Legislación
US (United States) Code. Title 15. Chapter 93: Insurance
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15 USC CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE 01/06/03
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TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
.
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CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
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Sec.
6701. Operation of State law.
(a) State regulation of the business of insurance.
(b) Mandatory insurance licensing requirements.
(c) Affiliations.
(d) Activities.
(e) Nondiscrimination.
(f) Limitation.
(g) Definitions.
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
6711. Functional regulation of insurance.
6712. Insurance underwriting in national banks.
(a) In general.
(b) Authorized products.
(c) Definition.
(d) Rule of construction.
6713. Title insurance activities of national banks and their
affiliates.
(a) General prohibition.
(b) Nondiscrimination parity exception.
(c) Grandfathering with consistent regulation.
(d) ''Affiliate'' and ''subsidiary'' defined.
(e) Rule of construction.
6714. Expedited and equalized dispute resolution for Federal
regulators.
(a) Filing in Court of Appeals.
(b) Expedited review.
(c) Supreme Court review.
(d) Statute of limitation.
(e) Standard of review.
6715. Certain State affiliation laws preempted for insurance
companies and affiliates.
6716. Interagency consultation.
(a) Purpose.
(b) Examination results and other information.
(c) Consultation.
(d) Effect on other authority.
(e) Confidentiality and privilege.
(f) Definitions.
6717. Definition of State.
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
6731. General application.
6732. Redomestication of mutual insurers.
(a) Redomestication.
(b) Resulting domicile.
(c) Licenses preserved.
(d) Effectiveness of outstanding policies and
contracts.
(e) Notice.
(f) Procedural requirements.
6733. Effect on State laws restricting redomestication.
(a) In general.
(b) Differential treatment prohibited.
(c) Laws prohibiting operations.
6734. Other provisions.
(a) Judicial review.
(b) Severability.
6735. Definitions.
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
6751. State flexibility in multistate licensing reforms.
(a) In general.
(b) Uniformity required.
(c) Reciprocity required.
(d) Determination.
(e) Continued application.
(f) Savings provision.
(g) Uniform licensing.
6752. National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers.
(a) Establishment.
(b) Status.
6753. Purpose.
6754. Relationship to the Federal Government.
6755. Membership.
(a) Eligibility.
(b) Authority to establish membership criteria.
(c) Establishment of classes and categories.
(d) Membership criteria.
(e) Effect of membership.
(f) Annual renewal.
(g) Continuing education.
(h) Suspension and revocation.
(i) Office of consumer complaints.
6756. Board of directors.
(a) Establishment.
(b) Powers.
(c) Composition.
(d) Terms.
(e) Board vacancies.
(f) Meetings.
6757. Officers.
(a) In general.
(b) Criteria for chairperson.
6758. Bylaws, rules, and disciplinary action.
(a) Adoption and amendment of bylaws.
(b) Adoption and amendment of rules.
(c) Action required by the NAIC.
(d) Disciplinary action by the Association.
(e) NAIC review of disciplinary action.
(f) Effect of review.
(g) Scope of review.
6759. Assessments.
(a) Insurance producers subject to assessment.
(b) NAIC assessments.
6760. Functions of the NAIC.
(a) Administrative procedure.
(b) Examinations and reports.
6761. Liability of the Association and the directors, officers, and
employees of the Association.
(a) In general.
(b) Liability of the Association, its directors,
officers, and employees.
6762. Elimination of NAIC oversight.
(a) In general.
(b) Board appointments.
(c) Annual report.
6763. Relationship to State law.
(a) Preemption of State laws.
(b) Prohibited actions.
(c) Savings provision.
6764. Coordination with other regulators.
(a) Coordination with State insurance regulators.
(b) Coordination with the National Association of
Securities Dealers.
6765. Judicial review.
(a) Jurisdiction.
(b) Exhaustion of remedies.
(c) Standards of review.
6766. Definitions.
SUBCHAPTER IV - RENTAL CAR AGENCY INSURANCE ACTIVITIES
6781. Standard of regulation for motor vehicle rentals.
(a) Protection against retroactive application of
regulatory and legal action.
(b) Preeminence of State insurance law.
(c) Scope of application.
(d) Motor vehicle defined.
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15 USC Sec. 6701 01/06/03
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TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
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Sec. 6701. Operation of State law
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(a) State regulation of the business of insurance
The Act entitled ''An Act to express the intent of Congress with
reference to the regulation of the business of insurance'' and
approved March 9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) (commonly referred
to as the ''McCarran-Ferguson Act'') remains the law of the United
States.
(b) Mandatory insurance licensing requirements
No person shall engage in the business of insurance in a State as
principal or agent unless such person is licensed as required by
the appropriate insurance regulator of such State in accordance
with the relevant State insurance law, subject to subsections (c),
(d), and (e) of this section.
(c) Affiliations
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), no State may, by statute,
regulation, order, interpretation, or other action, prevent or
restrict a depository institution, or an affiliate thereof, from
being affiliated directly or indirectly or associated with any
person, as authorized or permitted by this Act or any other
provision of Federal law.
(2) Insurance
With respect to affiliations between depository institutions,
or any affiliate thereof, and any insurer, paragraph (1) does not
prohibit -
(A) any State from -
(i) collecting, reviewing, and taking actions (including
approval and disapproval) on applications and other documents
or reports concerning any proposed acquisition of, or a
change or continuation of control of, an insurer domiciled in
that State; and
(ii) exercising authority granted under applicable State
law to collect information concerning any proposed
acquisition of, or a change or continuation of control of, an
insurer engaged in the business of insurance in, and
regulated as an insurer by, such State;
during the 60-day period preceding the effective date of the
acquisition or change or continuation of control, so long as
the collecting, reviewing, taking actions, or exercising
authority by the State does not have the effect of
discriminating, intentionally or unintentionally, against a
depository institution or an affiliate thereof, or against any
other person based upon an association of such person with a
depository institution;
(B) any State from requiring any person that is acquiring
control of an insurer domiciled in that State to maintain or
restore the capital requirements of that insurer to the level
required under the capital regulations of general applicability
in that State to avoid the requirement of preparing and filing
with the insurance regulatory authority of that State a plan to
increase the capital of the insurer, except that any
determination by the State insurance regulatory authority with
respect to such requirement shall be made not later than 60
days after the date of notification under subparagraph (A); or
(C) any State from restricting a change in the ownership of
stock in an insurer, or a company formed for the purpose of
controlling such insurer, after the conversion of the insurer
from mutual to stock form so long as such restriction does not
have the effect of discriminating, intentionally or
unintentionally, against a depository institution or an
affiliate thereof, or against any other person based upon an
association of such person with a depository institution.
(d) Activities
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (3), and except with respect to
insurance sales, solicitation, and cross marketing activities,
which shall be governed by paragraph (2), no State may, by
statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action,
prevent or restrict a depository institution or an affiliate
thereof from engaging directly or indirectly, either by itself or
in conjunction with an affiliate, or any other person, in any
activity authorized or permitted under this Act and the
amendments made by this Act.
(2) Insurance sales
(A) In general
In accordance with the legal standards for preemption set
forth in the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States
in Barnett Bank of Marion County N.A. v. Nelson, 517 U.S. 25
(1996), no State may, by statute, regulation, order,
interpretation, or other action, prevent or significantly
interfere with the ability of a depository institution, or an
affiliate thereof, to engage, directly or indirectly, either by
itself or in conjunction with an affiliate or any other person,
in any insurance sales, solicitation, or crossmarketing
activity.
(B) Certain State laws preserved
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a State may impose any of
the following restrictions, or restrictions that are
substantially the same as but no more burdensome or restrictive
than those in each of the following clauses:
(i) Restrictions prohibiting the rejection of an insurance
policy by a depository institution or an affiliate of a
depository institution, solely because the policy has been
issued or underwritten by any person who is not associated
with such depository institution or affiliate when the
insurance is required in connection with a loan or extension
of credit.
(ii) Restrictions prohibiting a requirement for any debtor,
insurer, or insurance agent or broker to pay a separate
charge in connection with the handling of insurance that is
required in connection with a loan or other extension of
credit or the provision of another traditional banking
product by a depository institution, or any affiliate of a
depository institution, unless such charge would be required
when the depository institution or affiliate is the licensed
insurance agent or broker providing the insurance.
(iii) Restrictions prohibiting the use of any advertisement
or other insurance promotional material by a depository
institution or any affiliate of a depository institution that
would cause a reasonable person to believe mistakenly that -
(I) the Federal Government or a State is responsible for
the insurance sales activities of, or stands behind the
credit of, the institution or affiliate; or
(II) a State, or the Federal Government guarantees any
returns on insurance products, or is a source of payment on
any insurance obligation of or sold by the institution or
affiliate;
(iv) Restrictions prohibiting the payment or receipt of any
commission or brokerage fee or other valuable consideration
for services as an insurance agent or broker to or by any
person, unless such person holds a valid State license
regarding the applicable class of insurance at the time at
which the services are performed, except that, in this
clause, the term ''services as an insurance agent or broker''
does not include a referral by an unlicensed person of a
customer or potential customer to a licensed insurance agent
or broker that does not include a discussion of specific
insurance policy terms and conditions.
(v) Restrictions prohibiting any compensation paid to or
received by any individual who is not licensed to sell
insurance, for the referral of a customer that seeks to
purchase, or seeks an opinion or advice on, any insurance
product to a person that sells or provides opinions or advice
on such product, based on the purchase of insurance by the
customer.
(vi) Restrictions prohibiting the release of the insurance
information of a customer (defined as information concerning
the premiums, terms, and conditions of insurance coverage,
including expiration dates and rates, and insurance claims of
a customer contained in the records of the depository
institution or an affiliate thereof) to any person other than
an officer, director, employee, agent, or affiliate of a
depository institution, for the purpose of soliciting or
selling insurance, without the express consent of the
customer, other than a provision that prohibits -
(I) a transfer of insurance information to an
unaffiliated insurer in connection with transferring
insurance in force on existing insureds of the depository
institution or an affiliate thereof, or in connection with
a merger with or acquisition of an unaffiliated insurer; or
(II) the release of information as otherwise authorized
by State or Federal law.
(vii) Restrictions prohibiting the use of health
information obtained from the insurance records of a customer
for any purpose, other than for its activities as a licensed
agent or broker, without the express consent of the customer.
(viii) Restrictions prohibiting the extension of credit or
any product or service that is equivalent to an extension of
credit, lease or sale of property of any kind, or furnishing
of any services or fixing or varying the consideration for
any of the foregoing, on the condition or requirement that
the customer obtain insurance from a depository institution
or an affiliate of a depository institution, or a particular
insurer, agent, or broker, other than a prohibition that
would prevent any such depository institution or affiliate -
(I) from engaging in any activity described in this
clause that would not violate section 106 of the Bank
Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970 (12 U.S.C. 1971 et
seq.), as interpreted by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System; or
(II) from informing a customer or prospective customer
that insurance is required in order to obtain a loan or
credit, that loan or credit approval is contingent upon the
procurement by the customer of acceptable insurance, or
that insurance is available from the depository institution
or an affiliate of the depository institution.
(ix) Restrictions requiring, when an application by a
consumer for a loan or other extension of credit from a
depository institution is pending, and insurance is offered
or sold to the consumer or is required in connection with the
loan or extension of credit by the depository institution or
any affiliate thereof, that a written disclosure be provided
to the consumer or prospective customer indicating that the
customer's choice of an insurance provider will not affect
the credit decision or credit terms in any way, except that
the depository institution may impose reasonable requirements
concerning the creditworthiness of the insurer and scope of
coverage chosen.
(x) Restrictions requiring clear and conspicuous
disclosure, in writing, where practicable, to the customer
prior to the sale of any insurance policy that such policy -
(I) is not a deposit;
(II) is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation;
(III) is not guaranteed by any depository institution or,
if appropriate, an affiliate of any such institution or any
person soliciting the purchase of or selling insurance on
the premises thereof; and
(IV) where appropriate, involves investment risk,
including potential loss of principal.
(xi) Restrictions requiring that, when a customer obtains
insurance (other than credit insurance or flood insurance)
and credit from a depository institution, or any affiliate of
such institution, or any person soliciting the purchase of or
selling insurance on the premises thereof, the credit and
insurance transactions be completed through separate
documents.
(xii) Restrictions prohibiting, when a customer obtains
insurance (other than credit insurance or flood insurance)
and credit from a depository institution or an affiliate of
such institution, or any person soliciting the purchase of or
selling insurance on the premises thereof, inclusion of the
expense of insurance premiums in the primary credit
transaction without the express written consent of the
customer.
(xiii) Restrictions requiring maintenance of separate and
distinct books and records relating to insurance
transactions, including all files relating to and reflecting
consumer complaints, and requiring that such insurance books
and records be made available to the appropriate State
insurance regulator for inspection upon reasonable notice.
(C) Limitations
(i) OCC deference
Section 6714(e) of this title does not apply with respect
to any State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or
other action regarding insurance sales, solicitation, or
cross marketing activities described in subparagraph (A) that
was issued, adopted, or enacted before September 3, 1998, and
that is not described in subparagraph (B).
(ii) Nondiscrimination
Subsection (e) of this section does not apply with respect
to any State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or
other action regarding insurance sales, solicitation, or
cross marketing activities described in subparagraph (A) that
was issued, adopted, or enacted before September 3, 1998, and
that is not described in subparagraph (B).
