HOUSE BILL No. 5797
March 14, 2002, Introduced by Rep. Richner and referred to the Committee on Insurance and Financial Services. A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled "The insurance code of 1956," by amending section 2080 (MCL 500.2080), as amended by 1986 PA 318. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT: 1 Sec. 2080. (1) It shall be IS unlawful for any life or 2 accident insurer authorized to do business in this state to own, 3 manage, supervise, operate, or maintain a mortuary or undertaking 4 establishment, or to permit its officers, agents, or employees to 5 own or maintain any such funeral A MORTUARY or undertaking 6 establishment. 7 (2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), it 8 shall be IS unlawful for any life insurance, sick or funeral 9 benefit company, or any company, corporation, or association 10 engaged in a similar business to contract or agree with any 03119'01 DKH 2 1 funeral director, undertaker, or mortuary to the effect that 2 such THE funeral director, undertaker, or mortuary shall con- 3 duct the funeral of any person insured by such THAT company, 4 corporation, or association. 5 (3) A funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller shall not 6 be licensed as an insurance agent under chapter 12 other than as 7 a limited licensee pursuant to this subsection and chapter 12. A 8 funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller shall not be a limited 9 life insurance agent unless that funeral establishment, cemetery, 10 or seller provides a written assurance to the commissioner at the 11 time of application for the limited licensure and with each 12 LICENSE renewal thereof that he or she has read and understands 13 the conditions contained in subsection (9) and agrees to comply 14 with those conditions. A person licensed as a limited life 15 insurance agent under this subsection and chapter 12 shall be 16 IS authorized and licensed to sell only associated life insurance 17 policies or annuity contracts and shall IS not be authorized 18 or licensed to sell any other type of insurance policy or annuity 19 contract. A person licensed as a limited life insurance agent 20 under this subsection and chapter 12 to sell associated life 21 insurance policies or annuity contracts shall not sell cemetery 22 goods or services or funeral goods or services unless all of the 23 conditions provided in subsection (9) are met. A person licensed 24 as a life insurance agent, other than a limited life insurance 25 agent, shall not sell cemetery goods or services or funeral goods 26 or services or be associated with a funeral establishment, 27 cemetery, or seller. Notwithstanding any other provision in this 03119'01 3 1 act, a funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller may advise 2 customers or potential customers of the availability of life 3 insurance, the proceeds of which may be assigned pursuant to 4 subsection (6), and may provide application forms and other 5 information in regard to such THAT life insurance. If an 6 application form is provided, the funeral establishment, ceme- 7 tery, or seller shall also provide to the person a list annually 8 prepared by the commissioner setting forth the life insurance 9 companies offering in Michigan associated life insurance policies 10 or annuity contracts. The list shall include the name, address, 11 and telephone number of an agent for each of the life insurance 12 companies listed. The list also APPLICATION shall include a 13 statement that a person who is insured under any life insurance 14 policy or annuity contract may assign all or a portion of the 15 proceeds, not to exceed the amount provided in subsection (6)(g), 16 of the existing life insurance policy or annuity contract for the 17 payment of funeral services and goods or cemetery services or 18 goods to any funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller which 19 THAT has accepted any other assignment of an associated life 20 insurance policy or annuity contract during that calendar year. 21 The funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller shall accept an 22 assignment on the proceeds from any associated or nonassociated 23 life insurance policy or annuity contract pursuant to 24 subsection (6), and this requirement on the funeral establish- 25 ment, cemetery, or seller shall be set forth in the statement 26 prepared by the insurance commissioner. The assignor or the 27 person or persons legally entitled to make funeral arrangements 03119'01 4 1 for the person whose life was insured may contract with the 2 funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller of his or her choice 3 for the rendering of the funeral goods or services or cemetery 4 goods or services. Each associated life insurance policy or 5 annuity contract delivered or issued for delivery in this state 6 shall have a death benefit that is sufficient to cover the ini- 7 tial contract price of the cemetery goods or services or funeral 8 goods or services and that increases at an annual rate of not 9 less than the consumer price index. 