Act No. 32

Public Acts of 2002

Approved by the Governor

March 7, 2002

Filed with the Secretary of State

March 7, 2002

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 7, 2002

STATE OF MICHIGAN

91ST LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2002

Introduced by Senator Bullard

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 493

AN ACT to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled "An act to revise, consolidate, and classify the laws relating to the insurance and surety business; to regulate the incorporation or formation of domestic insurance and surety companies and associations and the admission of foreign and alien companies and associations; to provide their rights, powers, and immunities and to prescribe the conditions on which companies and associations organized, existing, or authorized under this act may exercise their powers; to provide the rights, powers, and immunities and to prescribe the conditions on which other persons, firms, corporations, associations, risk retention groups, and purchasing groups engaged in an insurance or surety business may exercise their powers; to provide for the imposition of a privilege fee on domestic insurance companies and associations and the state accident fund; to provide for the imposition of a tax on the business of foreign and alien companies and associations; to provide for the imposition of a tax on risk retention groups and purchasing groups; to provide for the imposition of a tax on the business of surplus line agents; to provide for the imposition of regulatory fees on certain insurers; to modify tort liability arising out of certain accidents; to provide for limited actions with respect to that modified tort liability and to prescribe certain procedures for maintaining those actions; to require security for losses arising out of certain accidents; to provide for the continued availability and affordability of automobile insurance and homeowners insurance in this state and to facilitate the purchase of that insurance by all residents of this state at fair and reasonable rates; to provide for certain reporting with respect to insurance and with respect to certain claims against uninsured or self-insured persons; to prescribe duties for certain state departments and officers with respect to that reporting; to provide for certain assessments; to establish and continue certain state insurance funds; to modify and clarify the status, rights, powers, duties, and operations of the nonprofit malpractice insurance fund; to provide for the departmental supervision and regulation of the insurance and surety business within this state; to provide for regulation over worker's compensation self-insurers; to provide for the conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation of unsound or insolvent insurers; to provide for the protection of policyholders, claimants, and creditors of unsound or insolvent insurers; to provide for associations of insurers to protect policyholders and claimants in the event of insurer insolvencies; to prescribe educational requirements for insurance agents and solicitors; to provide for the regulation of multiple employer welfare arrangements; to create an automobile theft prevention authority to reduce the number of automobile thefts in this state; to prescribe the powers and duties of the automobile theft prevention authority; to provide certain powers and duties upon certain officials, departments, and authorities of this state; to repeal acts and parts of acts; and to provide penalties for the violation of this act," by amending section 1242 (MCL 500.1242).

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 1242. (1) The commissioner shall refuse to grant a license to act as a solicitor, an insurance counselor, or an adjuster to an applicant who fails to meet the requirements of this chapter. Notice of the refusal shall be in writing and shall set forth the basis for the refusal. If the applicant submits a written request within 30 days after mailing of the notice of refusal, the commissioner shall promptly conduct a hearing in which the applicant shall be given an opportunity to show compliance with the requirements of this chapter.

(2) The commissioner, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, may suspend or revoke the license of a solicitor, insurance counselor, or adjuster who fails to maintain the standards required for initial licensing or who violates any provision of this act.

(3) After notice and opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner may refuse to grant or renew a license to act as a solicitor, adjuster, or insurance counselor if he or she determines by a preponderance of the evidence, that it is probable that the business or primary occupation of the applicant will give rise to coercion, indirect rebating of commissions, or other practices in the sale of insurance that are prohibited by law.

(4) Without prior hearing, the commissioner may order summary suspension of a license if he or she finds that protection of the public requires emergency action and incorporates this finding in his or her order. The suspension shall be effective on the date specified in the order or upon service of a certified copy of the order on the licensee, whichever is later. If requested, the commissioner shall conduct a hearing on the suspension within a reasonable time but not later than 20 days after the effective date of the summary suspension unless the person whose license is suspended requests a later date. At the hearing, the commissioner shall determine if the suspension should be continued or if the suspension should be withdrawn, and, if proper notice is given, may determine if the license should be revoked. The commissioner shall announce his or her decision within 30 days after conclusion of the hearing. The suspension shall continue until the decision is announced.

(5) The commissioner, or his or her designated deputy, may issue subpoenas to require the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents necessary to the conduct of the hearing and may designate an office of financial and insurance services employee to make service. The subpoenas issued by the commissioner, or his or her designated deputy, may be enforced upon petition to the circuit court of Ingham county to show cause why a contempt order should not be issued, as provided by law.

This act is ordered to take immediate effect.

Secretary of the Senate.

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Approved

Governor.