Chapter 113

2005 -- S 1015 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 06/29/05

A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRODUCER LICENSING ACT

Introduced By: Senators Walaska, Bates, Paiva-Weed, and Polisena

Date Introduced: April 12, 2005

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-2.4 of the General Laws entitled "Producer Licensing Act" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

27-2.4-15.1. Compensation disclosure. – (a) Where any insurance producer or any

affiliate of such producer receives any compensation from the customer for the initial placement

of insurance, neither that producer nor the affiliate shall accept or receive any compensation from

an insurer or other third-party for that placement of insurance unless the producer has, prior to the

customer's purchase of insurance:

(1) Obtained the customer's documented acknowledgment that such compensation will be

received by the producer or affiliate; and

(2) Provided a description of the method and factors utilized for calculating the

compensation to be received from the insurer or other third-party for that placement.

(b) This section shall not apply to:

(1) A person licensed as an insurance producer who acts only as an intermediary between

an insurer and the customer's producer, for example: a managing general agent, a sales manager,

or wholesale broker;

(2) The placement of insurance in secondary or residual markets; or

(3) A producer whose sole compensation for the placement is derived from commissions,

salaries and other remuneration from the insurer.

(i) Notwithstanding this provision, a producer shall, at the time of sale or no later than the

delivery of the policy, disclose that they will be paid a commission by the company and may

receive other performance based compensation. This does not apply to salaried employees of an

insurance company.

(c) For purposes of this section:

(1) "Affiliate" means a person that controls, is controlled by or is under common control

with the producer.

(2) "Compensation from an insurer or other third-party" means payments, commissions,

fees, awards, overrides, bonuses, contingent commissions, loans, stock options, gifts, prizes or

any other form of valuable consideration, whether or not payable pursuant to a written agreement.

(3) "Compensation from the customer" shall not include any fee or similar expense or any

fee or amount collected by or paid to the producer that does not exceed an amount established by

the commissioner.

(4) "Customer" means the person signing the application or submission for insurance or

the authorized representative of the insured actually negotiating the placement of insurance with

the producer. A person shall not be considered a "customer" for purposes of this section if the

person is:

(i) A participant or beneficiary of an employee benefit plan; or

(ii) Covered by a group or blanket insurance policy or group annuity contract sold,

solicited or negotiated by the insurance producer or affiliate.

(5) "Documented acknowledgement" means the customer's acknowledgment obtained

prior to the customer's purchase of insurance.

(d) An insurance producer may satisfy any requirements imposed by this section directly

or through an affiliate.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2006.     

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LC02995/SUB A

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