10 (4) A person shall not be designated as the beneficiary in 11 any policy of life or accident insurance whereby the beneficiary, 12 directly or indirectly, shall, in return for all or a part of the 13 proceeds of such THE policy of insurance, furnish cemetery 14 services or goods or funeral services or goods in connection 15 therewith WITH THE POLICY. 16 (5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), it 17 shall be IS unlawful for any life or accident, or sick or 18 funeral benefit company, or any person, company, corporation, or 19 association, to offer or furnish goods or services or anything 20 but money to its insureds or to his or her heirs, representa- 21 tives, attorneys, relatives, associates, or assigns in any con- 22 nection with, or by way of encumbrance, assignment, payment, set- 23 tlement, satisfaction, discharge, or release of any insurance 24 policy. However, this subsection shall DOES not prohibit any 25 company, corporation, or association from furnishing medical, 26 surgical, or hospital service. 03119'01 5 1 (6) Notwithstanding any other provision in this act, a life 2 insurer may write a life insurance policy or annuity contract 3 which is subject to an assignment of the proceeds of the insur- 4 ance policy or annuity contract as payment for cemetery services 5 or goods or funeral services or goods as provided in this subsec- 6 tion regardless of the relationship between the life insurer and 7 the assignee. An assignment of the proceeds of the insurance 8 policy or annuity contract pursuant to this subsection shall be 9 in writing on a form approved by the commissioner. A predeath 10 assignment of the proceeds of a life insurance policy or annuity 11 contract as payment for cemetery or funeral services or goods is 12 void unless all of the following conditions and criteria are 13 met: 14 (a) The assignment is an inseparable part of the contract 15 for the cemetery services or goods or funeral services or goods 16 for which the assigned proceeds serve as payment. 17 (b) The assignment is revocable by the assignor, assignor's 18 successor, or if the assignor is the insured by the representa- 19 tive of the insured's estate prior to the provision of the ceme- 20 tery services or goods or funeral services or goods. 21 (c) The contract for funeral services or goods or cemetery 22 services or goods and the assignment provide that upon revocation 23 of the assignment, the contract for the cemetery services or 24 goods or funeral services or goods is revoked and cemetery serv- 25 ices or goods or funeral services or goods may be obtained from 26 any cemetery, funeral establishment, or seller. 03119'01 6 1 (d) The assignment contains the following disclosure in 2 boldfaced type: 3 "This assignment may be revoked by the assignor or 4 assignor's successor or, if the assignor is also the insured and 5 deceased, by the representative of the insured's estate before 6 the rendering of the cemetery services or goods or funeral serv- 7 ices or goods. If the assignment is revoked, the death benefit 8 under the life insurance policy or annuity contract shall be paid 9 in accordance with the beneficiary designation under the insur- 10 ance policy or annuity contract." 11 (e) The assignment provides for all of the following: 12 (i) That the actual price of the cemetery services or goods 13 or funeral services or goods delivered at the time of death may 14 be more than or less than the price set forth in the assignment. 15 (ii) For the assignment of an associated life insurance 16 policy or annuity contract, that any increase in the price of the 17 cemetery services or goods or funeral services or goods shall not 18 exceed the ultimate death benefit under the life insurance policy 19 or annuity contract. 20 (iii) For the assignment of a nonassociated life insurance 21 policy or annuity contract, that any increase in the price of the 22 cemetery services or goods or the funeral services or goods shall 23 not exceed the consumer price index or the retail price list in 24 effect when the death occurs, whichever is less. 25 (iv) That if the ultimate death benefit under a life insur- 26 ance policy or annuity contract exceeds the price of the cemetery 27 services or goods or funeral services or goods at the time of 03119'01 7 1 performance, the excess amount shall be distributed to the 2 beneficiary designated under the life insurance policy or annuity 3 contract or the insured's estate. 