FAIRHOPE, Alabama - Members of Gov. Robert Bentley’s Affordable Homeowners Insurance Commission are still optimistic about solving the state’s epidemic of skyrocketing premiums and dropped policies, even if it takes a few months longer than expected. Originally hoping to convene in a special session in December or January, it’s more likely the commission won’t be prepared until the next regularly scheduled legislative session begins Feb. 7.

But State Sen. Ben Brooks and Rep. Steve McMillan, two of nearly 30 people who have been actively engaged in the commission since its inception in April, said a package of bills already exists that could be presented to a special session if necessary. Yet both would prefer to wait until the commission’s work is complete and a handful of additional bills were drafted to strengthen the package.

“We have a bill now that deals with matters of transparency, a bill that mandates the restructure of the state wind pool, and one that provides incentives for increased availability and affordability of insurance,” Brooks said. “But other ideas are on table that would address how deductibles are handled, would provide funding for grants to retrofit homes, could create a new class of policies, or possibly promote a regional interstate cooperative.”

The commission sought initial public comment from an overflow crowd in Mobile Aug. 29 before moving to sparsely-attended forums in Dothan, Decatur, Tuscaloosa and Guntersville. The education phase began in Montgomery Nov. 7 with an “Insurance 101” presentation from State Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridley and a legislative update from Brooks. There are two more education meetings scheduled Nov. 21 and Dec. 12 which will discuss a state-backed loan program, reinsurance and risk modeling, among other things.

Reportedly, a few commissioners, those who aren’t elected officials or employees of the insurance industry, are seeking additional education sessions, citing the complexity of the issues.

“We are in an education phase now to make sure that everyone is up to speed, but time is becoming a consideration,” McMillan said. “Frankly, I was disappointed with the public participation at the meetings in the northern part of the state, and maybe some of those meetings were unnecessary, but soon it’s going to be time to start working on something substantive.”

Rep. Joe Faust, also a member of the commission, is pushing for a captive insurance option, which would allow individual counties to apply for coverage.

“I’ve been dealing with this for five years so these education meetings are very boring to me,” he said. “I appreciate sharing that information with everyone else, but it’s time to quit cutting bait and get to fishing.”

Dan Hanson, who along with commission member Michelle Kurtz is a consumer advocate with the Homeowners Hurricane Insurance Initiative, said that if the commission isn’t thorough, it will fail.

“I know we can’t put this off for another year but we want to take the time needed to find the proper solutions,” Hanson said. “Consumer representatives are at an extreme disadvantage and we are constantly being reminded that every commissioner is serving on a volunteer basis. But if they don’t have the time to spend on it then maybe they shouldn’t have volunteered to begin with.”

Hanson argues that despite public perception, high premiums along the coast are a statewide problem that will require sacrifices from each and every county.

“Sixty-five of 67 counties in the state declared states of emergency after Hurricane Ivan, yet we only saw that exponential rise in deductibles along the coast,” he said. “We’ve got substantial evidence that risk models that were used after Hurricane Ivan under-reported damage upstate as much as 400 percent. So they are in this too.”

“I don’t know if it was productive for us to hold the listening sessions in some parts of the state that aren’t dealing with the same issues we are on the coast,” he said.

In the meantime, commissioners are convening in a series of “education meetings,” which are meant to make sure everyone is up-to-speed on issue.

State Rep. Steve McMillian, who serves on the commission along with about 30 other people from around the state, said he would propose five citizen forums.