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Chapter 374 Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration
374.790 - Workers' compensation, residual market, department to submit report to general assembly, contents.
The department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall prepare and submit a plan to the general assembly by September 1, 1993, to reduce the number of employers insured through the residual market.The department shall specifically examine and address in its plan the following topics:
(1)The use of an employer's experience modification factor and the appropriate level thereof as an objective criterion in determining eligibility for coverage;
(2)The maximum amount of such coverage an insurer would be required to issue, expressed as a percentage of its voluntary business;
(3)Providing a system of incentives to insurers to voluntarily cover employers which had been insured through the residual market by reducing the amount of coverage required to be provided by such insurer under the plan;
(4)The effect of the implementation of such plan on the competitive voluntary insurance workers' compensation market in Missouri in terms of the number of insurers actively competing, the availability of coverage by classification and pricing by classification;
(5)Permitting insurers to file separate rates by classification for employers which they may be required to insure under such plan;
(6)Requiring that only agents which have been appointed by such insurer may submit applications for coverage under such plan;
(7)The results of this plan in other jurisdictions where it has been implemented in either workers' compensation or other lines of insurance;
(8)Requiring nonexperienced rated employers or employers not eligible for experience rating, as a condition to receive coverage, to utilize the insurer's managed care medical program and to comply with the insurer's loss control or safety engineering program.
Upon receipt of the plan, the general assembly shall, by concurrent resolution disapprove such plan by September 24, 1993.If the plan is not disapproved it shall be implemented by rule on January 1, 1994.If the plan is not submitted to the general assembly under the provisions of this section, it shall not be implemented by rule.
(1995)Where statute required director to submit plan to general assembly when legislature was not in session, court properly prohibited the director of insurance from implementing "Workers' Compensation Residual Market Depopulation Plan" by rule.Chief clerk is not member of house of representatives and has no duty to distribute plans to members, therefore there was no receipt of the plan by the house members.Statute provided that plan would become effective by rule if not disapproved by concurrent resolution within thirty days.State ex rel. Royal Insurance v. Director of the Missouri Department of Insurance, 894 S.W.2d 159 (Mo. en banc).
374.194 - Health coverage providers to be subject to jurisdiction of department, exceptions — examination to be performed, when — requirements of health coverage providers.
1.Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, and except as provided in this section, any person or other entity which provides coverage in this state for medical, surgical, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech pathology, audiology, professional mental health, dental, hospital, or optometric expenses, whether such coverage is by direct payment, reimbursement, or otherwise, shall be presumed to be subject to the jurisdiction of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, unless the person or other entity shows that while providing such services it is subject to the jurisdiction of another agency of this state, any subdivision thereof, or the federal government.
2.A person or entity may show that it is subject to the jurisdiction of another agency of this state, any subdivision thereof, or the federal government, by providing to the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration the appropriate certificate, license or other document issued by the other governmental agency which permits or qualifies it to provide those services.
3.Any person or entity which is unable to show under subsection 2 of this section that it is subject to the jurisdiction of another agency of this state, any subdivision thereof, or the federal government, shall submit to an examination by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration to determine the organization and solvency of the person or the entity, and to determine whether or not such person or entity complies with the applicable provisions of chapters 374 to 385.
4.Any person or entity unable to show that it is subject to the jurisdiction of another agency of this state, any subdivision thereof, or the federal government, shall be subject to all appropriate provisions of chapters 374 to 385 regarding the conduct of its business.
5.Any production agency or administrator which advertises, sells, transacts or administers the coverage of this state described in subsection 1 of this section and which is required to submit to an examination by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration under subsection 3 of this section, if such coverage is not fully insured or otherwise fully covered by an admitted life of disability insurer, nonprofit health services plan, or nonprofit health care plan shall advise every purchaser, prospective purchaser, and covered person of such lack of insurance or other coverage.Any administrator which advertises or administers the coverage in this state described in subsection 1 of this section and which is required to submit to an examination by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration under subsection 3 of this section shall advise any production agency of the elements of the coverage, including the amount of stop-loss insurance in effect.
(L. 1991 H.B. 385, et al. § 113)
374.190 - Investigation of companies.
1.The director shall examine and inquire into all violations of the insurance laws of the state, and inquire into and investigate the business of insurance transacted in this state by any insurance agent, broker, agency or insurance company.
