627.0613  Consumer advocate.--The Insurance Commissioner must appoint a consumer advocate who must represent the general public of the state before the department. The consumer advocate must report directly to the Insurance Commissioner, but is not otherwise under the authority of the department or of any employee of the department. The consumer advocate has such powers as are necessary to carry out the duties of the office of consumer advocate, including, but not limited to, the powers to:

(1)  Recommend to the department, by petition, the commencement of any proceeding or action; appear in any proceeding or action before the department; or appear in any proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings relating to subject matter under the jurisdiction of the department.

(2)  Have access to and use of all files, records, and data of the department.

(3)  Examine rate and form filings submitted to the department, hire consultants as necessary to aid in the review process, and recommend to the department any position deemed by the consumer advocate to be in the public interest.

(4)  Prepare an annual budget for presentation to the Legislature by the department, which budget must be adequate to carry out the duties of the office of consumer advocate.