(1) An insurer or authorized representative of the insurer that terminates the appointment, employment, contract, or other insurance business relationship with an insurance producer shall notify the commissioner using a format prescribed by the commissioner of the termination within 30 days following the effective date of the termination if the reason for termination is 1 of the reasons listed in section 1239 or the insurer has knowledge the producer was found by a court, government body, or self-regulatory organization authorized by law to have engaged in any of the activities listed in section 1239. Upon the written request of the commissioner, the insurer shall provide additional information, documents, records, or other data pertaining to the termination or activity of the producer.

    (2) An insurer or authorized representative of the insurer that terminates the appointment, employment, or contract with a producer for any reason not listed in section 1239 shall notify the commissioner using a format prescribed by the commissioner of the termination within 30 days following the effective date of the termination. Upon written request of the commissioner, the insurer shall provide additional information, documents, records, or other data pertaining to the termination.

    (3) The insurer or the authorized representative of the insurer shall promptly notify the commissioner in a format acceptable to the commissioner if, upon further review or investigation, the insurer discovers additional information that would have been reportable to the commissioner in accordance with subsection (1) had the insurer then known of its existence.

    (4) Not later than 15 days after making the notification required by subsection (1), (2), or (3), the insurer shall mail a copy of the notification to the producer at his or her last known address. If the producer is terminated for cause for any of the reasons listed in section 1239, the insurer shall provide a copy of the notification to the producer at his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid or by overnight delivery using a nationally recognized carrier. Within 30 days after the insurance producer has received the original or additional notification, the insurance producer may file written comments concerning the substance of the notification with the commissioner. The insurance producer shall, by the same means, simultaneously send a copy of the comments to the reporting insurer, and the comments shall become a part of the commissioner's file and accompany every copy of a report distributed or disclosed for any reason about the producer as permitted under section 1246.

    (5) In the absence of actual malice, an insurer, the authorized representative of the insurer, an insurance producer, the commissioner, or an organization of which the commissioner is a member and that compiles the information and makes it available to other commissioners or regulatory or law enforcement agencies is not subject to civil liability for making this information available, and a civil cause of action of any nature shall not arise against these entities or their respective representatives or employees, as a result of reporting or providing any statement or information required by or provided pursuant to this section or any information relating to any statement that may be requested in writing by the commissioner, from an insurer or insurance producer; or a statement by a terminating insurer or insurance producer to an insurer or insurance producer limited solely and exclusively to whether a termination for cause under subsection (1) was reported to the commissioner, provided that the propriety of any termination for cause under subsection (1) is certified in writing by an officer or authorized representative of the insurer or insurance producer terminating the relationship. In any action brought against a person that may have immunity under this subsection for making any statement required by this section or providing any information relating to any statement that may be requested by the commissioner, the party bringing the action shall plead specifically in any allegation that the immunity permitted under this subsection does not apply because the person making the statement or providing the information did so with actual malice. This subsection does not abrogate or modify any existing statutory or common law privileges or immunities.