2.He or any of his duly appointed agents may compel the attendance before him, and may examine, under oath, the directors, officers, agents, employees, solicitors, attorneys or any other person, in reference to the condition, affairs, management of the business, or any matters relating thereto.He may administer oaths or affirmations, and shall have power to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses, and to require and compel the production of records, books, papers, contracts or other documents, if necessary.
3.The director may make and conduct the investigation in person, or he may appoint one or more persons to make and conduct the same for him.If made by another than the director in person, the person duly appointed by the director shall have the same powers as above granted to the director.A certificate of appointment, under the official seal of the director, shall be sufficient authority and evidence thereof for the person or persons to act.For the purpose of making the investigations, or having the same made, the director may employ the necessary clerical, actuarial and other assistance.
(RSMo 1939 § 5794, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1992 H.B. 1574)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 5684; 1919 § 6095; 1909 § 6889
374.090 - Actuary, chief market conduct examiner and chief financial examiner, qualifications — bond required.
1.The director shall appoint and employ an actuary, a chief market conduct examiner and a chief financial examiner, who shall be subject to removal at the pleasure of the director.The director may contract with persons to assist the actuary or to provide actuarial services subject to appropriation by the general assembly.
2.The actuary shall have had at least five years' experience in actuarial work, the chief market conduct examiner shall have at least five years in insurance examination work as defined by the NAIC market conduct examiners' handbook in effect on August 28, 1990, and the chief financial examiner shall have had at least five years' experience in financial examination work.
3.The actuary and examiners shall not be or become interested in any insurance company other than as a policyholder.
4.The actuary and the examiners each shall file bond as required by the director, which shall not exceed the sum of ten thousand dollars.
(RSMo 1939 § 5784, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739)
Prior revision: 1929 § 5674
374.426 - Health care financing entities and health care providers to provide data, contents, when — duties of department — scoring, limitations on.
1.Any entity in the business of delivering or financing health care shall provide data regarding quality of patient care and patient satisfaction to the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.Failure to provide such data as required by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall constitute grounds for violation of the unfair trade practices act, sections 375.930 to 375.948.
2.In defining data standards for quality of care and patient satisfaction, the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall:
(1)Use as the initial data set the HMO Employer Data and Information Set developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance;
(2)Consult with nationally recognized accreditation organizations, including but not limited to the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the Joint Committee on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations; and
(3)Consult with a state committee of a national committee convened to develop standards regarding uniform billing of health care claims.
3.In defining data standards for quality of care and patient satisfaction, the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall not require patient scoring of pain control.
4.Beginning August 28, 2018, the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall discontinue the use of patient satisfaction scores and shall not make them available to the public to the extent allowed by federal law.
(L. 1994 S.B. 732 § 1, A.L. 2018 S.B. 718 merged with S.B. 951)
Effective 7-06-18 (S.B. 718); 8-28-18 (S.B. 951)
374.788 - Apprehension standards for breach of surety agreement or absconding.
1.A bail bond agent having probable grounds to believe a subject free on his or her bond has failed to appear as directed by a court, has breached the terms of the subject's surety agreement, or has taken a substantial step toward absconding may utilize all lawful means to apprehend the subject.To surrender a subject to a court, a licensed bail bond or surety recovery agent having probable grounds to believe the subject is free on his or her bond may:
(1)Detain the subject in a lawful manner, for a reasonable time, provided that in the event travel from another state is involved, the detention period may include reasonable travel time not to exceed seventy-two hours;
(2)Transport a subject in a lawful manner from state to state and county to county to a place of authorized surrender; and
(3)Enter upon private or public property in a lawful manner to execute apprehension of a subject.
2.A surety recovery agent who apprehends a subject pursuant to the provisions of subsection 1 of this section shall surrender custody of the subject to the court of jurisdiction.
3.When a surety recovery agent is in the process of performing fugitive recovery, a photographic identification card shall be prominently displayed on his or her person.
374.284 - Health insurance advisory committee established, members, duties.
The department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall create an advisory committee to be known as the "Health Insurance Advisory Committee".This committee shall be a voluntary committee comprised of representatives of the insurance industry, provider groups and the public.The committee shall consist of at least, but not limited to, one member representing each of the following areas:small group insurance, managed care, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, pharmacists, dentists and public members representing self-employed workers and the elderly.This committee shall meet to discuss and advise the department on issues relating to health care insurance.