4 (v) That any addition to or modification of the contract for 5 cemetery services or goods or funeral services or goods does not 6 revoke the assignment or the contract for the cemetery services 7 or goods or funeral services or goods which THAT are not 8 affected by the addition or modification for which the assigned 9 proceeds are payment unless the assignment is revoked. 10 (f) The assignment is limited to that portion of the pro- 11 ceeds of the life insurance policy or annuity contract which 12 THAT is needed to pay for the cemetery services or goods or 13 funeral services or goods for which the assignor has contracted. 14 (g) In the case of an associated life insurance policy or 15 annuity contract, the death benefit of the life insurance policy 16 or annuity contract which THAT is subject to the assignment 17 does not exceed $5,000.00 when the first premium payment is made 18 on the life insurance policy or annuity contract. In the case of 19 a nonassociated life insurance policy or annuity contract, the 20 initial amount of proceeds assigned does not exceed $5,000.00. 21 The maximum amounts in this subdivision shall be adjusted annu- 22 ally in accordance with the consumer price index. 23 (h) The assignment shall contain the dispute resolution 24 rights set forth in subsection (8). After the death of the 25 insured but before the cemetery services or goods or funeral 26 services or goods are provided, the funeral establishment, 27 cemetery, or seller shall provide to a representative of the 03119'01 8 1 insured's estate a separate document entitled, "dispute 2 resolution disclosure statement," which shall clearly set forth 3 the dispute resolution rights set forth in subsection (8). The 4 dispute resolution disclosure statement shall be filed with the 5 commissioner and shall be considered approved unless disapproved 6 within 30 days after the submission. The language used to set 7 forth DESCRIBE the dispute resolution rights in subsection (8) 8 shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by a 9 person of ordinary intelligence. 10 (i) The assignor and not the assignee is responsible for 11 making the premium payments due on the life insurance policy or 12 annuity contract. This subdivision does not apply to an insur- 13 ance agent when acting as a fiduciary pursuant to section 1207. 14 (j) After the death of the insured but before the cemetery 15 services or goods or funeral services or goods are provided, the 16 representative of the insured's estate is provided with a current 17 price list for the cemetery services or goods or funeral services 18 or goods provided pursuant to the assignment. 19 (k) At the time the assignment is made, the assignee com- 20 plies with the price disclosure rules of the federal trade com- 21 mission prescribed in 16 C.F.R. , part 453, whether or not the 22 rules by their own terms apply to the offering. 23 (l) At the time the assignment is made, the assignor certi- 24 fies that the insured does not have in effect other life insur- 25 ance policies or annuity contracts that have been assigned as 26 payment for cemetery goods or services or funeral goods or 27 services which THAT together with the additional assignment 03119'01 9 1 would have an aggregate face value in excess of the limitation 2 provided in subdivision (h) (G). 3 (m) For the assignment of a nonassociated life insurance 4 policy or annuity contract, the assignment complies with both of 5 the following: 6 (i) The assignment is sufficient to cover the initial con- 7 tract price of the cemetery goods or services or funeral goods or 8 services. 9 (ii) The assignment provides that any increase in the price 10 of the cemetery services or goods or the funeral services or 11 goods shall not exceed the consumer price index or the retail 12 price list in effect when the death occurs, whichever is less. 13 (7) An insurer or an insurance agent shall not make a false 14 or misleading statement, oral or written, regarding an assignment 15 subject to subsection (6) or regarding the rights or obligations 16 of any party or prospective party to such an THAT assignment. 17 An insurer or an insurance agent shall not advertise or promote 18 an assignment subject to subsection (6) in a manner which THAT 19 is false, misleading, deceptive, or unfair. The commissioner 20 shall promulgate rules regulating the solicitation of plans pro- 21 moting assignments subject to subsection (6) to protect against 22 solicitations which THAT are intimidating, vexatious, fraudu- 23 lent, or misleading, or which take unfair advantage of a person's 24 ignorance or emotional vulnerability. 