House, majority launches catastrophe incentives also for citizens

No obligations, as for companies. But a system of incentives structured on several levels: state contributions, company discounts and company productivity bonuses. These are the key elements of the bill presented by the Lega at the Chamber of Deputies (under the first signature of the president of the Productive Activities Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, Alberto Gusmeroli, and of the group leader at Montecitorio, Riccardo Molinari) to promote the underwriting of insurance policies on first homes against disaster damage.

 "The bill," says Gusmeroli himself, "is yet another measure that attests to the League's closeness to the people and the territories. In Italia today less than 5 per cent of the Italian building stock is insured against earthquakes, landslides, floods, overflows and events of similar severity, with more than 30 million properties lacking any economic protection. The Pdl is an opportunity and not an obligation and is aimed at protecting the first home of Italians'. The idea is that, by multiplying the incentive instruments, the final burden on citizens can be minimal. Especially if these policies were to become more widespread.

Molinari adds, summarising the measures: "The regulation provides for a state contribution equal to 20% of the insurance premium, up to a maximum amount for each contract of 100 euro, raised to 150 euro for families with an Isee of less than 25 thousand euro per year. Insurance companies are required to make a compulsory 20% reduction on the premium and, a further novelty of the measure, employers are given the option of contributing 40% to the conclusion of such contracts for employees also through productivity bonuses. The quota to be borne by the contractor would thus remain at only 20 per cent'. The result should be lower disbursements by the state for post calamitous and catastrophic events.

The proposal will be calendared soon: 'We will ask for it to be hinged,' says Gusmeroli, 'and we are waiting to know the allocation committee. It is possible, however, that it will be unpacked and that the text may be included in some other regulatory vehicle, such as the next Budget Law, to speed up the timetable.

Positive comments come from Ania chairman Giovanni Liverani: "The proposed law that incentivises the protection of the first home from catastrophic events by purchasing insurance is a step in the right direction. Italia is a country exposed to seismic and hydrogeological risk, but only 7% of homes are insured. In addition to being a measure for the prevention of a gigantic social risk, making Italians' homes safe is amoral obligation, also in light of the enormous resources invested by the State in tax incentives and contributions to the restructuring of the building heritage".