374.184 - Director to prescribe by rule uniform claim forms for reporting — consultation, hearing — contents of forms — companies may request additional information — effective date of regulations.
1.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall prescribe by rule, after due consultation with providers of health care or treatment and their respective licensing boards, accident and sickness insurers, health services corporations and health maintenance organizations, and after a public hearing, uniform claim forms for reporting by health care providers.Such prescribed forms shall include but need not be limited to information regarding the medical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the patient, together with the details of charges incident to the providing of such care, treatment or services, sufficient for the purpose of meeting the proof requirements of an accident and sickness insurance or hospital, medical or dental services contract.Such prescribed forms shall be based upon the UB-82 form, with respect to hospital claims, and the HCFA 1500 form, with respect to physician claims, as such forms are modified or amended from time to time by the National Uniform Billing Committee or the federal Health Care Financing Administration.
2.The adoption of any uniform claim forms by the director pursuant to this section shall not preclude an insurer, health services corporation, or health maintenance organization from requesting any necessary additional information in connection with a claims investigation from the claimant, provider of health care or treatment, or certifier of coverage.The provisions of this section shall not be deemed or construed to apply to electronic claims submission.Insurers and providers may by contract provide for modifications to the uniform billing document where both insurers and providers feel that such modifications streamline claims processing procedures relating to the claims of the insurer involved in such contract modification.However, a refusal by the provider to agree to modification of the uniform billing format shall not be used by the insurer as grounds for refusing to enter into a contract with the provider for reimbursement or payment for health services rendered to an insured of the insurer.
3.Rules adopted or promulgated pursuant to this act* shall be subject to notice and hearing as provided in chapter 536.The regulations so adopted shall specify an effective date, which shall not be less than one hundred eighty days after the date of adoption, after which no accident and sickness insurer, health services corporation or health maintenance organization shall require providers of health care or treatment to complete forms differing from those prescribed by the director pursuant to this section, and after which no health care provider shall submit claims except upon such prescribed forms; provided that the provisions of this section shall not preclude the use by any insurer, health services corporation or health maintenance organization of the UB-82 form or the HCFA 1500 form.
*"This act" (S.B. 796, 1992) contained numerous sections. Consult Disposition of Sections table for a definitive listing.
374.080 - Deputy director, appointment, powers — governor to appoint, when.
1.The director may appoint a deputy, who shall be subject to removal at pleasure by the director, and who shall possess all the powers and perform all the duties attached by law to the office of director during a vacancy in the office, and during the absence, inability or suspension of his principal.The director shall be responsible for the acts of his deputy, who shall, before entering upon the duties of his office, take the oath and be bonded as required of the director in section 374.030.The deputy director shall assist the director in the administration of the department, and perform such duties and have such powers as the director may direct.
2.In the event there is an absence of the director and no deputy has been appointed, the governor shall appoint the acting director from among the division directors within the department.
(RSMo 1939 § 5783, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575)
374.180 - Director to prepare report — publication — special reports.
1.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall prepare the following information to be included in the biennial report to the general assembly:
(1)A brief review of the department during the period covered by the report, including a verified statement of the various sums received and disbursed by him, and from and to whom, and for what purposes;
(2)Name, address, capital stock, in case of companies having a capital stock, resources, insurance in force, and the amount and nature of collateral deposited by each insurance company or association authorized or licensed to do business in this state;
(3)A tabular statement, and synopsis of the annual statements, as accepted by the director, of all insurance companies doing business in this state;
(4)Such other matters as in his opinion may be for the benefit of the public and such recommendations as he shall deem proper in regard to the insurance laws of this state.
2.No more than two thousand copies of such report shall be published by order of the director, at the expense of the department.
3.The director shall make such additional reports as shall be required by the governor.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 5792, 5797, 15005, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 5682, 5687, 13812; 1919 §§ 6093, 6098; 1909 §§ 6887, 6892
374.763 - Collection from surety after forfeiture — list of qualified bail bond agents to be furnished monthly to circuit courts.
1.If any final judgment ordering forfeiture of a defendant's bond is not paid within a six-month period of time, the court shall extend the judgment date or notify the department of the failure to satisfy such judgment.The director shall draw upon the assets of the surety, remit the sum to the court, and obtain a receipt of such sum from the court.The director may take action as provided by section 374.755, regarding the license of the surety and any bail bond agents writing upon the surety's liability.