25 (8) After the cemetery services or goods or funeral services 26 or goods are provided, the funeral establishment, cemetery, or 27 seller shall provide to a representative of the insured's estate 03119'01 10 1 a statement to be signed by the representative of the insured's 2 estate authorizing the release of the assignment proceeds for the 3 payment of the cemetery services or goods or funeral services or 4 goods. The insurer shall release to the funeral establishment, 5 cemetery, or seller the assignment proceeds upon receipt of the 6 authorization statement signed by a representative of the 7 insured's estate. If a representative of the insured's estate 8 fails to sign the authorization statement, the following shall 9 take place: 10 (a) The funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller shall 11 provide the representative of the insured's estate with a dispute 12 resolution notice, a copy of which is to be sent to the insurer 13 and the insurance commissioner that states all of the 14 following: 15 (i) That the funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller has 16 provided the cemetery services or goods or funeral services or 17 goods. 18 (ii) That a representative of the insured's estate has 19 refused to authorize the insurer to release the assignment pro- 20 ceeds for the payment of the cemetery services or goods or 21 funeral services or goods. 22 (iii) That a representative of the insured's estate may seek 23 arbitration to resolve the payment dispute. 24 (b) Upon the receipt of the dispute resolution notice 25 described in subdivision (a), the insurer shall retain the 26 assignment proceeds for 30 days. The insurer shall release the 27 assignment proceeds to the funeral establishment, cemetery, or 03119'01 11 1 seller if after the expiration of the 30 days the insurer is not 2 informed that arbitration proceedings have been commenced, or 3 pursuant to the award of the arbitrator. 4 (c) The funeral establishment, cemetery, seller, or a repre- 5 sentative of the insured's estate may commence arbitration pro- 6 ceedings to determine the disposition of the assignment 7 proceeds. Arbitration shall be conducted pursuant to the rules 8 and procedures of the American arbitration association. Expenses 9 of the arbitration shall be shared equally by the insured's 10 estate and the assignee unless otherwise ordered by the 11 arbitrator. 12 (d) Nothing in this subsection shall limit LIMITS the 13 right of any party involved in the payment dispute to seek other 14 recourse permitted by law. 15 (9) A life insurance agent shall not sell or solicit the 16 sale of a life insurance policy or annuity contract with the 17 intention of having the purchaser assign the proceeds of the 18 policy or contract to a funeral establishment, cemetery, or 19 seller with which the agent is associated unless all of the fol- 20 lowing conditions are met: 21 (a) The agent shall disclose DISCLOSES in writing to the 22 purchaser the nature of his or her association with the funeral 23 establishment, cemetery, or seller and that both the funeral 24 establishment, cemetery, or seller and the agent will or may 25 profit from the transaction, if that is the case. 26 (b) A IF THE funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller 27 which accepts assignments pursuant to subsection (6), shall 03119'01 12 1 also offer IT ALSO OFFERS to sell or provide cemetery goods or 2 services or funeral goods or funeral services pursuant to prepaid 3 funeral contracts as provided in the prepaid funeral contract 4 funding act, 1986 PA 255, MCL 328.211 TO 328.235, or pursuant to 5 the trust provisions of the cemetery regulation act, Act No. 251 6 of the Public Acts of 1968, being sections 456.521 to 456.543 of 7 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1968 PA 251, MCL 456.521 TO 456.543. 8 (c) If the contemplated assignment is to be made to pay the 9 cost of cemetery goods or services or funeral goods or funeral 10 services, the agent shall disclose DISCLOSES in writing to the 11 purchaser that the cemetery goods or services or funeral goods or 12 services may also be purchased prior to death by making payment 13 directly to a funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller who will 14 hold funds in escrow for the benefit of the purchaser pursuant to 15 the prepaid funeral contract funding act, 1986 PA 255, MCL 16 328.211 TO 328.235, or in trust pursuant to the provisions of the 17 cemetery regulation act, Act No. 251 of the Public Acts of 1968 18 1968 PA 251, MCL 456.521 TO 456.543. The written disclosure 19 shall also state that upon cancellation of the prepaid funeral 20 contract, the purchaser is entitled to a refund of at least 90% 21 of the principal and income earned. 