(iii) Construction
Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed -
(I) to limit the applicability of the decision of the
Supreme Court in Barnett Bank of Marion County N.A. v.
Nelson, 517 U.S. 25 (1996) with respect to any State
statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action
that is not referred to or described in subparagraph (B);
or
(II) to create any inference with respect to any State
statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other action
that is not described in this paragraph.
(3) Insurance activities other than sales
State statutes, regulations, interpretations, orders, and other
actions shall not be preempted under paragraph (1) to the extent
that they -
(A) relate to, or are issued, adopted, or enacted for the
purpose of regulating the business of insurance in accordance
with the Act entitled ''An Act to express the intent of
Congress with reference to the regulation of the business of
insurance'' and approved March 9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.)
(commonly referred to as the ''McCarran-Ferguson Act'');
(B) apply only to persons that are not depository
institutions, but that are directly engaged in the business of
insurance (except that they may apply to depository
institutions engaged in providing savings bank life insurance
as principal to the extent of regulating such insurance);
(C) do not relate to or directly or indirectly regulate
insurance sales, solicitations, or cross marketing activities;
and
(D) are not prohibited under subsection (e) of this section.
(4) Financial activities other than insurance
No State statute, regulation, order, interpretation, or other
action shall be preempted under paragraph (1) to the extent that
-
(A) it does not relate to, and is not issued and adopted, or
enacted for the purpose of regulating, directly or indirectly,
insurance sales, solicitations, or cross marketing activities
covered under paragraph (2);
(B) it does not relate to, and is not issued and adopted, or
enacted for the purpose of regulating, directly or indirectly,
the business of insurance activities other than sales,
solicitations, or cross marketing activities, covered under
paragraph (3);
(C) it does not relate to securities investigations or
enforcement actions referred to in subsection (f) of this
section; and
(D) it -
(i) does not distinguish by its terms between depository
institutions, and affiliates thereof, engaged in the activity
at issue and other persons engaged in the same activity in a
manner that is in any way adverse with respect to the conduct
of the activity by any such depository institution or
affiliate engaged in the activity at issue;
(ii) as interpreted or applied, does not have, and will not
have, an impact on depository institutions, or affiliates
thereof, engaged in the activity at issue, or any person who
has an association with any such depository institution or
affiliate, that is substantially more adverse than its impact
on other persons engaged in the same activity that are not
depository institutions or affiliates thereof, or persons who
do not have an association with any such depository
institution or affiliate;
(iii) does not effectively prevent a depository institution
or affiliate thereof from engaging in activities authorized
or permitted by this Act or any other provision of Federal
law; and
(iv) does not conflict with the intent of this Act
generally to permit affiliations that are authorized or
permitted by Federal law.
(e) Nondiscrimination
Except as provided in any restrictions described in subsection
(d)(2)(B) of this section, no State may, by statute, regulation,
order, interpretation, or other action, regulate the insurance
activities authorized or permitted under this Act or any other
provision of Federal law of a depository institution, or affiliate
thereof, to the extent that such statute, regulation, order,
interpretation, or other action -
(1) distinguishes by its terms between depository institutions,
or affiliates thereof, and other persons engaged in such
activities, in a manner that is in any way adverse to any such
depository institution, or affiliate thereof;
(2) as interpreted or applied, has or will have an impact on
depository institutions, or affiliates thereof, that is
substantially more adverse than its impact on other persons
providing the same products or services or engaged in the same
activities that are not depository institutions, or affiliates
thereof, or persons or entities affiliated therewith;
(3) effectively prevents a depository institution, or affiliate
thereof, from engaging in insurance activities authorized or
permitted by this Act or any other provision of Federal law; or
(4) conflicts with the intent of this Act generally to permit
affiliations that are authorized or permitted by Federal law
between depository institutions, or affiliates thereof, and
persons engaged in the business of insurance.
(f) Limitation
Subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall not be construed to
affect -
(1) the jurisdiction of the securities commission (or any
agency or office performing like functions) of any State, under
the laws of such State -
(A) to investigate and bring enforcement actions, consistent
with section 77r(c) of this title, with respect to fraud or
deceit or unlawful conduct by any person, in connection with
securities or securities transactions; or
(B) to require the registration of securities or the
licensure or registration of brokers, dealers, or investment
advisers (consistent with section 80b-3a of this title), or the
associated persons of a broker, dealer, or investment adviser
(consistent with such section 80b-3a of this title); or
(2) State laws, regulations, orders, interpretations, or other
actions of general applicability relating to the governance of
corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, or other
business associations incorporated or formed under the laws of
that State or domiciled in that State, or the applicability of
the antitrust laws of any State or any State law that is similar
to the antitrust laws if such laws, regulations, orders,
interpretations, or other actions are not inconsistent with the
purposes of this Act to authorize or permit certain affiliations
and to remove barriers to such affiliations.
(g) Definitions
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) Affiliate
The term ''affiliate'' means any company that controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with another company.
(2) Antitrust laws
The term ''antitrust laws'' has the meaning given the term in
subsection (a) of section 12 of this title, and includes section
45 of this title (to the extent that such section 45 relates to
unfair methods of competition).
(3) Depository institution
The term ''depository institution'' -
(A) has the meaning given the term in section 1813 of title
12; and
(B) includes any foreign bank that maintains a branch,
agency, or commercial lending company in the United States.
(4) Insurer
The term ''insurer'' means any person engaged in the business
of insurance.
(5) State
The term ''State'' means any State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title I, Sec. 104, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1352.)
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REFERENCES IN TEXT
The McCarran-Ferguson Act, referred to in subsecs. (a) and
(d)(3)(A), is act Mar. 9, 1945, ch. 20, 59 Stat. 33, which is
classified generally to chapter 20 (Sec. 1011 et seq.) of this
title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title note set out under section 1011 of this title and
Tables.
This Act, referred to in subsecs. (c)(1), (d)(1), (4)(D)(iii),
(iv), (e), and (f)(2), is Pub. L. 106-102, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1338, known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1999
Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title 12, Banks and
Banking, and Tables.
Section 106 of the Bank Holding Company Act Amendments of 1970,
referred to in subsec. (d)(2)(B)(viii)(I), is Pub. L. 91-607, title
I, Sec. 106, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1766, as amended, which is
classified generally to chapter 22 (Sec. 1971 et seq.) of Title 12,
Banks and Banking.
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SHORT TITLE OF 2002 AMENDMENT
Pub. L. 107-297, Sec. 1(a), Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2322,
provided that: ''This Act (amending section 248 of Title 12, Banks
and Banking, and sections 1606 and 1610 of Title 28, Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure, enacting provisions set out as notes under this
section and section 1610 of Title 28, and amending provisions set
out as a note under section 1610 of Title 28) may be cited as the
'Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002'.''
TERRORISM INSURANCE PROGRAM
Pub. L. 107-297, title I, Nov. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 2322, provided
that:
''SEC. 101. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
''(a) Findings. - The Congress finds that -
''(1) the ability of businesses and individuals to obtain
property and casualty insurance at reasonable and predictable
prices, in order to spread the risk of both routine and
catastrophic loss, is critical to economic growth, urban
development, and the construction and maintenance of public and
private housing, as well as to the promotion of United States
exports and foreign trade in an increasingly interconnected
world;
''(2) property and casualty insurance firms are important
financial institutions, the products of which allow mutualization
of risk and the efficient use of financial resources and enhance
the ability of the economy to maintain stability, while
responding to a variety of economic, political, environmental,
and other risks with a minimum of disruption;
''(3) the ability of the insurance industry to cover the
unprecedented financial risks presented by potential acts of
terrorism in the United States can be a major factor in the
recovery from terrorist attacks, while maintaining the stability
of the economy;
''(4) widespread financial market uncertainties have arisen
following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, including
the absence of information from which financial institutions can
make statistically valid estimates of the probability and cost of
future terrorist events, and therefore the size, funding, and
allocation of the risk of loss caused by such acts of terrorism;
''(5) a decision by property and casualty insurers to deal with
such uncertainties, either by terminating property and casualty
coverage for losses arising from terrorist events, or by
radically escalating premium coverage to compensate for risks of
loss that are not readily predictable, could seriously hamper
ongoing and planned construction, property acquisition, and other
business projects, generate a dramatic increase in rents, and
otherwise suppress economic activity; and
''(6) the United States Government should provide temporary
financial compensation to insured parties, contributing to the
stabilization of the United States economy in a time of national
crisis, while the financial services industry develops the
systems, mechanisms, products, and programs necessary to create a
viable financial services market for private terrorism risk
insurance.
''(b) Purpose. - The purpose of this title is to establish a
temporary Federal program that provides for a transparent system of
shared public and private compensation for insured losses resulting
from acts of terrorism, in order to -
''(1) protect consumers by addressing market disruptions and
ensure the continued widespread availability and affordability of
property and casualty insurance for terrorism risk; and
''(2) allow for a transitional period for the private markets
to stabilize, resume pricing of such insurance, and build
capacity to absorb any future losses, while preserving State
insurance regulation and consumer protections.
''SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
''In this title, the following definitions shall apply:
''(1) Act of terrorism. -
''(A) Certification. - The term 'act of terrorism' means any
act that is certified by the Secretary, in concurrence with the
Secretary of State, and the Attorney General of the United
States -
''(i) to be an act of terrorism;
''(ii) to be a violent act or an act that is dangerous to -
''(I) human life;
''(II) property; or
''(III) infrastructure;
''(iii) to have resulted in damage within the United
States, or outside of the United States in the case of -
''(I) an air carrier or vessel described in paragraph (5)(B); or
''(II) the premises of a United States mission; and
''(iv) to have been committed by an individual or
individuals acting on behalf of any foreign person or foreign
interest, as part of an effort to coerce the civilian
population of the United States or to influence the policy or
affect the conduct of the United States Government by
coercion.
''(B) Limitation. - No act shall be certified by the
Secretary as an act of terrorism if -
''(i) the act is committed as part of the course of a war
declared by the Congress, except that this clause shall not
apply with respect to any coverage for workers' compensation;
or
''(ii) property and casualty insurance losses resulting
from the act, in the aggregate, do not exceed $5,000,000.
''(C) Determinations final. - Any certification of, or
determination not to certify, an act as an act of terrorism
under this paragraph shall be final, and shall not be subject
to judicial review.
''(D) Nondelegation. - The Secretary may not delegate or
designate to any other officer, employee, or person, any
determination under this paragraph of whether, during the
effective period of the Program, an act of terrorism has
occurred.
''(2) Affiliate. - The term 'affiliate' means, with respect to
an insurer, any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with the insurer.
''(3) Control. - An entity has 'control' over another entity,
if -
''(A) the entity directly or indirectly or acting through 1
or more other persons owns, controls, or has power to vote 25
percent or more of any class of voting securities of the other
entity;
''(B) the entity controls in any manner the election of a
majority of the directors or trustees of the other entity; or
''(C) the Secretary determines, after notice and opportunity
for hearing, that the entity directly or indirectly exercises a
controlling influence over the management or policies of the
other entity.
''(4) Direct earned premium. - The term 'direct earned premium'
means a direct earned premium for property and casualty insurance
issued by any insurer for insurance against losses occurring at
the locations described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph
(5).
''(5) Insured loss. - The term 'insured loss' means any loss
resulting from an act of terrorism (including an act of war, in
the case of workers' compensation) that is covered by primary or
excess property and casualty insurance issued by an insurer if
such loss -
''(A) occurs within the United States; or
''(B) occurs to an air carrier (as defined in section 40102
of title 49, United States Code), to a United States flag
vessel (or a vessel based principally in the United States, on
which United States income tax is paid and whose insurance
coverage is subject to regulation in the United States),
regardless of where the loss occurs, or at the premises of any
United States mission.
''(6) Insurer. - The term 'insurer' means any entity, including
any affiliate thereof -
''(A) that is -
''(i) licensed or admitted to engage in the business of
providing primary or excess insurance in any State;
''(ii) not licensed or admitted as described in clause (i),
if it is an eligible surplus line carrier listed on the
Quarterly Listing of Alien Insurers of the NAIC, or any
successor thereto;
''(iii) approved for the purpose of offering property and
casualty insurance by a Federal agency in connection with
maritime, energy, or aviation activity;
''(iv) a State residual market insurance entity or State
workers' compensation fund; or
''(v) any other entity described in section 103(f), to the
extent provided in the rules of the Secretary issued under
section 103(f);
''(B) that receives direct earned premiums for any type of
commercial property and casualty insurance coverage, other than
in the case of entities described in sections 103(d) and
103(f); and
''(C) that meets any other criteria that the Secretary may
reasonably prescribe.
''(7) Insurer deductible. - The term 'insurer deductible' means
-
''(A) for the Transition Period, the value of an insurer's
direct earned premiums over the calendar year immediately
preceding the date of enactment of this Act (Nov. 26, 2002),
multiplied by 1 percent;
''(B) for Program Year 1, the value of an insurer's direct
earned premiums over the calendar year immediately preceding
Program Year 1, multiplied by 7 percent;
''(C) for Program Year 2, the value of an insurer's direct
earned premiums over the calendar year immediately preceding
Program Year 2, multiplied by 10 percent;
''(D) for Program Year 3, the value of an insurer's direct
earned premiums over the calendar year immediately preceding
Program Year 3, multiplied by 15 percent; and
''(E) notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) through (D), for the
Transition Period, Program Year 1, Program Year 2, or Program
Year 3, if an insurer has not had a full year of operations
during the calendar year immediately preceding such Period or
Program Year, such portion of the direct earned premiums of the
insurer as the Secretary determines appropriate, subject to
appropriate methodologies established by the Secretary for
measuring such direct earned premiums.