2.The department shall furnish to the presiding judge of each circuit court of this state, on at least a monthly basis, a list of all duly licensed and qualified bail bond agents and general bail bond agents whose licenses are not subject to pending suspension or revocation proceedings, and who are not subject to unsatisfied bond forfeiture judgments.In lieu of such list, the department may provide this information to each presiding judge in an electronic format.
3.All duly licensed and qualified bail bond agents and general bail bond agents shall be qualified, without further requirement, to write bail upon a surety's liability in all courts of this state as provided in rules promulgated by the supreme court of Missouri and not by any circuit court rule.
374.784 - Application for licensure, contents, qualifications — refusal to issue license, when.
1.Applications for examination and licensure as a surety recovery agent shall be submitted on forms prescribed by the department and shall contain such information as the department requires, along with a copy of the front and back of a photographic identification card.
2.Each application shall be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the director that the applicant is a citizen of the United States and has a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate (GED).An applicant shall furnish evidence of such person's qualifications by completing an approved surety recovery agent course with at least twenty-four hours of initial minimum training.The director shall determine which institutions, organizations, associations, and individuals shall be eligible to provide said training.Said instructions and fees associated therewith shall be identical or similar to those prescribed in section 374.710 for bail bond agents and general bail bond agents.
3.In addition to said twenty-four hours of initial minimum training, licensees shall be required to receive eight hours of biennial continuing education of which said instructions and fees shall be identical or similar to those prescribed in section 374.710 for bail bond agents and general bail bond agents.
4.Applicants for surety recovery agents licensing shall be exempt from said requirements of the twenty-four hours of initial minimum training if applicants provide proof of prior training as a law enforcement officer with at least two years of such service within the ten years prior to the application being submitted to the department.
5.The director may refuse to issue any license pursuant to sections 374.783 to 374.789, for any one or any combination of causes stated in section 374.787.The director shall notify the applicant in writing of the reason or reasons for refusal and shall advise the applicant of the right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission to appeal the refusal as provided by chapter 621.
374.280 - Civil penalty or forfeiture ordered when, how enforced.
1.The director may, after a hearing under section 374.046, order a civil penalty or forfeiture payable to the state of Missouri authorized by section 374.049, which penalty or forfeiture, if unpaid within ten days, may be recovered by a civil action brought by and in the name of the director under section 374.048.The civil action may be brought in the county which has venue of an action against the person, partnership or corporation under other provisions of law.The director may also suspend or revoke the license or certificate of authority of such person for any willful violation.
2.Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the director and any person subject to an investigation, examination, or other proceeding from agreeing to a voluntary forfeiture of the sum mentioned herein without civil proceedings being instituted.Any sum so agreed upon shall be paid into the school fund as provided by law for other fines and penalties.
(L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1993 H.B. 709, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66)
(1982) Legislature did not expressly provide private cause of actions for violation of section 379.118, although director of division of insurance may suspend or revoke license of an insurer for any willful violation of chapter 374. Shqeir v. Equifax, Inc. (Mo. banc) 636 S.W.2d 944.
374.716 - Accounting required, when — records submitted to director — bail contract provided to principal.
1.Every bail bond agent shall account for each power of attorney assigned by the general bail bond agent on a weekly basis and remit all sums collected and owed to the general bail bond agent pursuant to his or her written contract.The general bail bond agent shall maintain the weekly accounting and remittance records for a period of three years.Such records shall be subject to inspection by the director or his or her designee during regular business hours or at other reasonable times.
2.For every bond written in this state, the licensee shall provide to the principal a copy of the bail contract.
374.512 - Violation of regulations, notice to agent — powers of director to discipline — penalties.
1.Whenever the director has reason to believe that a utilization review agent subject to sections 374.500 to 374.515 has been or is engaged in conduct which violates the provisions of sections 374.500 to 374.515, the director shall notify the utilization review agent of the alleged violation.The utilization review agent shall have thirty days from the date the notice is received to respond to the alleged violation.
2.If the director determines that the utilization review agent has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of sections 374.500 to 374.515 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of sections 374.500 to 374.515 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may issue such administrative orders as authorized under section 374.046. A violation of any of these sections is a level two violation under section 374.049.The director may also suspend or revoke the license or certificate of authority of such person for any willful violation.
3.If the director believes that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of sections 374.500 to 374.515 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of sections 374.500 to 374.515 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may maintain a civil action for relief authorized under section 374.048.A violation of any of these sections is a level two violation under section 374.049.