22 (d) The sale of cemetery goods or services or funeral goods 23 or services shall IS not be conditioned on the purchaser 24 buying or agreeing to buy a life insurance policy or annuity con- 25 tract or on the assignment of the proceeds of the policy or con- 26 tract to that funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller. 03119'01 13 1 (e) The sale of a life insurance policy or annuity contract 2 shall IS not be conditioned on the purchaser buying or 3 agreeing to buy cemetery goods or services or funeral goods or 4 services from the funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller with 5 which the agent is associated or on the assignment of the pro- 6 ceeds of the policy or contract to that funeral establishment, 7 cemetery, or seller. 8 (f) A discount from the current price of cemetery goods or 9 services or funeral goods or services shall IS not be offered 10 as an inducement to purchase or assign a life insurance policy or 11 annuity contract. 12 (g) The life insurance policy or annuity contract sold by 13 the agent may be canceled by the purchaser within 10 days after 14 the receipt of the policy or annuity contract, in which event a 15 full refund of all premiums shall be paid to the purchaser. 16 (h) The agent shall disclose DISCLOSES in writing to the 17 purchaser that the funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller 18 with which the agent is associated will accept assignments of 19 life insurance policies or annuity contracts sold by any other 20 licensed agent. 21 (10) The commissioner or any other person, in order to force 22 compliance with subsection (6) or (7), may bring an action in a 23 circuit court in any county in which the assignee or insurance 24 agent or any other person has solicited or sold a life insurance 25 policy or annuity contract that is assigned pursuant to 26 subsection (6), whether or not that person has purchased the life 27 insurance policy or annuity contract or is personally aggrieved 03119'01 14 1 by a violation of this section. The court may award damages and 2 issue equitable orders in accordance with the Michigan court 3 rules to restrain conduct in violation of this section. 4 (11) Any person violating any of the provisions of this sec- 5 tion shall be deemed IS guilty of a misdemeanor, and each vio- 6 lation thereof shall be IS a separate offense and upon convic- 7 tion shall be punished PUNISHABLE by a fine not exceeding 8 $1,000.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both. 9 such fine and imprisonment within the discretion of the courts. 10 (12) In addition to the penalty provided in subsection (11), 11 if, after a hearing conducted pursuant to the administrative pro- 12 cedures act of 1969, Act No. 306 of the Public Acts of 1969, 13 being sections 24.201 to 24.328 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 14 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 TO 24.328, the commissioner determines a 15 person has violated this section, the commissioner may order the 16 person to pay a civil fine of not more than $10,000.00 for each 17 violation and may also impose other sanctions provided pursuant 18 to chapter 12. The money collected under this subsection shall 19 be deposited in the funeral consumers education and advocacy 20 fund. The funeral consumers education and advocacy fund is cre- 21 ated within the insurance bureau. The fund shall be administered 22 by the commissioner. The money in the fund shall be used to do 23 both of the following: 24 (a) To promote the education of consumers with regard to the 25 prearrangement and purchase of cemetery or funeral services or 26 goods through the purchase and assignment of life insurance or 27 annuity contracts. 03119'01 15 1 (b) To provide legal assistance to persons who were injured 2 as a result of a violation of this section. 3 (13) For purposes of this section, a life insurance agent is 4 associated with a funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller if 5 any of the following apply: 6 (a) The agent is a funeral establishment, cemetery, or 7 seller. 8 (b) The agent owns an interest, directly or indirectly, in a 9 corporation or other entity which THAT holds an interest in a 10 funeral establishment, cemetery, or seller. 11 (c) The agent is an officer, employee, or agent of a funeral 12 establishment, cemetery, or seller. 13 (d) The agent is an officer, employee, or agent of a corpo- 14 ration or other entity which THAT holds an interest, either 15 directly or indirectly, in a funeral establishment, cemetery, or 16 seller, or in a corporation or other entity which THAT holds an 17 interest, directly or indirectly, in a corporation or other 18 entity which THAT holds an interest in a funeral establishment, 19 cemetery, or seller. 20 (14) As used in this section: 21 (a) "Associated life insurance policy or annuity contract" 22 is a life insurance policy or annuity contract that is marketed, 23 designed, and intended to be assigned as payment for cemetery 24 goods or services or funeral goods or services. 