(NCOIL) – New York State Senator James Seward has been named president of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL).

NCOIL is an organization of state legislators whose main area of public policy interest is insurance legislation and regulation. Most legislators active in NCOIL either chair or are members of the committees responsible for insurance legislation in their respective state houses across the country.

In a statement, Seward said, “There is no question that as we go through the next year, the financial meltdown is overshadowing just about everything in our personal lives, our financial lives, the priorities of NCOIL, and, of course, our state’s… We have to look out for our constituents — the insurance consumers of our various states — as well as our insurance markets and the companies that provide insurance products to our consumers and provide employment for our constituents.”

The election slate also included the following officers for 2009: Kentucky Rep. Robert Damron as president-elect; North Dakota Rep. George Keiser as vice president; New Mexico Sen. Carroll Leavell as secretary; and Indiana Sen. Vi Simpson as treasurer.

In addition, the following committee committee chair appointments were announced:

– Financial Services & Investment Products: Assemblyman Joseph Morelle (NY)
– Retirement Issues: Sen. Ann Cummings (VT)
– International Insurance Issues: Sen. Vi Simpson (IN)
– Life Insurance & Financial Planning: Sen. Ralph Hudgens (GA)
– Natural Disaster Insurance Legislation (Subcommittee): Sen. Joseph Crisco (CT)
– NCOIL-NAIC Liaison: Sen. Neil Breslin (NY)
– Property-Casualty Insurance: Rep. Charles Curtiss (TN)
– State-Federal Relations: Rep. Greg Wren (AL)
– Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Rep. Susan Westrom (KY)