(L. 1991 S.B. 352 § 6 subsecs. 1, 2, 3, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66)
374.216 - False financial statements, filing of — penalty.
1.A person commits the offense of filing a false insurance statement if he prepares, makes, submits or files a financial report or statement with the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration with the purpose to misrepresent the financial condition of the company in whose behalf such report or statement is prepared, made, submitted or filed.The crime shall require no mental state other than that specifically provided herein.
2.The offense of filing a false insurance statement is a class D felony.
(L. 1991 H.B. 385, et al. § 111, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
374.047 - Willful violation of state law, order — notice.
1.If the director determines, based on substantial and competent evidence, that a corporation or insurer with a certificate of authority under the laws relating to insurance willfully has engaged in an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a level three, four, or five violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or been convicted of any felony or misdemeanor under any state or federal law, the director may, after hearing, issue an order suspending or revoking the certificate of authority.
2.Prior to issuance of the order under this section, the director shall give at least thirty days' notice with a statement of reasons for the action and afford such corporation or insurer the opportunity for a hearing upon written request.If such corporation or insurer requests a hearing in writing, a final order of suspension or revocation may not be issued unless the director makes findings of fact and conclusions of law in a record in accordance with the contested case provisions of chapter 536 and procedural rules promulgated by the director.
3.The enforcement authority of the director under this section is cumulative to any other statutory authority of the director.
374.757 - Notification by agent of intention to apprehend — local law enforcement may accompany agent — violations, penalties.
1.Any agent licensed by sections 374.695 to 374.775 who intends to apprehend any person in this state shall inform law enforcement authorities in the city or county in which such agent intends such apprehension, before attempting such apprehension.Such agent shall present to the local law enforcement authorities a certified copy of the bond and all other appropriate paperwork identifying the principal and the person to be apprehended.Local law enforcement may accompany the agent.Failure of any agent to whom this section applies to comply with the provisions of this section shall be a class A misdemeanor for the first violation and a class E felony for subsequent violations; and shall also be a violation of section 374.755 and may in addition be punished pursuant to that section.
2.The surety recovery agent shall inform the local law enforcement in the county or city where such agent is planning to enter a residence.Such agent shall have a certified copy of the bond and all appropriate paperwork to identify the principal.Local law enforcement, when notified, may accompany the surety recovery agent to that location to keep the peace if an active warrant is effective for a felony or misdemeanor.If a warrant is not active, the local law enforcement officers may accompany the surety recovery agent to such location.Failure to report to the local law enforcement agency is a class A misdemeanor.For any subsequent violations, failure to report to the local law enforcement agency is a class E felony.
(L. 2001 S.B. 267, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
374.057 - Filing of records and signatures authorized when in compliance with federal law.
The filing of records and signatures is authorized, when specified under this chapter, or chapters 287, 325, 354, and 375 to 385, or a rule adopted thereunder, when carried out in a manner consistent with Section 104(a) of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7004(a).This section modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, but does not modify, limit, or supersede Section 101(c) of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7001(c), or authorize the electronic delivery of any of the notices described in Section 103(b) of the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. Section 7003(b).
374.202 - Purpose of law — definitions.
1.The purpose of sections 374.202 to 374.207 is to provide an effective and efficient system for examining the activities, operations, financial or market conduct, condition and affairs of all persons transacting the business of insurance in this state and all persons otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the director.The provisions of sections 374.202 to 374.207 are intended to enable the director to adopt a flexible system of examinations which directs resources as the director may deem appropriate and necessary for the administration of the insurance-related laws of this state.
(1)"Company", any person engaging in or proposing or attempting to engage in any transaction or kind of insurance or surety business and any person or group of persons who may otherwise be subject to the administrative, regulatory or taxing authority of the director, not assigned to the functional regulation of the divisions of finance, credit unions, or professional registration, or boards assigned to or within those divisions;
(2)"Department", the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration of this state;
(3)"Director", the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration of this state;
(4)"Examiner", any individual or firm having been authorized by the director to conduct an examination under sections 374.202 to 374.207;
(5)"Insurer" has the same meaning as insurer under sections 375.1150 to 375.1246;
(6)"Person", any individual, aggregation of individuals, trust, association, partnership or corporation, or any affiliate thereof.
374.702 - License required, restrictions on practice.
1.No person shall engage in the bail bond business as a bail bond agent or a general bail bond agent without being licensed as provided in sections 374.695 to 374.775.