25 (b) "Casket" means any box or container consisting of 1 or 26 more parts in which a dead human body is placed prior to 27 interment, entombment, or cremation which may or may not be 03119'01 16 1 permanently interred, entombed, or cremated with the dead human 2 body. A permanent interment or entombment receptacle which 3 THAT is designed or intended for use without a cemetery burial 4 vault or other outside container shall IS also be considered 5 a casket. 6 (c) "Catafalque" means an ornamental or decorative object or 7 structure which THAT is placed beneath, over, or around a 8 casket, vault, or a dead human body prior to final disposition of 9 the dead human body. 10 (d) "Cemetery" means that term as defined in but not neces- 11 sarily regulated under section 2 of the cemetery regulation act, 12 Act No. 251 of the Public Acts of 1968, being section 456.522 of 13 the Michigan Compiled Laws 1968 PA 251, MCL 456.522, or an offi- 14 cer, agent, or employee thereof OF A CEMETERY. 15 (e) "Cemetery burial vault or other outside container" means 16 a box or container which THAT is used solely at the place of 17 interment to permanently surround or enclose a casket and to sup- 18 port the earth above the casket after burial. 19 (f) "Cemetery goods" means land or interests in land, 20 crypts, lawn crypts, mausoleum crypts, or niches that are sold by 21 a cemetery. In addition, cemetery goods shall include cemetery 22 burial vaults or other outside containers, markers, monuments, 23 urns, and merchandise items used for the purpose of memorializing 24 a decedent and placed on or in proximity to a place of interment 25 or entombment of a casket, catafalque, or vault, or to a place of 26 inurnment which are sold by a cemetery. 03119'01 17 1 (g) "Cemetery services" means those services customarily 2 performed by a cemetery. 3 (h) "Combination unit" means any product consisting of a 4 unit or a series of units which THAT are designed or intended 5 to be used together as both a casket and as a permanent burial 6 receptacle. 7 (i) "Consumer price index" means the annual average percen- 8 tage increase in the Detroit consumer price index for all items 9 for the prior 12-month period as reported by the United States 10 department of labor and as certified by the commissioner. 11 (j) "Funeral establishment" means a funeral establishment or 12 a person who is engaged in the practice of mortuary science as 13 those terms are defined in section 1801 of the occupational code, 14 Act No. 299 of the Public Acts of 1980, being section 339.1801 15 of the Michigan Compiled Laws 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.1801, or an 16 officer, agent, or employee thereof OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT OR 17 PERSON. 18 (k) "Funeral goods" means items of merchandise which THAT 19 will be used in connection with a funeral or an alternative to a 20 funeral or final disposition of human remains including, but not 21 limited to, caskets, other burial containers, combination units, 22 and catafalques. Funeral goods does not include cemetery goods. 23 (l) "Funeral services" means services customarily performed 24 by a person who is licensed pursuant to sections 1801 to 1812 of 25 the occupational code, Act No. 299 of the Public Acts of 1980, 26 being sections 339.1801 to 339.1812 of the Michigan Compiled 27 Laws 1980 PA 299, MCL 339.1801 TO 339.1812. Funeral services 03119'01 18 1 includes, but is INCLUDE, BUT ARE not limited to, care of human 2 remains, embalming, preparation of human remains for final dispo- 3 sition, professional services relating to a funeral or an alter- 4 native to a funeral or final disposition of human remains, trans- 5 portation of human remains, limousine services, use of facilities 6 or equipment for viewing human remains, visitation, memorial 7 services, or services which THAT are used in connection with a 8 funeral or alternative to a funeral, coordinating or conducting 9 funeral rites or ceremonies, and other services provided in con- 10 nection with a funeral, alternative to a funeral, or final dispo- 11 sition of human remains. 12 (m) "Nonassociated life insurance policy or annuity 13 contract" means a life insurance policy or annuity contract that 14 is not marketed to be assigned, designed to be assigned, or 15 intended to be assigned as payment for cemetery goods or services 16 or funeral goods or services. 17 (n) "Representative of insured's estate" means the person or 18 persons legally entitled to make the funeral arrangements for the 19 person whose life was insured. 20 (o) "Seller" means a person who offers to sell cemetery 21 goods or services or funeral goods or services or any agent, 22 officer, or employee thereof OF THAT PERSON. 03119'01 Final page. 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