''(8) NAIC. - The term 'NAIC' means the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners.
''(9) Person. - The term 'person' means any individual,
business or nonprofit entity (including those organized in the
form of a partnership, limited liability company, corporation, or
association), trust or estate, or a State or political
subdivision of a State or other governmental unit.
''(10) Program. - The term 'Program' means the Terrorism
Insurance Program established by this title.
''(11) Program years. -
''(A) Transition period. - The term 'Transition Period' means
the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act (Nov.
26, 2002) and ending on December 31, 2002.
''(B) Program year 1. - The term 'Program Year 1' means the
period beginning on January 1, 2003 and ending on December 31,
2003.
''(C) Program year 2. - The term 'Program Year 2' means the
period beginning on January 1, 2004 and ending on December 31,
2004.
''(D) Program year 3. - The term 'Program Year 3' means the
period beginning on January 1, 2005 and ending on December 31,
2005.
''(12) Property and casualty insurance. - The term 'property
and casualty insurance' -
''(A) means commercial lines of property and casualty
insurance, including excess insurance, workers' compensation
insurance, and surety insurance; and
''(B) does not include -
''(i) Federal crop insurance issued or reinsured under the
Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), or any
other type of crop or livestock insurance that is privately
issued or reinsured;
''(ii) private mortgage insurance (as that term is defined
in section 2 of the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 (12
U.S.C. 4901)) or title insurance;
''(iii) financial guaranty insurance issued by monoline
financial guaranty insurance corporations;
''(iv) insurance for medical malpractice;
''(v) health or life insurance, including group life
insurance;
''(vi) flood insurance provided under the National Flood
Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4001 et seq.); or
''(vii) reinsurance or retrocessional reinsurance.
''(13) Secretary. - The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of
the Treasury.
''(14) State. - The term 'State' means any State of the United
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American
Samoa, Guam, each of the United States Virgin Islands, and any
territory or possession of the United States.
''(15) United states. - The term 'United States' means the
several States, and includes the territorial sea and the
continental shelf of the United States, as those terms are
defined in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of
1994 (18 U.S.C. 2280, 2281).
''(16) Rule of construction for dates. - With respect to any
reference to a date in this title, such day shall be construed -
''(A) to begin at 12:01 a.m. on that date; and
''(B) to end at midnight on that date.
''SEC. 103. TERRORISM INSURANCE PROGRAM.
''(a) Establishment of Program. -
''(1) In general. - There is established in the Department of
the Treasury the Terrorism Insurance Program.
''(2) Authority of the secretary. - Notwithstanding any other
provision of State or Federal law, the Secretary shall administer
the Program, and shall pay the Federal share of compensation for
insured losses in accordance with subsection (e).
''(3) Mandatory participation. - Each entity that meets the
definition of an insurer under this title shall participate in
the Program.
''(b) Conditions for Federal Payments. - No payment may be made
by the Secretary under this section with respect to an insured loss
that is covered by an insurer, unless -
''(1) the person that suffers the insured loss, or a person
acting on behalf of that person, files a claim with the insurer;
''(2) the insurer provides clear and conspicuous disclosure to
the policyholder of the premium charged for insured losses
covered by the Program and the Federal share of compensation for
insured losses under the Program -
''(A) in the case of any policy that is issued before the
date of enactment of this Act (Nov. 26, 2002), not later than
90 days after that date of enactment;
''(B) in the case of any policy that is issued within 90 days
of the date of enactment of this Act, at the time of offer,
purchase, and renewal of the policy; and
''(C) in the case of any policy that is issued more than 90
days after the date of enactment of this Act, on a separate
line item in the policy, at the time of offer, purchase, and
renewal of the policy;
''(3) the insurer processes the claim for the insured loss in
accordance with appropriate business practices, and any
reasonable procedures that the Secretary may prescribe; and
''(4) the insurer submits to the Secretary, in accordance with
such reasonable procedures as the Secretary may establish -
''(A) a claim for payment of the Federal share of
compensation for insured losses under the Program;
''(B) written certification -
''(i) of the underlying claim; and
''(ii) of all payments made for insured losses; and
''(C) certification of its compliance with the provisions of
this subsection.
''(c) Mandatory Availability. -
''(1) Initial program periods. - During the period beginning on
the first day of the Transition Period and ending on the last day
of Program Year 2, each entity that meets the definition of an
insurer under section 102 -
''(A) shall make available, in all of its property and
casualty insurance policies, coverage for insured losses; and
''(B) shall make available property and casualty insurance
coverage for insured losses that does not differ materially
from the terms, amounts, and other coverage limitations
applicable to losses arising from events other than acts of
terrorism.
''(2) Program year 3. - Not later than September 1, 2004, the
Secretary shall, based on the factors referred to in section
108(d)(1), determine whether the provisions of subparagraphs (A)
and (B) of paragraph (1) should be extended through Program Year
3.
''(d) State Residual Market Insurance Entities. -
''(1) In general. - The Secretary shall issue regulations, as
soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act (Nov.
26, 2002), that apply the provisions of this title to State
residual market insurance entities and State workers'
compensation funds.
''(2) Treatment of certain entities. - For purposes of the
regulations issued pursuant to paragraph (1) -
''(A) a State residual market insurance entity that does not
share its profits and losses with private sector insurers shall
be treated as a separate insurer; and
''(B) a State residual market insurance entity that shares
its profits and losses with private sector insurers shall not
be treated as a separate insurer, and shall report to each
private sector insurance participant its share of the insured
losses of the entity, which shall be included in each private
sector insurer's insured losses.
''(3) Treatment of participation in certain entities. - Any
insurer that participates in sharing profits and losses of a
State residual market insurance entity shall include in its
calculations of premiums any premiums distributed to the insurer
by the State residual market insurance entity.
''(e) Insured Loss Shared Compensation. -
''(1) Federal share. -
''(A) In general. - The Federal share of compensation under
the Program to be paid by the Secretary for insured losses of
an insurer during the Transition Period and each Program Year
shall be equal to 90 percent of that portion of the amount of
such insured losses that exceeds the applicable insurer
deductible required to be paid during such Transition Period or
such Program Year.
''(B) Prohibition on duplicative compensation. - The Federal
share of compensation for insured losses under the Program
shall be reduced by the amount of compensation provided by the
Federal Government to any person under any other Federal
program for those insured losses.
''(2) Cap on annual liability. -
''(A) In general. - Notwithstanding paragraph (1) or any
other provision of Federal or State law, if the aggregate
insured losses exceed $100,000,000,000, during the period
beginning on the first day of the Transition Period and ending
on the last day of Program Year 1, or during Program Year 2 or
Program Year 3 (until such time as the Congress may act
otherwise with respect to such losses) -
''(i) the Secretary shall not make any payment under this
title for any portion of the amount of such losses that
exceeds $100,000,000,000; and
''(ii) no insurer that has met its insurer deductible shall
be liable for the payment of any portion of that amount that
exceeds $100,000,000,000.
''(B) Insurer share. - For purposes of subparagraph (A), the
Secretary shall determine the pro rata share of insured losses
to be paid by each insurer that incurs insured losses under the
Program.
''(3) Notice to congress. - The Secretary shall notify the
Congress if estimated or actual aggregate insured losses exceed
$100,000,000,000 during the period beginning on the first day of
the Transition Period and ending on the last day of Program Year
1, or during Program Year 2 or Program Year 3, and the Congress
shall determine the procedures for and the source of any payments
for such excess insured losses.
''(4) Final netting. - The Secretary shall have sole discretion
to determine the time at which claims relating to any insured
loss or act of terrorism shall become final.
''(5) Determinations final. - Any determination of the
Secretary under this subsection shall be final, unless expressly
provided, and shall not be subject to judicial review.
''(6) Insurance marketplace aggregate retention amount. - For
purposes of paragraph (7), the insurance marketplace aggregate
retention amount shall be -
''(A) for the period beginning on the first day of the
Transition Period and ending on the last day of Program Year 1,
the lesser of -
''(i) $10,000,000,000; and
''(ii) the aggregate amount, for all insurers, of insured
losses during such period;
''(B) for Program Year 2, the lesser of -
''(i) $12,500,000,000; and
''(ii) the aggregate amount, for all insurers, of insured
losses during such Program Year; and
''(C) for Program Year 3, the lesser of -
''(i) $15,000,000,000; and
''(ii) the aggregate amount, for all insurers, of insured
losses during such Program Year.
''(7) Recoupment of federal share. -
''(A) Mandatory recoupment amount. - For purposes of this
paragraph, the mandatory recoupment amount for each of the
periods referred to in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of
paragraph (6) shall be the difference between -
''(i) the insurance marketplace aggregate retention amount
under paragraph (6) for such period; and
''(ii) the aggregate amount, for all insurers, of insured
losses during such period that are not compensated by the
Federal Government because such losses -
''(I) are within the insurer deductible for the insurer subject to
the losses; or
''(II) are within the portion of losses of the insurer that exceed
the insurer deductible, but are not compensated pursuant to
paragraph (1).
''(B) No mandatory recoupment if uncompensated losses exceed
insurance marketplace retention. - Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), if the aggregate amount of uncompensated insured losses
referred to in clause (ii) of such subparagraph for any period
referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (6)
is greater than the insurance marketplace aggregate retention
amount under paragraph (6) for such period, the mandatory
recoupment amount shall be $0.
''(C) Mandatory establishment of surcharges to recoup
mandatory recoupment amount. - The Secretary shall collect, for
repayment of the Federal financial assistance provided in
connection with all acts of terrorism (or acts of war, in the
case of workers compensation) occurring during any of the
periods referred to in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of
paragraph (6), terrorism loss risk-spreading premiums in an
amount equal to any mandatory recoupment amount for such
period.
''(D) Discretionary recoupment of remainder of financial
assistance. - To the extent that the amount of Federal
financial assistance provided exceeds any mandatory recoupment
amount, the Secretary may recoup, through terrorism loss
risk-spreading premiums, such additional amounts that the
Secretary believes can be recouped, based on -
''(i) the ultimate costs to taxpayers of no additional
recoupment;
''(ii) the economic conditions in the commercial
marketplace, including the capitalization, profitability, and
investment returns of the insurance industry and the current
cycle of the insurance markets;
''(iii) the affordability of commercial insurance for
small- and medium-sized businesses; and
''(iv) such other factors as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
''(8) Policy surcharge for terrorism loss risk-spreading
premiums. -
''(A) Policyholder premium. - Any amount established by the
Secretary as a terrorism loss risk-spreading premium shall -
''(i) be imposed as a policyholder premium surcharge on
property and casualty insurance policies in force after the
date of such establishment;
''(ii) begin with such period of coverage during the year
as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
''(iii) be based on a percentage of the premium amount
charged for property and casualty insurance coverage under
the policy.
''(B) Collection. - The Secretary shall provide for insurers
to collect terrorism loss risk-spreading premiums and remit
such amounts collected to the Secretary.
''(C) Percentage limitation. - A terrorism loss
risk-spreading premium (including any additional amount
included in such premium on a discretionary basis pursuant to
paragraph (7)(D)) may not exceed, on an annual basis, the
amount equal to 3 percent of the premium charged for property
and casualty insurance coverage under the policy.
''(D) Adjustment for urban and smaller commercial and rural
areas and different lines of insurance. -
''(i) Adjustments. - In determining the method and manner
of imposing terrorism loss risk-spreading premiums, including
the amount of such premiums, the Secretary shall take into
consideration -
''(I) the economic impact on commercial centers of urban areas,
including the effect on commercial rents and commercial
insurance premiums, particularly rents and premiums charged
to small businesses, and the availability of lease space
and commercial insurance within urban areas;
''(II) the risk factors related to rural areas and smaller
commercial centers, including the potential exposure to
loss and the likely magnitude of such loss, as well as any
resulting cross-subsidization that might result; and
''(III) the various exposures to terrorism risk for different
lines of insurance.
''(ii) Recoupment of adjustments. - Any mandatory
recoupment amounts not collected by the Secretary because of
adjustments under this subparagraph shall be recouped through
additional terrorism loss risk-spreading premiums.
''(E) Timing of premiums. - The Secretary may adjust the
timing of terrorism loss risk-spreading premiums to provide for
equivalent application of the provisions of this title to
policies that are not based on a calendar year, or to apply
such provisions on a daily, monthly, or quarterly basis, as
appropriate.
''(f) Captive Insurers and Other Self-Insurance Arrangements. -
The Secretary may, in consultation with the NAIC or the appropriate
State regulatory authority, apply the provisions of this title, as
appropriate, to other classes or types of captive insurers and
other self-insurance arrangements by municipalities and other
entities (such as workers' compensation self-insurance programs and
State workers' compensation reinsurance pools), but only if such
application is determined before the occurrence of an act of
terrorism in which such an entity incurs an insured loss and all of
the provisions of this title are applied comparably to such
entities.