2.No judge, attorney, court official, law enforcement officer, state, county, or municipal employee who is either elected or appointed shall be licensed as a bail bond agent or a general bail bond agent.
3.A licensed bail bond agent shall not execute or issue an appearance bond in this state without holding a valid appointment from a general bail bond agent and without attaching to the appearance bond an executed and prenumbered power of attorney referencing the general bail bond agent or insurer.
4.A person licensed as an active bail bond agent shall hold the license for at least two years prior to owning or being an officer of a licensed general bail bond agent.
5.A general bail bond agent shall not engage in the bail bond business:
(1)Without having been licensed as a general bail bond agent pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.775; or
(2)Except through an agent licensed as a bail bond agent pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.775.
6.A general bail bond agent shall not permit any unlicensed person to solicit or engage in the bail bond business on the general bail bond agent's behalf, except for individuals who are employed solely for the performance of clerical, stenographic, investigative, or other administrative duties which do not require a license pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.789.
7.Any person who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.For any subsequent convictions, a person who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a class E felony.
(L. 2004 S.B. 1122, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
374.056 - Rulemaking authority, delivery methods.
Except as limited by section 375.922, the director may promulgate rules establishing the specific type of delivery method for submissions of rate and form filings, rules, license applications, including materials requested in the course of a financial or market conduct examination, which are required to be submitted to the department under state law.Types of delivery methods shall be web-based interface systems such as the System for Electronic Rate Form Filing (SERFF), the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR), and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Internet-State Interface Technology Enhancement (I-SITE).Such rules may only apply to insurance companies, producers, health maintenance organizations, and any other person or entity regulated by the department under this chapter, and chapters 287, 325, 354, and 375 to 385, or a rule adopted thereunder.Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2008, shall be invalid and void.
374.352 - Compact.
The State of Missouri ratifies, approves, and adopts the following interstate compact:
The purposes of this Compact are, through means of joint and cooperative action among the Compacting States:
1.To promote and protect the interest of consumers of individual and group annuity, life insurance, disability income and long-term care insurance products;
2.To develop uniform standards for insurance products covered under the Compact;
3.To establish a central clearinghouse to receive and provide prompt review of insurance products covered under the Compact and, in certain cases, advertisements related thereto, submitted by insurers authorized to do business in one or more Compacting States;
4.To give appropriate regulatory approval to those product filings and advertisements satisfying the applicable uniform standard;
5.To improve coordination of regulatory resources and expertise between state insurance departments regarding the setting of uniform standards and review of insurance products covered under the Compact;
6.To create the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission; and
7.To perform these and such other related functions as may be consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
For purposes of this Compact:
1."Advertisement" means any material designed to create public interest in a Product, or induce the public to purchase, increase, modify, reinstate, borrow on, surrender, replace or retain a policy, as more specifically defined in the Rules and Operating Procedures of the Commission.
2."Bylaws" mean those bylaws established by the Commission for its governance, or for directing or controlling the Commission's actions or conduct.
3."Compacting State" means any State which has enacted this Compact legislation and which has not withdrawn pursuant to Article XIV, Section 1, or been terminated pursuant to Article XIV, Section 2.
4."Commission" means the "Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission" established by this Compact.
5."Commissioner" means the chief insurance regulatory official of a State including, but not limited to commissioner, superintendent, director or administrator.
6."Domiciliary State" means the state in which an Insurer is incorporated or organized; or, in the case of an alien Insurer, its state of entry.
7."Insurer" means any entity licensed by a State to issue contracts of insurance for any of the lines of insurance covered by this Act*.
8."Member" means the person chosen by a Compacting State as its representative to the Commission, or his or her designee.
9."Non-compacting State" means any State which is not at the time a Compacting State.
10."Operating Procedures" mean procedures promulgated by the Commission implementing a Rule, Uniform Standard or a provision of this Compact.
11."Product" means the form of a policy or contract, including any application, endorsement, or related form which is attached to and made a part of the policy or contract, and any evidence of coverage or certificate, for an individual or group annuity, life insurance, disability income or long-term care insurance product that an Insurer is authorized to issue.
12."Rule" means a statement of general or particular applicability and future effect promulgated by the Commission, including a Uniform Standard developed pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, designed to implement, interpret, or prescribe law or policy or describing the organization, procedure, or practice requirements of the Commission, which shall have the force and effect of law in the Compacting States.
