La. Admin. Code tit. 37 § XIII-18202

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section XIII-18202 - Definitions

A. As used in Regulation 126, the following terms shall have the meanings herein specified.

1.Commissioner-the Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance.

2.FORTIFIED-a program of IBHS.

3.FORTIFIED Home Evaluator-an independent, third party who has completed the FORTIFIED training requirements and is certified by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) as a home evaluator who can verify that a home meets the FORTIFIED roof standard. Homeowners can find a list of certified home evaluators at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

4.Good Cause-sufficient and verifiable grounds for waiving a requirement in the grant application process.

5.Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS)-a non-profit research and communications organization of the property and casualty insurance industry that defines the FORTIFIED roof standard for homes, information for which can be found at www.fortifiedhome.org.

6.Lottery Process-the random process by which an applicant is selected for the LFHP.

7.Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP)-a program, enacted by Act No. 554 of the 2022 Regular Session, administered by the commissioner, to make financial grants to retrofit roofs of insured property, as defined in R.S. 22:1483(C)(9), with a homestead exemption utilizing construction techniques demonstrated to reduce losses caused by a hurricane, tornado, or other catastrophic windstorm event and that meet or exceed the IBHS FORTIFIED roof standard, information for which can be found at www.ldi.la.gov/fortifyhomes.

8.National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)-a federal program enacted by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Title XIII of P.L. 90-448, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 4001, et seq.) to provide greater access to primary flood insurance, mitigate flood risks, and reduce federal expenditures pertaining to flood-related disaster assistance. As part of its efforts to minimize flood damage and reduce repair costs, the NFIP designates flood zones and flood maps, which illustrate a community's flood risks. Additional information regarding the NFIP or flood zones and maps can be found at www.floodsmart.gov.

9.Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)-an area having special flood, mudflow, or flood-related erosion hazards on a Flood Hazard Boundary Map or a Flood Insurance Rate Map as shown on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's website. The SFHA is the area where the NFIP's floodplain management regulations must be enforced and the area where the mandatory purchase of flood insurance applies.

La. Admin. Code tit. 37, § XIII-18202

Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 49699 (4/1/2023), Amended LR 501499 (10/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 22:11 and R.S. 22:1483.1.