investigating the actions of insurance companies during the Holocaust. Contact: 1326 Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120 USA http://www.insurance.state.pa.us/html/icheic.html Texas The Texas Department of Insurance The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is working with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and other states to help survivors and their heirs file claims. Information regarding the TDI’s efforts may be found on its Web site at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us. Washington The Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief Act The Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief Act was signed into law on April 15, 1999. Its major provisions include the creation of the Washington State Holocaust Assistance Office; the creation of a Holocaust Insurance Company Registry containing the records of companies doing business in Washington State, and their corporate parents, relating to insurance policies, families, and other pertinent information about victims of the Holocaust; and the extension until December 31, 2010, of the statute of limitations for insurance policies issued to Holocaust survivors and victims, enabling Holocaust survivors or victims’ families to sue insurance companies for failure to address those claims. The complete text of the law may be found at http://search.leg.wa.gov/pub/textsearch/ViewRoot.asp?Action=Html&Item=0&X=521133129&p=1 The Washington State Holocaust Assistance Office The Washington State Holocaust Assistance Office was created to assist Holocaust survivors and/or the families and heirs of Holocaust victims in Washington State recover proceeds from insurance policies and other assets that were improperly denied or processed. The Washington State Insurance Commissioner maintains a list of companies that have provided policyholder names for insurance policies in effect in Europe between 1933 and 1945 to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner pursuant to the Holocaust Victims Insurance Relief Act of 1999. The list of insurers may be found at http://www.insurance.wa.gov/industry/holocaust/holocaustcompanies.asp Contact: Mike Kreidler, Washington State Insurance Commissioner Washington State Holocaust Survivors Assistance Office Insurance Building P.O. Box 40255 Olympia, WA 98504-0255 USA Telephone: + 1 888 606 9622 http://www.insurance.wa.gov/industry/holocaust/holocaust.asp