13."State" means any state, district or territory of the United States of America.
14."Third-Party Filer" means an entity that submits a Product filing to the Commission on behalf of an Insurer.
15."Uniform Standard" means a standard adopted by the Commission for a Product line, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, and shall include all of the Product requirements in aggregate; provided, that each Uniform Standard shall be construed, whether express or implied, to prohibit the use of any inconsistent, misleading or ambiguous provisions in a Product and the form of the Product made available to the public shall not be unfair, inequitable or against public policy as determined by the Commission.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION AND VENUE
1.The Compacting States hereby create and establish a joint public agency known as the "Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission." Pursuant to Article IV, the Commission will have the power to develop Uniform Standards for Product lines, receive and provide prompt review of Products filed therewith, and give approval to those Product filings satisfying applicable Uniform Standards; provided, it is not intended for the Commission to be the exclusive entity for receipt and review of insurance product filings.Nothing herein shall prohibit any Insurer from filing its product in any State wherein the Insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance; and any such filing shall be subject to the laws of the State where filed.
2.The Commission is a body corporate and politic, and an instrumentality of the Compacting States.
3.The Commission is solely responsible for its liabilities except as otherwise specifically provided in this Compact.
4.Venue is proper and judicial proceedings by or against the Commission shall be brought solely and exclusively in a Court of competent jurisdiction where the principal office of the Commission is located.
POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
The Commission shall have the following powers:
1.To promulgate Rules, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact;
2.To exercise its rulemaking authority and establish reasonable Uniform Standards for Products covered under the Compact, and Advertisement related thereto, which shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States, but only for those Products filed with the Commission, provided, that a Compacting State shall have the right to opt out of such Uniform Standard pursuant to Article VII, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact, and, provided further, that any Uniform Standard established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products may provide the same or greater protections for consumers as, but shall not provide less than, those protections set forth in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act and Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation, respectively, adopted as of 2001.The Commission shall consider whether any subsequent amendments to the NAIC Long-Term Care Insurance Model Act or Long-Term Care Insurance Model Regulation adopted by the NAIC require amending of the Uniform Standards established by the Commission for long-term care insurance products;
3.To receive and review in an expeditious manner Products filed with the Commission, and rate filings for disability income and long-term care insurance Products, and give approval of those Products and rate filings that satisfy the applicable Uniform Standard, where such approval shall have the force and effect of law and be binding on the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in the Compact;
4.To receive and review in an expeditious manner Advertisement relating to long-term care insurance products for which Uniform Standards have been adopted by the Commission, and give approval to all Advertisement that satisfies the applicable Uniform Standard.For any product covered under this Compact, other than long-term care insurance products, the Commission shall have the authority to require an insurer to submit all or any part of its Advertisement with respect to that product for review or approval prior to use, if the Commission determines that the nature of the product is such that an Advertisement of the product could have the capacity or tendency to mislead the public.The actions of the Commission as provided in this section shall have the force and effect of law and shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in the Compact;
5.To exercise its rulemaking authority and designate Products and Advertisement that may be subject to a self-certification process without the need for prior approval by the Commission.
6.To promulgate Operating Procedures, pursuant to Article VII of this Compact, which shall be binding in the Compacting States to the extent and in the manner provided in this Compact;
7.To bring and prosecute legal proceedings or actions in its name as the Commission; provided, that the standing of any state insurance department to sue or be sued under applicable law shall not be affected;
8.To issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of evidence;
9.To establish and maintain offices;
10.To purchase and maintain insurance and bonds;
11.To borrow, accept or contract for services of personnel, including, but not limited to, employees of a Compacting State;
12.To hire employees, professionals or specialists, and elect or appoint officers, and to fix their compensation, define their duties and give them appropriate authority to carry out the purposes of the Compact, and determine their qualifications; and to establish the Commission's personnel policies and programs relating to, among other things, conflicts of interest, rates of compensation and qualifications of personnel;
13.To accept any and all appropriate donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, and to receive, utilize and dispose of the same; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
14.To lease, purchase, accept appropriate gifts or donations of, or otherwise to own, hold, improve or use, any property, real, personal or mixed; provided that at all times the Commission shall strive to avoid any appearance of impropriety;
15.To sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, abandon or otherwise dispose of any property, real, personal or mixed;
16.To remit filing fees to Compacting States as may be set forth in the Bylaws, Rules or Operating Procedures;
17.To enforce compliance by Compacting States with Rules, Uniform Standards, Operating Procedures and Bylaws;
18.To provide for dispute resolution among Compacting States;
19.To advise Compacting States on issues relating to Insurers domiciled or doing business in Non-compacting jurisdictions, consistent with the purposes of this Compact;
20.To provide advice and training to those personnel in state insurance departments responsible for product review, and to be a resource for state insurance departments;
21.To establish a budget and make expenditures;
22.To borrow money;
23.To appoint committees, including advisory committees comprising Members, state insurance regulators, state legislators or their representatives, insurance industry and consumer representatives, and such other interested persons as may be designated in the Bylaws;
24.To provide and receive information from, and to cooperate with law enforcement agencies;
25.To adopt and use a corporate seal; and
26.To perform such other functions as may be necessary or appropriate to achieve the purposes of this Compact consistent with the state regulation of the business of insurance.