''(g) Reinsurance to Cover Exposure. -
''(1) Obtaining coverage. - This title may not be construed to
limit or prevent insurers from obtaining reinsurance coverage for
insurer deductibles or insured losses retained by insurers
pursuant to this section, nor shall the obtaining of such
coverage affect the calculation of such deductibles or
retentions.
''(2) Limitation on financial assistance. - The amount of
financial assistance provided pursuant to this section shall not
be reduced by reinsurance paid or payable to an insurer from
other sources, except that recoveries from such other sources,
taken together with financial assistance for the Transition
Period or a Program Year provided pursuant to this section, may
not exceed the aggregate amount of the insurer's insured losses
for such period. If such recoveries and financial assistance for
the Transition Period or a Program Year exceed such aggregate
amount of insured losses for that period and there is no
agreement between the insurer and any reinsurer to the contrary,
an amount in excess of such aggregate insured losses shall be
returned to the Secretary.
''(h) Group Life Insurance Study. -
''(1) Study. - The Secretary shall study, on an expedited
basis, whether adequate and affordable catastrophe reinsurance
for acts of terrorism is available to life insurers in the United
States that issue group life insurance, and the extent to which
the threat of terrorism is reducing the availability of group
life insurance coverage for consumers in the United States.
''(2) Conditional Coverage. - To the extent that the Secretary
determines that such coverage is not or will not be reasonably
available to both such insurers and consumers, the Secretary
shall, in consultation with the NAIC -
''(A) apply the provisions of this title, as appropriate, to
providers of group life insurance; and
''(B) provide such restrictions, limitations, or conditions
with respect to any financial assistance provided that the
Secretary deems appropriate, based on the study under paragraph
(1).
''(i) Study and Report. -
''(1) Study. - The Secretary, after consultation with the NAIC,
representatives of the insurance industry, and other experts in
the insurance field, shall conduct a study of the potential
effects of acts of terrorism on the availability of life
insurance and other lines of insurance coverage, including
personal lines.
''(2) Report. - Not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of this Act (Nov. 26, 2002), the Secretary shall submit
a report to the Congress on the results of the study conducted
under paragraph (1).
''SEC. 104. GENERAL AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION OF CLAIMS.
''(a) General Authority. - The Secretary shall have the powers
and authorities necessary to carry out the Program, including
authority -
''(1) to investigate and audit all claims under the Program;
and
''(2) to prescribe regulations and procedures to effectively
administer and implement the Program, and to ensure that all
insurers and self-insured entities that participate in the
Program are treated comparably under the Program.
''(b) Interim Rules and Procedures. - The Secretary may issue
interim final rules or procedures specifying the manner in which -
''(1) insurers may file and certify claims under the Program;
''(2) the Federal share of compensation for insured losses will
be paid under the Program, including payments based on estimates
of or actual insured losses;
''(3) the Secretary may, at any time, seek repayment from or
reimburse any insurer, based on estimates of insured losses under
the Program, to effectuate the insured loss sharing provisions in
section 103; and
''(4) the Secretary will determine any final netting of
payments under the Program, including payments owed to the
Federal Government from any insurer and any Federal share of
compensation for insured losses owed to any insurer, to
effectuate the insured loss sharing provisions in section 103.
''(c) Consultation. - The Secretary shall consult with the NAIC,
as the Secretary determines appropriate, concerning the Program.
''(d) Contracts for Services. - The Secretary may employ persons
or contract for services as may be necessary to implement the
Program.
''(e) Civil Penalties. -
''(1) In general. - The Secretary may assess a civil monetary
penalty in an amount not exceeding the amount under paragraph (2)
against any insurer that the Secretary determines, on the record
after opportunity for a hearing -
''(A) has failed to charge, collect, or remit terrorism loss
risk-spreading premiums under section 103(e) in accordance with
the requirements of, or regulations issued under, this title;
''(B) has intentionally provided to the Secretary erroneous
information regarding premium or loss amounts;
''(C) submits to the Secretary fraudulent claims under the
Program for insured losses;
''(D) has failed to provide the disclosures required under
subsection (f); or
''(E) has otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of,
or the regulations issued under, this title.
''(2) Amount. - The amount under this paragraph is the greater
of $1,000,000 and, in the case of any failure to pay, charge,
collect, or remit amounts in accordance with this title or the
regulations issued under this title, such amount in dispute.
''(3) Recovery of amount in dispute. - A penalty under this
subsection for any failure to pay, charge, collect, or remit
amounts in accordance with this title or the regulations under
this title shall be in addition to any such amounts recovered by
the Secretary.
''(f) Submission of Premium Information. -
''(1) In general. - The Secretary shall annually compile
information on the terrorism risk insurance premium rates of
insurers for the preceding year.
''(2) Access to information. - To the extent that such
information is not otherwise available to the Secretary, the
Secretary may require each insurer to submit to the NAIC
terrorism risk insurance premium rates, as necessary to carry out
paragraph (1), and the NAIC shall make such information available
to the Secretary.
''(3) Availability to congress. - The Secretary shall make
information compiled under this subsection available to the
Congress, upon request.
''(g) Funding. -
''(1) Federal payments. - There are hereby appropriated, out of
funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as
may be necessary to pay the Federal share of compensation for
insured losses under the Program.
''(2) Administrative expenses. - There are hereby appropriated,
out of funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such
sums as may be necessary to pay reasonable costs of administering
the Program.
''SEC. 105. PREEMPTION AND NULLIFICATION OF PRE-EXISTING TERRORISM
EXCLUSIONS.
''(a) General Nullification. - Any terrorism exclusion in a
contract for property and casualty insurance that is in force on
the date of enactment of this Act (Nov. 26, 2002) shall be void to
the extent that it excludes losses that would otherwise be insured
losses.
''(b) General Preemption. - Any State approval of any terrorism
exclusion from a contract for property and casualty insurance that
is in force on the date of enactment of this Act, shall be void to
the extent that it excludes losses that would otherwise be insured
losses.
''(c) Reinstatement of Terrorism Exclusions. - Notwithstanding
subsections (a) and (b) or any provision of State law, an insurer
may reinstate a preexisting provision in a contract for property
and casualty insurance that is in force on the date of enactment of
this Act (Nov. 26, 2002) and that excludes coverage for an act of
terrorism only -
''(1) if the insurer has received a written statement from the
insured that affirmatively authorizes such reinstatement; or
''(2) if -
''(A) the insured fails to pay any increased premium charged
by the insurer for providing such terrorism coverage; and
''(B) the insurer provided notice, at least 30 days before
any such reinstatement, of -
''(i) the increased premium for such terrorism coverage;
and
''(ii) the rights of the insured with respect to such
coverage, including any date upon which the exclusion would
be reinstated if no payment is received.
''SEC. 106. PRESERVATION PROVISIONS.
''(a) State Law. - Nothing in this title shall affect the
jurisdiction or regulatory authority of the insurance commissioner
(or any agency or office performing like functions) of any State
over any insurer or other person -
''(1) except as specifically provided in this title; and
''(2) except that -
''(A) the definition of the term 'act of terrorism' in
section 102 shall be the exclusive definition of that term for
purposes of compensation for insured losses under this title,
and shall preempt any provision of State law that is
inconsistent with that definition, to the extent that such
provision of law would otherwise apply to any type of insurance
covered by this title;
''(B) during the period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act (Nov. 26, 2002) and ending on December 31, 2003, rates
and forms for terrorism risk insurance covered by this title
and filed with any State shall not be subject to prior approval
or a waiting period under any law of a State that would
otherwise be applicable, except that nothing in this title
affects the ability of any State to invalidate a rate as
excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory, and, with
respect to forms, where a State has prior approval authority,
it shall apply to allow subsequent review of such forms; and
''(C) during the period beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act and for so long as the Program is in effect, as
provided in section 108, including authority in subsection
108(b), books and records of any insurer that are relevant to
the Program shall be provided, or caused to be provided, to the
Secretary, upon request by the Secretary, notwithstanding any
provision of the laws of any State prohibiting or limiting such
access.
''(b) Existing Reinsurance Agreements. - Nothing in this title
shall be construed to alter, amend, or expand the terms of coverage
under any reinsurance agreement in effect on the date of enactment
of this Act (Nov. 26, 2002). The terms and conditions of such an
agreement shall be determined by the language of that agreement.
''SEC. 107. LITIGATION MANAGEMENT.
''(a) Procedures and Damages. -
''(1) In general. - If the Secretary makes a determination
pursuant to section 102 that an act of terrorism has occurred,
there shall exist a Federal cause of action for property damage,
personal injury, or death arising out of or resulting from such
act of terrorism, which shall be the exclusive cause of action
and remedy for claims for property damage, personal injury, or
death arising out of or relating to such act of terrorism, except
as provided in subsection (b).
''(2) Preemption of state actions. - All State causes of action
of any kind for property damage, personal injury, or death
arising out of or resulting from an act of terrorism that are
otherwise available under State law are hereby preempted, except
as provided in subsection (b).
''(3) Substantive law. - The substantive law for decision in
any such action described in paragraph (1) shall be derived from
the law, including choice of law principles, of the State in
which such act of terrorism occurred, unless such law is
otherwise inconsistent with or preempted by Federal law.
''(4) Jurisdiction. - For each determination described in
paragraph (1), not later than 90 days after the occurrence of an
act of terrorism, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation
shall designate 1 district court or, if necessary, multiple
district courts of the United States that shall have original and
exclusive jurisdiction over all actions for any claim (including
any claim for loss of property, personal injury, or death)
relating to or arising out of an act of terrorism subject to this
section. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation shall
select and assign the district court or courts based on the
convenience of the parties and the just and efficient conduct of
the proceedings. For purposes of personal jurisdiction, the
district court or courts designated by the Judicial Panel on
Multidistrict Litigation shall be deemed to sit in all judicial
districts in the United States.
''(5) Punitive damages. - Any amounts awarded in an action
under paragraph (1) that are attributable to punitive damages
shall not count as insured losses for purposes of this title.
''(b) Exclusion. - Nothing in this section shall in any way limit
the liability of any government, an organization, or person who
knowingly participates in, conspires to commit, aids and abets, or
commits any act of terrorism with respect to which a determination
described in subsection (a)(1) was made.
''(c) Right of Subrogation. - The United States shall have the
right of subrogation with respect to any payment or claim paid by
the United States under this title.
''(d) Relationship to Other Law. - Nothing in this section shall
be construed to affect -
''(1) any party's contractual right to arbitrate a dispute; or
''(2) any provision of the Air Transportation Safety and System
Stabilization Act (Public Law 107-42; 49 U.S.C. 40101 note.).
''(e) Effective Period. - This section shall apply only to
actions described in subsection (a)(1) that arise out of or result
from acts of terrorism that occur or occurred during the effective
period of the Program.
''SEC. 108. TERMINATION OF PROGRAM.
''(a) Termination of Program. - The Program shall terminate on
December 31, 2005.
''(b) Continuing Authority to Pay or Adjust Compensation. -
Following the termination of the Program, the Secretary may take
such actions as may be necessary to ensure payment, recoupment,
reimbursement, or adjustment of compensation for insured losses
arising out of any act of terrorism occurring during the period in
which the Program was in effect under this title, in accordance
with the provisions of section 103 and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
''(c) Repeal; Savings Clause. - This title is repealed on the
final termination date of the Program under subsection (a), except
that such repeal shall not be construed -
''(1) to prevent the Secretary from taking, or causing to be
taken, such actions under subsection (b) of this section,
paragraph (4), (5), (6), (7), or (8) of section 103(e), or
subsection (a)(1), (c), (d), or (e) of section 104, as in effect
on the day before the date of such repeal, or applicable
regulations promulgated thereunder, during any period in which
the authority of the Secretary under subsection (b) of this
section is in effect; or
''(2) to prevent the availability of funding under section
104(g) during any period in which the authority of the Secretary
under subsection (b) of this section is in effect.
''(d) Study and Report on the Program. -
''(1) Study. - The Secretary, in consultation with the NAIC,
representatives of the insurance industry and of policy holders,
other experts in the insurance field, and other experts as
needed, shall assess the effectiveness of the Program and the
likely capacity of the property and casualty insurance industry
to offer insurance for terrorism risk after termination of the
Program, and the availability and affordability of such insurance
for various policyholders, including railroads, trucking, and
public transit.
''(2) Report. - The Secretary shall submit a report to the
Congress on the results of the study conducted under paragraph
(1) not later than June 30, 2005.''
-TRANS-
TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see
note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and
Insular Possessions.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 6711, 6713, 6715, 6805 of
this title; title 12 section 1844.
-CITE-
15 USC SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
.
-HEAD-
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6711 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6711. Functional regulation of insurance
-STATUTE-
The insurance activities of any person (including a national bank
exercising its power to act as agent under section 92 of title 12)
shall be functionally regulated by the States, subject to section
6701 of this title.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 301, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1407.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6712 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6712. Insurance underwriting in national banks
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
Except as provided in section 6713 of this title, a national bank
and the subsidiaries of a national bank may not provide insurance
in a State as principal except that this prohibition shall not
apply to authorized products.
