Florida's chief financial officer said he has recommendedlegislation that would require insurers to speed up payments topolicyholders for living expenses and repairs after their homeswere damaged by hurricanes.

The measure being suggested by Tom Gallagher, Florida's CFO,would ensure that homeowners immediately receive insurance moneyfor additional living expenses and lost personal contents, as wellas 20 percent of the insurance proceeds to repair structuraldamage, without the need for an endorsement from their financialinstitution.

“This legislation will ensure faster payment for storm victimsfollowing a major catastrophe,” said Mr. Gallagher in a statement.“It will make it easier for families to get the money theydeserve.”

Mr. Gallagher said he is recommending the measure as part of acomprehensive package of reforms he has put forward to strengthenFlorida's homeowners insurance market and improve coverage optionsand protections for homeowners.

The request, he said, comes after numerous meetings withpolicyholders who said they had to wait weeks for payments fortemporary housing or to secure a contractor to start stormrepairs.

According to Mr. Gallagher, the Department of Financial Serviceshe oversees heard from more than 350,000 consumers following the2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, and a majority complained aboutthe delays in receiving insurance payments.

Mr. Gallagher said he also is lobbying state lawmakers toearmark surplus sales tax revenue collected in the wake ofhurricanes to offset hurricane assessments against homeowners. Healso is pushing for standardizing Florida's building code statewideand capping coverage of homes in excess of $1 million by CitizensProperty Insurance Corp., the state's insurer of last resort.