(b) Authorized products
For the purposes of this section, a product is authorized if -
(1) as of January 1, 1999, the Comptroller of the Currency had
determined in writing that national banks may provide such
product as principal, or national banks were in fact lawfully
providing such product as principal;
(2) no court of relevant jurisdiction had, by final judgment,
overturned a determination of the Comptroller of the Currency
that national banks may provide such product as principal; and
(3) the product is not title insurance, or an annuity contract
the income of which is subject to tax treatment under section 72
of title 26.
(c) Definition
For purposes of this section, the term ''insurance'' means -
(1) any product regulated as insurance as of January 1, 1999,
in accordance with the relevant State insurance law, in the State
in which the product is provided;
(2) any product first offered after January 1, 1999, which -
(A) a State insurance regulator determines shall be regulated
as insurance in the State in which the product is provided
because the product insures, guarantees, or indemnifies against
liability, loss of life, loss of health, or loss through damage
to or destruction of property, including, but not limited to,
surety bonds, life insurance, health insurance, title
insurance, and property and casualty insurance (such as private
passenger or commercial automobile, homeowners, mortgage,
commercial multiperil, general liability, professional
liability, workers' compensation, fire and allied lines, farm
owners multiperil, aircraft, fidelity, surety, medical
malpractice, ocean marine, inland marine, and boiler and
machinery insurance); and
(B) is not a product or service of a bank that is -
(i) a deposit product;
(ii) a loan, discount, letter of credit, or other extension
of credit;
(iii) a trust or other fiduciary service;
(iv) a qualified financial contract (as defined in or
determined pursuant to section 1821(e)(8)(D)(i) of title 12);
or
(v) a financial guaranty, except that this subparagraph (B)
shall not apply to a product that includes an insurance
component such that if the product is offered or proposed to
be offered by the bank as principal -
(I) it would be treated as a life insurance contract
under section 7702 of title 26; or
(II) in the event that the product is not a letter of
credit or other similar extension of credit, a qualified
financial contract, or a financial guaranty, it would
qualify for treatment for losses incurred with respect to
such product under section 832(b)(5) of title 26, if the
bank were subject to tax as an insurance company under
section 831 of that title; or
(3) any annuity contract, the income on which is subject to tax
treatment under section 72 of title 26.
(d) Rule of construction
For purposes of this section, providing insurance (including
reinsurance) outside the United States that insures, guarantees, or
indemnifies insurance products provided in a State, or that
indemnifies an insurance company with regard to insurance products
provided in a State, shall be considered to be providing insurance
as principal in that State.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 302, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1407.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in title 12 section 24a.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6713 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6713. Title insurance activities of national banks and their
affiliates
-STATUTE-
(a) General prohibition
No national bank may engage in any activity involving the
underwriting or sale of title insurance.
(b) Nondiscrimination parity exception
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including section
6701 of this title), in the case of any State in which banks
organized under the laws of such State are authorized to sell
title insurance as agent, a national bank may sell title
insurance as agent in such State, but only in the same manner, to
the same extent, and under the same restrictions as such State
banks are authorized to sell title insurance as agent in such
State.
(2) Coordination with ''wildcard'' provision
A State law which authorizes State banks to engage in any
activities in such State in which a national bank may engage
shall not be treated as a statute which authorizes State banks to
sell title insurance as agent, for purposes of paragraph (1).
(c) Grandfathering with consistent regulation
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) and
notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, a
national bank, and a subsidiary of a national bank, may conduct
title insurance activities which such national bank or subsidiary
was actively and lawfully conducting before November 12, 1999.
(2) Insurance affiliate
In the case of a national bank which has an affiliate which
provides insurance as principal and is not a subsidiary of the
bank, the national bank and any subsidiary of the national bank
may not engage in the underwriting of title insurance pursuant to
paragraph (1).
(3) Insurance subsidiary
In the case of a national bank which has a subsidiary which
provides insurance as principal and has no affiliate other than a
subsidiary which provides insurance as principal, the national
bank may not directly engage in any activity involving the
underwriting of title insurance.
(d) ''Affiliate'' and ''subsidiary'' defined
For purposes of this section, the terms ''affiliate'' and
''subsidiary'' have the same meanings as in section 1841 of title
12.
(e) Rule of construction
No provision of this Act or any other Federal law shall be
construed as superseding or affecting a State law which was in
effect before November 12, 1999, and which prohibits title
insurance from being offered, provided, or sold in such State, or
from being underwritten with respect to real property in such
State, by any person whatsoever.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 303, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1408.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsec. (e), is Pub. L. 106-102, Nov.
12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1338, known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. For
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of
1999 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title 12, Banks
and Banking, and Tables.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6712 of this title; title
12 section 24a.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6714 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6714. Expedited and equalized dispute resolution for Federal
regulators
-STATUTE-
(a) Filing in Court of Appeals
In the case of a regulatory conflict between a State insurance
regulator and a Federal regulator regarding insurance issues,
including whether a State law, rule, regulation, order, or
interpretation regarding any insurance sales or solicitation
activity is properly treated as preempted under Federal law, the
Federal or State regulator may seek expedited judicial review of
such determination by the United States Court of Appeals for the
circuit in which the State is located or in the United States Court
of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by filing a
petition for review in such court.
(b) Expedited review
The United States Court of Appeals in which a petition for review
is filed in accordance with subsection (a) of this section shall
complete all action on such petition, including rendering a
judgment, before the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date
on which such petition is filed, unless all parties to such
proceeding agree to any extension of such period.
(c) Supreme Court review
Any request for certiorari to the Supreme Court of the United
States of any judgment of a United States Court of Appeals with
respect to a petition for review under this section shall be filed
with the Supreme Court of the United States as soon as practicable
after such judgment is issued.
(d) Statute of limitation
No petition may be filed under this section challenging an order,
ruling, determination, or other action of a Federal regulator or
State insurance regulator after the later of -
(1) the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date on
which the first public notice is made of such order, ruling,
determination or other action in its final form; or
(2) the end of the 6-month period beginning on the date on
which such order, ruling, determination, or other action takes
effect.
(e) Standard of review
The court shall decide a petition filed under this section based
on its review on the merits of all questions presented under State
and Federal law, including the nature of the product or activity
and the history and purpose of its regulation under State and
Federal law, without unequal deference.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 304, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1409.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6701 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6715 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6715. Certain State affiliation laws preempted for insurance
companies and affiliates
-STATUTE-
Except as provided in section 6701(c)(2) of this title, no State
may, by law, regulation, order, interpretation, or otherwise -
(1) prevent or significantly interfere with the ability of any
insurer, or any affiliate of an insurer (whether such affiliate
is organized as a stock company, mutual holding company, or
otherwise), to become a financial holding company or to acquire
control of a depository institution;
(2) limit the amount of an insurer's assets that may be
invested in the voting securities of a depository institution (or
any company which controls such institution), except that the
laws of an insurer's State of domicile may limit the amount of
such investment to an amount that is not less than 5 percent of
the insurer's admitted assets; or
(3) prevent, significantly interfere with, or have the
authority to review, approve, or disapprove a plan of
reorganization by which an insurer proposes to reorganize from
mutual form to become a stock insurer (whether as a direct or
indirect subsidiary of a mutual holding company or otherwise)
unless such State is the State of domicile of the insurer.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 306, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1415.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6716 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6716. Interagency consultation
-STATUTE-
(a) Purpose
It is the intention of the Congress that the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System, as the umbrella supervisor for
financial holding companies, and the State insurance regulators, as
the functional regulators of companies engaged in insurance
activities, coordinate efforts to supervise companies that control
both a depository institution and a company engaged in insurance
activities regulated under State law. In particular, Congress
believes that the Board and the State insurance regulators should
share, on a confidential basis, information relevant to the
supervision of companies that control both a depository institution
and a company engaged in insurance activities, including
information regarding the financial health of the consolidated
organization and information regarding transactions and
relationships between insurance companies and affiliated depository
institutions. The appropriate Federal banking agencies for
depository institutions should also share, on a confidential basis,
information with the relevant State insurance regulators regarding
transactions and relationships between depository institutions and
affiliated companies engaged in insurance activities. The purpose
of this section is to encourage this coordination and confidential
sharing of information, and to thereby improve both the efficiency
and the quality of the supervision of financial holding companies
and their affiliated depository institutions and companies engaged
in insurance activities.
(b) Examination results and other information
(1) Information of the Board
Upon the request of the appropriate insurance regulator of any
State, the Board may provide any information of the Board
regarding the financial condition, risk management policies, and
operations of any financial holding company that controls a
company that is engaged in insurance activities and is regulated
by such State insurance regulator, and regarding any transaction
or relationship between such an insurance company and any
affiliated depository institution. The Board may provide any
other information to the appropriate State insurance regulator
that the Board believes is necessary or appropriate to permit the
State insurance regulator to administer and enforce applicable
State insurance laws.
(2) Banking agency information
Upon the request of the appropriate insurance regulator of any
State, the appropriate Federal banking agency may provide any
information of the agency regarding any transaction or
relationship between a depository institution supervised by such
Federal banking agency and any affiliated company that is engaged
in insurance activities regulated by such State insurance
regulator. The appropriate Federal banking agency may provide
any other information to the appropriate State insurance
regulator that the agency believes is necessary or appropriate to
permit the State insurance regulator to administer and enforce
applicable State insurance laws.
(3) State insurance regulator information
Upon the request of the Board or the appropriate Federal
banking agency, a State insurance regulator may provide any
examination or other reports, records, or other information to
which such insurance regulator may have access with respect to a
company which -
(A) is engaged in insurance activities and regulated by such
insurance regulator; and
(B) is an affiliate of a depository institution or financial
holding company.
(c) Consultation
Before making any determination relating to the initial
affiliation of, or the continuing affiliation of, a depository
institution or financial holding company with a company engaged in
insurance activities, the appropriate Federal banking agency shall
consult with the appropriate State insurance regulator of such
company and take the views of such insurance regulator into account
in making such determination.
(d) Effect on other authority
Nothing in this section shall limit in any respect the authority
of the appropriate Federal banking agency with respect to a
depository institution or bank holding company or any affiliate
thereof under any provision of law.
(e) Confidentiality and privilege
(1) Confidentiality
The appropriate Federal banking agency shall not provide any
information or material that is entitled to confidential
treatment under applicable Federal banking agency regulations, or
other applicable law, to a State insurance regulator unless such
regulator agrees to maintain the information or material in
confidence and to take all reasonable steps to oppose any effort
to secure disclosure of the information or material by the
regulator. The appropriate Federal banking agency shall treat as
confidential any information or material obtained from a State
insurance regulator that is entitled to confidential treatment
under applicable State regulations, or other applicable law, and
take all reasonable steps to oppose any effort to secure
disclosure of the information or material by the Federal banking
agency.
(2) Privilege
The provision pursuant to this section of information or
material by a Federal banking agency or State insurance regulator
shall not constitute a waiver of, or otherwise affect, any
privilege to which the information or material is otherwise
subject.
(f) Definitions
For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) Appropriate Federal banking agency; depository institution
The terms ''appropriate Federal banking agency'' and
''depository institution'' have the same meanings as in section
1813 of title 12.
(2) Board and financial holding company
The terms ''Board'' and ''financial holding company'' have the
same meanings as in section 1841 of title 12.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 307, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1415.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6717 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER I - STATE REGULATION OF INSURANCE
-HEAD-
Sec. 6717. Definition of State
-STATUTE-
For purposes of this subchapter, the term ''State'' means any
State of the United States, the District of Columbia, any territory
of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust
Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the
Northern Mariana Islands.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 308, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1417.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This subchapter, referred to in text, was in original ''this
subtitle'', meaning subtitle A (Sec. 301 et seq.) of title III of
Pub. L. 106-102, which enacted this subchapter and section 1831x of
Title 12, Banks and Banking. For complete classification of this
subtitle to the Code, see Tables.
-TRANS-
TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see
note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and
Insular Possessions.
-CITE-
15 USC SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
.
-HEAD-
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6731 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6731. General application
-STATUTE-
This subchapter shall only apply to a mutual insurance company in
a State which has not enacted a law which expressly establishes
reasonable terms and conditions for a mutual insurance company
domiciled in such State to reorganize into a mutual holding
company.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 311, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1417.)
-MISC1-
EFFECTIVE DATE
Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 316, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1422, provided that: ''This subtitle (subtitle B (Sec. 311-316) of
title III of Pub. L. 106-102, enacting this subchapter) shall take
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act (Nov. 12, 1999).''
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6732 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6732. Redomestication of mutual insurers
-STATUTE-
(a) Redomestication
A mutual insurer organized under the laws of any State may
transfer its domicile to a transferee domicile as a step in a
reorganization in which, pursuant to the laws of the transferee
domicile and consistent with the standards in subsection (f) of
this section, the mutual insurer becomes a stock insurer that is a
direct or indirect subsidiary of a mutual holding company.
(b) Resulting domicile
Upon complying with the applicable law of the transferee domicile
governing transfers of domicile and completion of a transfer
pursuant to this section, the mutual insurer shall cease to be a
domestic insurer in the transferor domicile and, as a continuation
of its corporate existence, shall be a domestic insurer of the
transferee domicile.
(c) Licenses preserved
The certificate of authority, agents' appointments and licenses,
rates, approvals and other items that a licensed State allows and
that are in existence immediately prior to the date that a
redomesticating insurer transfers its domicile pursuant to this
subchapter shall continue in full force and effect upon transfer,
if the insurer remains duly qualified to transact the business of
insurance in such licensed State.
(d) Effectiveness of outstanding policies and contracts
(1) In general
All outstanding insurance policies and annuities contracts of a
redomesticating insurer shall remain in full force and effect and
need not be endorsed as to the new domicile of the insurer,
unless so ordered by the State insurance regulator of a licensed
State, and then only in the case of outstanding policies and
contracts whose owners reside in such licensed State.
(2) Forms
(A) Applicable State law may require a redomesticating insurer
to file new policy forms with the State insurance regulator of a
licensed State on or before the effective date of the transfer.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a redomesticating insurer
may use existing policy forms with appropriate endorsements to
reflect the new domicile of the redomesticating insurer until the
new policy forms are approved for use by the State insurance
regulator of such licensed State.
(e) Notice
A redomesticating insurer shall give notice of the proposed
transfer to the State insurance regulator of each licensed State
and shall file promptly any resulting amendments to corporate
documents required to be filed by a foreign licensed mutual insurer
with the insurance regulator of each such licensed State.
(f) Procedural requirements
No mutual insurer may redomesticate to another State and
reorganize into a mutual holding company pursuant to this section
unless the State insurance regulator of the transferee domicile
determines that the plan of reorganization of the insurer includes
the following requirements:
(1) Approval by board of directors and policyholders
The reorganization is approved by at least a majority of the
board of directors of the mutual insurer and at least a majority
of the policyholders who vote after notice, disclosure of the
reorganization and the effects of the transaction on policyholder
contractual rights, and reasonable opportunity to vote, in
accordance with such notice, disclosure, and voting procedures as
are approved by the State insurance regulator of the transferee
domicile.
(2) Continued voting control by policyholders; review of public
stock offering
After the consummation of a reorganization, the policyholders
of the reorganized insurer shall have the same voting rights with
respect to the mutual holding company as they had before the
reorganization with respect to the mutual insurer. With respect
to an initial public offering of stock, the offering shall be
conducted in compliance with applicable securities laws and in a
manner approved by the State insurance regulator of the
transferee domicile.
(3) Award of stock or grant of options to officers and directors
During the applicable period provided for under the State law
of the transferee domicile following completion of an initial
public offering, or for a period of six months if no such
applicable period is provided, neither a stock holding company
nor the converted insurer shall award any stock options or stock
grants to persons who are elected officers or directors of the
mutual holding company, the stock holding company, or the
converted insurer, except with respect to any such awards or
options to which a person is entitled as a policyholder and as
approved by the State insurance regulator of the transferee
domicile.
(4) Policyholder rights
Upon reorganization into a mutual holding company, the
contractual rights of the policyholders are preserved.
(5) Fair and equitable treatment of policyholders
The reorganization is approved as fair and equitable to the
policyholders by the insurance regulator of the transferee
domicile.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 312, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1417.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6733 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6733. Effect on State laws restricting redomestication
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
Unless otherwise permitted by this subchapter, State laws of any
transferor domicile that conflict with the purposes and intent of
this subchapter are preempted, including but not limited to -
(1) any law that has the purpose or effect of impeding the
activities of, taking any action against, or applying any
provision of law or regulation to, any insurer or an affiliate of
such insurer because that insurer or any affiliate plans to
redomesticate, or has redomesticated, pursuant to this
subchapter;
(2) any law that has the purpose or effect of impeding the
activities of, taking action against, or applying any provision
of law or regulation to, any insured or any insurance licensee or
other intermediary because such person has procured insurance
from or placed insurance with any insurer or affiliate of such
insurer that plans to redomesticate, or has redomesticated,
pursuant to this subchapter, but only to the extent that such law
would treat such insured licensee or other intermediary
differently than if the person procured insurance from, or placed
insurance with, an insured licensee or other intermediary which
had not redomesticated; and
(3) any law that has the purpose or effect of terminating,
because of the redomestication of a mutual insurer pursuant to
this subchapter, any certificate of authority, agent appointment
or license, rate approval, or other approval, of any State
insurance regulator or other State authority in existence
immediately prior to the redomestication in any State other than
the transferee domicile.
(b) Differential treatment prohibited
No State law, regulation, interpretation, or functional
equivalent thereof, of a State other than a transferee domicile may
treat a redomesticating or redomesticated insurer or any affiliate
thereof any differently than an insurer operating in that State
that is not a redomesticating or redomesticated insurer.
(c) Laws prohibiting operations
If any licensed State fails to issue, delays the issuance of, or
seeks to revoke an original or renewal certificate of authority of
a redomesticated insurer promptly following redomestication, except
on grounds and in a manner consistent with its past practices
regarding the issuance of certificates of authority to foreign
insurers that are not redomesticating, then the redomesticating
insurer shall be exempt from any State law of the licensed State to
the extent that such State law or the operation of such State law
would make unlawful, or regulate, directly or indirectly, the
operation of the redomesticated insurer, except that such licensed
State may require the redomesticated insurer to -
(1) comply with the unfair claim settlement practices law of
the licensed State;
(2) pay, on a nondiscriminatory basis, applicable premium and
other taxes which are levied on licensed insurers or
policyholders under the laws of the licensed State;
(3) register with and designate the State insurance regulator
as its agent solely for the purpose of receiving service of legal
documents or process;
(4) submit to an examination by the State insurance regulator
in any licensed State in which the redomesticated insurer is
doing business to determine the insurer's financial condition, if
-
(A) the State insurance regulator of the transferee domicile
has not begun an examination of the redomesticated insurer and
has not scheduled such an examination to begin before the end
of the 1-year period beginning on the date of the
redomestication; and
(B) any such examination is coordinated to avoid unjustified
duplication and repetition;
(5) comply with a lawful order issued in -
(A) a delinquency proceeding commenced by the State insurance
regulator of any licensed State if there has been a judicial
finding of financial impairment under paragraph (7); or
(B) a voluntary dissolution proceeding;
(6) comply with any State law regarding deceptive, false, or
fraudulent acts or practices, except that if the licensed State
seeks an injunction regarding the conduct described in this
paragraph, such injunction must be obtained from a court of
competent jurisdiction as provided in section 6734(a) of this
title;
(7) comply with an injunction issued by a court of competent
jurisdiction, upon a petition by the State insurance regulator
alleging that the redomesticating insurer is in hazardous
financial condition or is financially impaired;
(8) participate in any insurance insolvency guaranty
association on the same basis as any other insurer licensed in
the licensed State; and
(9) require a person acting, or offering to act, as an
insurance licensee for a redomesticated insurer in the licensed
State to obtain a license from that State, except that such State
may not impose any qualification or requirement that
discriminates against a nonresident insurance licensee.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 313, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1419.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6734 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6734. Other provisions
-STATUTE-
(a) Judicial review
The appropriate United States district court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over litigation arising under this section (FOOTNOTE
1) involving any redomesticating or redomesticated insurer.
(FOOTNOTE 1) See References in Text note below.
(b) Severability
If any provision of this section, (FOOTNOTE 1) or the application
thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the
remainder of the section, (FOOTNOTE 1) and the application of such
provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected
thereby.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 314, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1420.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This section, referred to in text, probably should be a reference
to this subtitle, meaning subtitle B (Sec. 311-316) of title III of
Pub. L. 106-102, which is classified generally to this subchapter.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 6733, 6735 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6735 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER II - REDOMESTICATION OF MUTUAL INSURERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6735. Definitions
-STATUTE-
For purposes of this subchapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) Court of competent jurisdiction
The term ''court of competent jurisdiction'' means a court
authorized pursuant to section 6734(a) of this title to
adjudicate litigation arising under this subchapter.
(2) Domicile
The term ''domicile'' means the State in which an insurer is
incorporated, chartered, or organized.
(3) Insurance licensee
The term ''insurance licensee'' means any person holding a
license under State law to act as insurance agent, subagent,
broker, or consultant.
(4) Institution
The term ''institution'' means a corporation, joint stock
company, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, association, trust, partnership, or any similar
entity.
(5) Licensed State
The term ''licensed State'' means any State, the District of
Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands in which the
redomesticating insurer has a certificate of authority in effect
immediately prior to the redomestication.
(6) Mutual insurer
The term ''mutual insurer'' means a mutual insurer organized
under the laws of any State.
(7) Person
The term ''person'' means an individual, institution,
government or governmental agency, State or political subdivision
of a State, public corporation, board, association, estate,
trustee, or fiduciary, or other similar entity.
(8) Policyholder
The term ''policyholder'' means the owner of a policy issued by
a mutual insurer, except that, with respect to voting rights, the
term means a member of a mutual insurer or mutual holding company
granted the right to vote, as determined under applicable State
law.
(9) Redomesticated insurer
The term ''redomesticated insurer'' means a mutual insurer that
has redomesticated pursuant to this subchapter.
(10) Redomesticating insurer
The term ''redomesticating insurer'' means a mutual insurer
that is redomesticating pursuant to this subchapter.
(11) Redomestication or transfer
The term ''redomestication'' or ''transfer'' means the transfer
of the domicile of a mutual insurer from one State to another
State pursuant to this subchapter.
(12) State insurance regulator
The term ''State insurance regulator'' means the principal
insurance regulatory authority of a State, the District of
Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(13) State law
The term ''State law'' means the statutes of any State, the
District of Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands and
any regulation, order, or requirement prescribed pursuant to any
such statute.
(14) Transferee domicile
The term ''transferee domicile'' means the State to which a
mutual insurer is redomesticating pursuant to this subchapter.
(15) Transferor domicile
The term ''transferor domicile'' means the State from which a
mutual insurer is redomesticating pursuant to this subchapter.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 315, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1420.)
-TRANS-
TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see
note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and
Insular Possessions.
-CITE-
15 USC SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REGISTERED AGENTS AND BROKERS 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
.
-HEAD-
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6751 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6751. State flexibility in multistate licensing reforms
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
The provisions of this subchapter shall take effect unless, not
later than 3 years after November 12, 1999, at least a majority of
the States -
(1) have enacted uniform laws and regulations governing the
licensure of individuals and entities authorized to sell and
solicit the purchase of insurance within the State; or
(2) have enacted reciprocity laws and regulations governing the
licensure of nonresident individuals and entities authorized to
sell and solicit insurance within those States.
(b) Uniformity required
States shall be deemed to have established the uniformity
necessary to satisfy subsection (a)(1) of this section if the
States -
(1) establish uniform criteria regarding the integrity,
personal qualifications, education, training, and experience of
licensed insurance producers, including the qualification and
training of sales personnel in ascertaining the appropriateness
of a particular insurance product for a prospective customer;
(2) establish uniform continuing education requirements for
licensed insurance producers;
(3) establish uniform ethics course requirements for licensed
insurance producers in conjunction with the continuing education
requirements under paragraph (2);
(4) establish uniform criteria to ensure that an insurance
product, including any annuity contract, sold to a consumer is
suitable and appropriate for the consumer based on financial
information disclosed by the consumer; and
(5) do not impose any requirement upon any insurance producer
to be licensed or otherwise qualified to do business as a
nonresident that has the effect of limiting or conditioning that
producer's activities because of its residence or place of
operations, except that countersignature requirements imposed on
nonresident producers shall not be deemed to have the effect of
limiting or conditioning a producer's activities because of its
residence or place of operations under this section.
(c) Reciprocity required
States shall be deemed to have established the reciprocity
required to satisfy subsection (a)(2) of this section if the
following conditions are met:
(1) Administrative licensing procedures
At least a majority of the States permit a producer that has a
resident license for selling or soliciting the purchase of
insurance in its home State to receive a license to sell or
solicit the purchase of insurance in such majority of States as a
nonresident to the same extent that such producer is permitted to
sell or solicit the purchase of insurance in its State, if the
producer's home State also awards such licenses on such a
reciprocal basis, without satisfying any additional requirements
other than submitting -
(A) a request for licensure;
(B) the application for licensure that the producer submitted
to its home State;
(C) proof that the producer is licensed and in good standing
in its home State; and
(D) the payment of any requisite fee to the appropriate
authority.
(2) Continuing education requirements
A majority of the States accept an insurance producer's
satisfaction of its home State's continuing education
requirements for licensed insurance producers to satisfy the
States' own continuing education requirements if the producer's
home State also recognizes the satisfaction of continuing
education requirements on such a reciprocal basis.
(3) No limiting nonresident requirements
A majority of the States do not impose any requirement upon any
insurance producer to be licensed or otherwise qualified to do
business as a nonresident that has the effect of limiting or
conditioning that producer's activities because of its residence
or place of operations, except that countersignature requirements
imposed on nonresident producers shall not be deemed to have the
effect of limiting or conditioning a producer's activities
because of its residence or place of operations under this
section.
(4) Reciprocal reciprocity
Each of the States that satisfies paragraphs (1), (2), and (3)
grants reciprocity to residents of all of the other States that
satisfy such paragraphs.
(d) Determination
(1) NAIC determination
At the end of the 3-year period beginning on November 12, 1999,
the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (hereafter in
this subchapter referred to as the ''NAIC'') shall determine, in
consultation with the insurance commissioners or chief insurance
regulatory officials of the States, whether the uniformity or
reciprocity required by subsections (b) and (c) of this section
has been achieved.
(2) Judicial review
The appropriate United States district court shall have
exclusive jurisdiction over any challenge to the NAIC's
determination under this section and such court shall apply the
standards set forth in section 706 of title 5 when reviewing any
such challenge.
(e) Continued application
If, at any time, the uniformity or reciprocity required by
subsections (b) and (c) of this section no longer exists, the
provisions of this subchapter shall take effect 2 years after the
date on which such uniformity or reciprocity ceases to exist,
unless the uniformity or reciprocity required by those provisions
is satisfied before the expiration of that 2-year period.
(f) Savings provision
No provision of this section shall be construed as requiring that
any law, regulation, provision, or action of any State which
purports to regulate insurance producers, including any such law,
regulation, provision, or action which purports to regulate unfair
trade practices or establish consumer protections, including
countersignature laws, be altered or amended in order to satisfy
the uniformity or reciprocity required by subsections (b) and (c)
of this section, unless any such law, regulation, provision, or
action is inconsistent with a specific requirement of any such
subsection and then only to the extent of such inconsistency.
(g) Uniform licensing
Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any State
to adopt new or additional licensing requirements to achieve the
uniformity necessary to satisfy subsection (a)(1) of this section.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 321, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1422.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6752 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6752. National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers
-STATUTE-
(a) Establishment
There is established the National Association of Registered
Agents and Brokers (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the
''Association'').
(b) Status
The Association shall -
(1) be a nonprofit corporation;
(2) have succession until dissolved by an Act of Congress;
(3) not be an agent or instrumentality of the United States
Government; and
(4) except as otherwise provided in this Act, be subject to,
and have all the powers conferred upon a nonprofit corporation by
the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act (D.C. Code,
sec. 29y-1001 et seq.).
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 322, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1424.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4), is Pub. L. 106-102, Nov.
12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1338, known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. For
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short title of
1999 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title 12, Banks
and Banking, and Tables.
The District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act, referred to
in subsec. (b)(4), is Pub. L. 87-569, Aug. 6, 1962, 76 Stat. 265,
as amended, which is not classified to the Code.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6753 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6753. Purpose
-STATUTE-
The purpose of the Association shall be to provide a mechanism
through which uniform licensing, appointment, continuing education,
and other insurance producer sales qualification requirements and
conditions can be adopted and applied on a multistate basis, while
preserving the right of States to license, supervise, and
discipline insurance producers and to prescribe and enforce laws
and regulations with regard to insurance-related consumer
protection and unfair trade practices.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 323, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1424.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6754 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6754. Relationship to the Federal Government
-STATUTE-
The Association shall be subject to the supervision and oversight
of the NAIC.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 324, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1424.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6755 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6755. Membership
-STATUTE-
(a) Eligibility
(1) In general
Any State-licensed insurance producer shall be eligible to
become a member in the Association.
(2) Ineligibility for suspension or revocation of license
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a State-licensed insurance
producer shall not be eligible to become a member if a State
insurance regulator has suspended or revoked such producer's
license in that State during the 3-year period preceding the date
on which such producer applies for membership.
(3) Resumption of eligibility
Paragraph (2) shall cease to apply to any insurance producer if
-
(A) the State insurance regulator renews the license of such
producer in the State in which the license was suspended or
revoked; or
(B) the suspension or revocation is subsequently overturned.
(b) Authority to establish membership criteria
The Association shall have the authority to establish membership
criteria that -
(1) bear a reasonable relationship to the purposes for which
the Association was established; and
(2) do not unfairly limit the access of smaller agencies to the
Association membership.
(c) Establishment of classes and categories
(1) Classes of membership
The Association may establish separate classes of membership,
with separate criteria, if the Association reasonably determines
that performance of different duties requires different levels of
education, training, or experience.
(2) Categories
The Association may establish separate categories of membership
for individuals and for other persons. The establishment of any
such categories of membership shall be based either on the types
of licensing categories that exist under State laws or on the
aggregate amount of business handled by an insurance producer.
No special categories of membership, and no distinct membership
criteria, shall be established for members which are depository
institutions or for their employees, agents, or affiliates.
(d) Membership criteria
(1) In general
The Association may establish criteria for membership which
shall include standards for integrity, personal qualifications,
education, training, and experience.
(2) Minimum standard
In establishing criteria under paragraph (1), the Association
shall consider the highest levels of insurance producer
qualifications established under the licensing laws of the
States.
(e) Effect of membership
Membership in the Association shall entitle the member to
licensure in each State for which the member pays the requisite
fees, including licensing fees and, where applicable, bonding
requirements, set by such State.
(f) Annual renewal
Membership in the Association shall be renewed on an annual
basis.
(g) Continuing education
The Association shall establish, as a condition of membership,
continuing education requirements which shall be comparable to or
greater than the continuing education requirements under the
licensing laws of a majority of the States.
(h) Suspension and revocation
The Association may -
(1) inspect and examine the records and offices of the members
of the Association to determine compliance with the criteria for
membership established by the Association; and
(2) suspend or revoke the membership of an insurance producer
if -
(A) the producer fails to meet the applicable membership
criteria of the Association; or
(B) the producer has been subject to disciplinary action
pursuant to a final adjudicatory proceeding under the
jurisdiction of a State insurance regulator, and the
Association concludes that retention of membership in the
Association would not be in the public interest.
(i) Office of consumer complaints
(1) In general
The Association shall establish an office of consumer
complaints that shall -
(A) receive and investigate complaints from both consumers
and State insurance regulators related to members of the
Association; and
(B) recommend to the Association any disciplinary actions
that the office considers appropriate, to the extent that any
such recommendation is not inconsistent with State law.
(2) Records and referrals
The office of consumer complaints of the Association shall -
(A) maintain records of all complaints received in accordance
with paragraph (1) and make such records available to the NAIC
and to each State insurance regulator for the State of
residence of the consumer who filed the complaint; and
(B) refer, when appropriate, any such complaint to any
appropriate State insurance regulator.
(3) Telephone and other access
The office of consumer complaints shall maintain a toll-free
telephone number for the purpose of this subsection and, as
practicable, other alternative means of communication with
consumers, such as an Internet home page.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 325, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1424.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6763 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6756 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6756. Board of directors
-STATUTE-
(a) Establishment
There is established the board of directors of the Association
(hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the ''Board'') for the
purpose of governing and supervising the activities of the
Association and the members of the Association.
(b) Powers
The Board shall have such powers and authority as may be
specified in the bylaws of the Association.
(c) Composition
(1) Members
The Board shall be composed of 7 members appointed by the NAIC.
(2) Requirement
At least 4 of the members of the Board shall each have
significant experience with the regulation of commercial lines of
insurance in at least 1 of the 20 States in which the greatest
total dollar amount of commercial-lines insurance is placed in
the United States.
(3) Initial Board membership
(A) In general
If, by the end of the 2-year period beginning on November 12,
1999, the NAIC has not appointed the initial 7 members of the
Board of the Association, the initial Board shall consist of
the 7 State insurance regulators of the 7 States with the
greatest total dollar amount of commercial-lines insurance in
place as of the end of such period.
(B) Alternate composition
If any of the State insurance regulators described in
subparagraph (A) declines to serve on the Board, the State
insurance regulator with the next greatest total dollar amount
of commercial-lines insurance in place, as determined by the
NAIC as of the end of such period, shall serve as a member of
the Board.
(C) Inoperability
If fewer than 7 State insurance regulators accept appointment
to the Board, the Association shall be established without NAIC
oversight pursuant to section 6762 of this title.
(d) Terms
The term of each director shall, after the initial appointment of
the members of the Board, be for 3 years, with one-third of the
directors to be appointed each year.
(e) Board vacancies
A vacancy on the Board shall be filled in the same manner as the
original appointment of the initial Board for the remainder of the
term of the vacating member.
(f) Meetings
The Board shall meet at the call of the chairperson, or as
otherwise provided by the bylaws of the Association.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 326, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1426.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6757 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6757. Officers
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
(1) Positions
The officers of the Association shall consist of a chairperson
and a vice chairperson of the Board, a president, secretary, and
treasurer of the Association, and such other officers and
assistant officers as may be deemed necessary.
(2) Manner of selection
Each officer of the Board and the Association shall be elected
or appointed at such time and in such manner and for such terms
not exceeding 3 years as may be prescribed in the bylaws of the
Association.
(b) Criteria for chairperson
Only individuals who are members of the NAIC shall be eligible to
serve as the chairperson of the board of directors.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 327, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1427.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6758 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6758. Bylaws, rules, and disciplinary action
-STATUTE-
(a) Adoption and amendment of bylaws
(1) Copy required to be filed with the NAIC
The board of directors of the Association shall file with the
NAIC a copy of the proposed bylaws or any proposed amendment to
the bylaws, accompanied by a concise general statement of the
basis and purpose of such proposal.
(2) Effective date
Except as provided in paragraph (3), any proposed bylaw or
proposed amendment shall take effect -
(A) 30 days after the date of the filing of a copy with the
NAIC;
(B) upon such later date as the Association may designate; or
(C) upon such earlier date as the NAIC may determine.
(3) Disapproval by the NAIC
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), a proposed bylaw or amendment
shall not take effect if, after public notice and opportunity to
participate in a public hearing -
(A) the NAIC disapproves such proposal as being contrary to
the public interest or contrary to the purposes of this
subchapter and provides notice to the Association setting forth
the reasons for such disapproval; or
(B) the NAIC finds that such proposal involves a matter of
such significant public interest that public comment should be
obtained, in which case it may, after notifying the Association
in writing of such finding, require that the procedures set
forth in subsection (b) of this section be followed with
respect to such proposal, in the same manner as if such
proposed bylaw change were a proposed rule change within the
meaning of such subsection.
(b) Adoption and amendment of rules
(1) Filing proposed regulations with the NAIC
(A) In general
The board of directors of the Association shall file with the
NAIC a copy of any proposed rule or any proposed amendment to a
rule of the Association which shall be accompanied by a concise
general statement of the basis and purpose of such proposal.
(B) Other rules and amendments ineffective
No proposed rule or amendment shall take effect unless
approved by the NAIC or otherwise permitted in accordance with
this paragraph.
(2) Initial consideration by the NAIC
Not later than 35 days after the date of publication of notice
of filing of a proposal, or before the end of such longer period
not to exceed 90 days as the NAIC may designate after such date,
if the NAIC finds such longer period to be appropriate and sets
forth its reasons for so finding, or as to which the Association
consents, the NAIC shall -
(A) by order approve such proposed rule or amendment; or
(B) institute proceedings to determine whether such proposed
rule or amendment should be modified or disapproved.
(3) NAIC proceedings
(A) In general
Proceedings instituted by the NAIC with respect to a proposed
rule or amendment pursuant to paragraph (2) shall -
(i) include notice of the grounds for disapproval under
consideration;
(ii) provide opportunity for hearing; and
(iii) be concluded not later than 180 days after the date
of the Association's filing of such proposed rule or
amendment.
(B) Disposition of proposal
At the conclusion of any proceeding under subparagraph (A),
the NAIC shall, by order, approve or disapprove the proposed
rule or amendment.
(C) Extension of time for consideration
The NAIC may extend the time for concluding any proceeding
under subparagraph (A) for -
(i) not more than 60 days if the NAIC finds good cause for
such extension and sets forth its reasons for so finding; or
(ii) such longer period as to which the Association
consents.
(4) Standards for review
(A) Grounds for approval
The NAIC shall approve a proposed rule or amendment if the
NAIC finds that the rule or amendment is in the public interest
and is consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(B) Approval before end of notice period
The NAIC shall not approve any proposed rule before the end
of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the
Association files proposed rules or amendments in accordance
with paragraph (1), unless the NAIC finds good cause for so
doing and sets forth the reasons for so finding.
(5) Alternate procedure
(A) In general
Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection other than
subparagraph (B), a proposed rule or amendment relating to the
administration or organization of the Association shall take
effect -
(i) upon the date of filing with the NAIC, if such proposed
rule or amendment is designated by the Association as
relating solely to matters which the NAIC, consistent with
the public interest and the purposes of this subsection,
determines by rule do not require the procedures set forth in
this paragraph; or
(ii) upon such date as the NAIC shall for good cause
determine.
(B) Abrogation by the NAIC
(i) In general
At any time within 60 days after the date of filing of any
proposed rule or amendment under subparagraph (A)(i) or
clause (ii) of this subparagraph, the NAIC may repeal such
rule or amendment and require that the rule or amendment be
refiled and reviewed in accordance with this paragraph, if
the NAIC finds that such action is necessary or appropriate
in the public interest, for the protection of insurance
producers or policyholders, or otherwise in furtherance of
the purposes of this subchapter.
(ii) Effect of reconsideration by the NAIC
Any action of the NAIC pursuant to clause (i) shall -
(I) not affect the validity or force of a rule change
during the period such rule or amendment was in effect; and
(II) not be considered to be a final action.
(c) Action required by the NAIC
The NAIC may, in accordance with such rules as the NAIC
determines to be necessary or appropriate to the public interest or
to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, require the
Association to adopt, amend, or repeal any bylaw, rule, or
amendment of the Association, whenever adopted.
(d) Disciplinary action by the Association
(1) Specification of charges
In any proceeding to determine whether membership shall be
denied, suspended, revoked, or not renewed (hereafter in this
section referred to as a ''disciplinary action''), the
Association shall bring specific charges, notify such member of
such charges, give the member an opportunity to defend against
the charges, and keep a record.
(2) Supporting statement
A determination to take disciplinary action shall be supported
by a statement setting forth -
(A) any act or practice in which such member has been found
to have been engaged;
(B) the specific provision of this subchapter, the rules or
regulations under this subchapter, or the rules of the
Association which any such act or practice is deemed to
violate; and
(C) the sanction imposed and the reason for such sanction.
(e) NAIC review of disciplinary action
(1) Notice to the NAIC
If the Association orders any disciplinary action, the
Association shall promptly notify the NAIC of such action.
(2) Review by the NAIC
Any disciplinary action taken by the Association shall be
subject to review by the NAIC -
(A) on the NAIC's own motion; or
(B) upon application by any person aggrieved by such action
if such application is filed with the NAIC not more than 30
days after the later of -
(i) the date the notice was filed with the NAIC pursuant to
paragraph (1); or
(ii) the date the notice of the disciplinary action was
received by such aggrieved person.
(f) Effect of review
The filing of an application to the NAIC for review of a
disciplinary action, or the institution of review by the NAIC on
the NAIC's own motion, shall not operate as a stay of disciplinary
action unless the NAIC otherwise orders.
(g) Scope of review
(1) In general
In any proceeding to review such action, after notice and the
opportunity for hearing, the NAIC shall -
(A) determine whether the action should be taken;
(B) affirm, modify, or rescind the disciplinary sanction; or
(C) remand to the Association for further proceedings.
(2) Dismissal of review
The NAIC may dismiss a proceeding to review disciplinary action
if the NAIC finds that -
(A) the specific grounds on which the action is based exist
in fact;
(B) the action is in accordance with applicable rules and
regulations; and
(C) such rules and regulations are, and were, applied in a
manner consistent with the purposes of this subchapter.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 328, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1427.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), is Pub. L. 106-102,
Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1338, known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short
Title of 1999 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title
12, Banks and Banking, and Tables.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 6760, 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6759 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6759. Assessments
-STATUTE-
(a) Insurance producers subject to assessment
The Association may establish such application and membership
fees as the Association finds necessary to cover the costs of its
operations, including fees made reimbursable to the NAIC under
subsection (b) of this section, except that, in setting such fees,
the Association may not discriminate against smaller insurance
producers.
(b) NAIC assessments
The NAIC may assess the Association for any costs that the NAIC
incurs under this subchapter.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 329, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1430.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6760 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6760. Functions of the NAIC
-STATUTE-
(a) Administrative procedure
Determinations of the NAIC, for purposes of making rules pursuant
to section 6758 of this title, shall be made after appropriate
notice and opportunity for a hearing and for submission of views of
interested persons.
(b) Examinations and reports
(1) Examinations
The NAIC may make such examinations and inspections of the
Association and require the Association to furnish to the NAIC
such reports and records or copies thereof as the NAIC may
consider necessary or appropriate in the public interest or to
effectuate the purposes of this subchapter.
(2) Report by Association
As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, the
Association shall submit to the NAIC a written report regarding
the conduct of its business, and the exercise of the other rights
and powers granted by this subchapter, during such fiscal year.
Such report shall include financial statements setting forth the
financial position of the Association at the end of such fiscal
year and the results of its operations (including the source and
application of its funds) for such fiscal year. The NAIC shall
transmit such report to the President and the Congress with such
comment thereon as the NAIC determines to be appropriate.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 330, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1430.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6762 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6761 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6761. Liability of the Association and the directors,
officers, and employees of the Association
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
The Association shall not be deemed to be an insurer or insurance
producer within the meaning of any State law, rule, regulation, or
order regulating or taxing insurers, insurance producers, or other
entities engaged in the business of insurance, including provisions
imposing premium taxes, regulating insurer solvency or financial
condition, establishing guaranty funds and levying assessments, or
requiring claims settlement practices.
(b) Liability of the Association, its directors, officers, and
employees
Neither the Association nor any of its directors, officers, or
employees shall have any liability to any person for any action
taken or omitted in good faith under or in connection with any
matter subject to this subchapter.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 331, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1430.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6762 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6762. Elimination of NAIC oversight
-STATUTE-
(a) In general
The Association shall be established without NAIC oversight and
the provisions set forth in section 6754 of this title, subsections
(a), (b), (c), and (e) of section 6758 of this title, and sections
6759(b) and 6760 of this title shall cease to be effective if, at
the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date on which the
provisions of this subchapter take effect pursuant to section 6751
of this title -
(1) at least a majority of the States representing at least 50
percent of the total United States commercial-lines insurance
premiums have not satisfied the uniformity or reciprocity
requirements of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of section 6751 of
this title; and
(2) the NAIC has not approved the Association's bylaws as
required by section 6758 of this title or is unable to operate or
supervise the Association, or the Association is not conducting
its activities as required under this Act.
(b) Board appointments
If the repeals required by subsection (a) of this section are
implemented, the following shall apply:
(1) General appointment power
The President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall
appoint the members of the Association's Board established under
section 6756 of this title from lists of candidates recommended
to the President by the NAIC.
(2) Procedures for obtaining NAIC appointment recommendations
(A) Initial determination and recommendations
After the date on which the provisions of subsection (a) of
this section take effect, the NAIC shall, not later than 60
days thereafter, provide a list of recommended candidates to
the President. If the NAIC fails to provide a list by that
date, or if any list that is provided does not include at least
14 recommended candidates or comply with the requirements of
section 6756(c) of this title, the President shall, with the
advice and consent of the Senate, make the requisite
appointments without considering the views of the NAIC.
(B) Subsequent appointments
After the initial appointments, the NAIC shall provide a list
of at least six recommended candidates for the Board to the
President by January 15 of each subsequent year. If the NAIC
fails to provide a list by that date, or if any list that is
provided does not include at least six recommended candidates
or comply with the requirements of section 6756(c) of this
title, the President, with the advice and consent of the
Senate, shall make the requisite appointments without
considering the views of the NAIC.
(C) Presidential oversight
(i) Removal
If the President determines that the Association is not
acting in the interests of the public, the President may
remove the entire existing Board for the remainder of the
term to which the members of the Board were appointed and
appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, new
members to fill the vacancies on the Board for the remainder
of such terms.
(ii) Suspension of rules or actions
The President, or a person designated by the President for
such purpose, may suspend the effectiveness of any rule, or
prohibit any action, of the Association which the President
or the designee determines is contrary to the public
interest.
(c) Annual report
As soon as practicable after the close of each fiscal year, the
Association shall submit to the President and to the Congress a
written report relative to the conduct of its business, and the
exercise of the other rights and powers granted by this subchapter,
during such fiscal year. Such report shall include financial
statements setting forth the financial position of the Association
at the end of such fiscal year and the results of its operations
(including the source and application of its funds) for such fiscal
year.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 332, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1431.)
-REFTEXT-
REFERENCES IN TEXT
This Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2), is Pub. L. 106-102, Nov.
12, 1999, 113 Stat. 1338, known as the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. For
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of
1999 Amendment note set out under section 1811 of Title 12, Banks
and Banking, and Tables.
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6756 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6763 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6763. Relationship to State law
-STATUTE-
(a) Preemption of State laws
State laws, regulations, provisions, or other actions purporting
to regulate insurance producers shall be preempted as provided in
subsection (b) of this section.
(b) Prohibited actions
No State shall -
(1) impede the activities of, take any action against, or apply
any provision of law or regulation to, any insurance producer
because that insurance producer or any affiliate plans to become,
has applied to become, or is a member of the Association;
(2) impose any requirement upon a member of the Association
that it pay different fees to be licensed or otherwise qualified
to do business in that State, including bonding requirements,
based on its residency;
(3) impose any licensing, appointment, integrity, personal or
corporate qualifications, education, training, experience,
residency, or continuing education requirement upon a member of
the Association that is different from the criteria for
membership in the Association or renewal of such membership,
except that countersignature requirements imposed on nonresident
producers shall not be deemed to have the effect of limiting or
conditioning a producer's activities because of its residence or
place of operations under this section; or
(4) implement the procedures of such State's system of
licensing or renewing the licenses of insurance producers in a
manner different from the authority of the Association under
section 6755 of this title.
(c) Savings provision
Except as provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, no
provision of this section shall be construed as altering or
affecting the continuing effectiveness of any law, regulation,
provision, or other action of any State which purports to regulate
insurance producers, including any such law, regulation, provision,
or action which purports to regulate unfair trade practices or
establish consumer protections, including countersignature laws.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 333, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1432.)
-SECREF-
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 6764 of this title.
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6764 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6764. Coordination with other regulators
-STATUTE-
(a) Coordination with State insurance regulators
The Association shall have the authority to -
(1) issue uniform insurance producer applications and renewal
applications that may be used to apply for the issuance or
removal of State licenses, while preserving the ability of each
State to impose such conditions on the issuance or renewal of a
license as are consistent with section 6763 of this title;
(2) establish a central clearinghouse through which members of
the Association may apply for the issuance or renewal of licenses
in multiple States; and
(3) establish or utilize a national database for the collection
of regulatory information concerning the activities of insurance
producers.
(b) Coordination with the National Association of Securities
Dealers
The Association shall coordinate with the National Association of
Securities Dealers in order to ease any administrative burdens that
fall on persons that are members of both associations, consistent
with the purposes of this subchapter and the Federal securities
laws.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 334, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1433.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6765 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6765. Judicial review
-STATUTE-
(a) Jurisdiction
The appropriate United States district court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over litigation involving the Association, including
disputes between the Association and its members that arise under
this subchapter. Suits brought in State court involving the
Association shall be deemed to have arisen under Federal law and
therefore be subject to jurisdiction in the appropriate United
States district court.
(b) Exhaustion of remedies
An aggrieved person shall be required to exhaust all available
administrative remedies before the Association and the NAIC before
it may seek judicial review of an Association decision.
(c) Standards of review
The standards set forth in section 553 of title 5 shall be
applied whenever a rule or bylaw of the Association is under
judicial review, and the standards set forth in section 554 of
title 5 shall be applied whenever a disciplinary action of the
Association is judicially reviewed.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 335, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1433.)
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6766 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER III - NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REGISTERED AGENTS AND
BROKERS
-HEAD-
Sec. 6766. Definitions
-STATUTE-
For purposes of this subchapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
(1) Home State
The term ''home State'' means the State in which the insurance
producer maintains its principal place of residence and is
licensed to act as an insurance producer.
(2) Insurance
The term ''insurance'' means any product, other than title
insurance, defined or regulated as insurance by the appropriate
State insurance regulatory authority.
(3) Insurance producer
The term ''insurance producer'' means any insurance agent or
broker, surplus lines broker, insurance consultant, limited
insurance representative, and any other person that solicits,
negotiates, effects, procures, delivers, renews, continues or
binds policies of insurance or offers advice, counsel, opinions
or services related to insurance.
(4) State
The term ''State'' includes any State, the District of
Columbia, any territory of the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam,
American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the
Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(5) State law
The term ''State law'' includes all laws, decisions, rules,
regulations, or other State action having the effect of law, of
any State. A law of the United States applicable only to the
District of Columbia shall be treated as a State law rather than
a law of the United States.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 336, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1433.)
-TRANS-
TERMINATION OF TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see
note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and
Insular Possessions.
-CITE-
15 USC SUBCHAPTER IV - RENTAL CAR AGENCY INSURANCE
ACTIVITIES 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER IV - RENTAL CAR AGENCY INSURANCE ACTIVITIES
.
-HEAD-
SUBCHAPTER IV - RENTAL CAR AGENCY INSURANCE ACTIVITIES
-CITE-
15 USC Sec. 6781 01/06/03
-EXPCITE-
TITLE 15 - COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 93 - INSURANCE
SUBCHAPTER IV - RENTAL CAR AGENCY INSURANCE ACTIVITIES
-HEAD-
Sec. 6781. Standard of regulation for motor vehicle rentals
-STATUTE-
(a) Protection against retroactive application of regulatory and
legal action
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, during the
3-year period beginning on November 12, 1999, it shall be a
presumption that no State law imposes any licensing, appointment,
or education requirements on any person who solicits the purchase
of or sells insurance connected with, and incidental to, the lease
or rental of a motor vehicle.
(b) Preeminence of State insurance law
No provision of this section shall be construed as altering the
validity, interpretation, construction, or effect of -
(1) any State statute;
(2) the prospective application of any court judgment
interpreting or applying any State statute; or
(3) the prospective application of any final State regulation,
order, bulletin, or other statutorily authorized interpretation
or action,
which, by its specific terms, expressly regulates or exempts from
regulation any person who solicits the purchase of or sells
insurance connected with, and incidental to, the short-term lease
or rental of a motor vehicle.
(c) Scope of application
This section shall apply with respect to -
(1) the lease or rental of a motor vehicle for a total period
of 90 consecutive days or less; and
(2) insurance which is provided in connection with, and
incidentally to, such lease or rental for a period of consecutive
days not exceeding the lease or rental period.
(d) Motor vehicle defined
For purposes of this section, the term ''motor vehicle'' has the
same meaning as in section 13102 of title 49.
-SOURCE-
(Pub. L. 106-102, title III, Sec. 341, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.
1434.)
-CITE-
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Enviado por: | El remitente no desea revelar su nombre |
Idioma: | inglés |
País: | Estados Unidos |