ARTICLE V.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COMMISSION
1.Membership, Voting and Bylaws
a.Each Compacting State shall have and be limited to one Member.Each Member shall be qualified to serve in that capacity pursuant to applicable law of the Compacting State.Any Member may be removed or suspended from office as provided by the law of the State from which he or she shall be appointed.Any vacancy occurring in the Commission shall be filled in accordance with the laws of the Compacting State wherein the vacancy exists.Nothing herein shall be construed to affect the manner in which a Compacting State determines the election or appointment and qualification of its own Commissioner.
b.Each Member shall be entitled to one vote and shall have an opportunity to participate in the governance of the Commission in accordance with the Bylaws.Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no action of the Commission with respect to the promulgation of a Uniform Standard shall be effective unless two-thirds (2/3) of the Members vote in favor thereof.
c.The Commission shall, by a majority of the Members, prescribe Bylaws to govern its conduct as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes, and exercise the powers, of the Compact, including, but not limited to:
i.Establishing the fiscal year of the Commission;
ii.Providing reasonable procedures for appointing and electing members, as well as holding meetings, of the Management Committee;
iii.Providing reasonable standards and procedures: (i) for the establishment and meetings of other committees, and (ii) governing any general or specific delegation of any authority or function of the Commission;
iv.Providing reasonable procedures for calling and conducting meetings of the Commission that consists of a majority of Commission members, ensuring reasonable advance notice of each such meeting and providing for the right of citizens to attend each such meeting with enumerated exceptions designed to protect the public's interest, the privacy of individuals, and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets.The Commission may meet in camera only after a majority of the entire membership votes to close a meeting en toto or in part.As soon as practicable, the Commission must make public (i) a copy of the vote to close the meeting revealing the vote of each Member with no proxy votes allowed, and (ii) votes taken during such meeting;
v.Establishing the titles, duties and authority and reasonable procedures for the election of the officers of the Commission;
vi.Providing reasonable standards and procedures for the establishment of the personnel policies and programs of the Commission.Notwithstanding any civil service or other similar laws of any Compacting State, the Bylaws shall exclusively govern the personnel policies and programs of the Commission;
vii.Promulgating a code of ethics to address permissible and prohibited activities of commission members and employees; and
viii.Providing a mechanism for winding up the operations of the Commission and the equitable disposition of any surplus funds that may exist after the termination of the Compact after the payment and/or reserving of all of its debts and obligations.
d.The Commission shall publish its bylaws in a convenient form and file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto, with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the Compacting States.
2.Management Committee, Officers and Personnel
a.A Management Committee comprising no more than fourteen (14) members shall be established as follows:
i.One (1)member from each of the six (6) Compacting States with the largest premium volume for individual and group annuities, life, disability income and long-term care insurance products, determined from the records of the NAIC for the prior year;
ii.Four (4)members from those Compacting States with at least two percent (2%) of the market based on the premium volume described above, other than the six (6) Compacting States with the largest premium volume, selected on a rotating basis as provided in the Bylaws; and
iii.Four (4)members from those Compacting States with less than two percent (2%) of the market, based on the premium volume described above, with one (1) selected from each of the four (4) zone regions of the NAIC as provided in the Bylaws.
b.The Management Committee shall have such authority and duties as may be set forth in the Bylaws, including but not limited to:
i.Managing the affairs of the Commission in a manner consistent with the Bylaws and purposes of the Commission;
ii.Establishing and overseeing an organizational structure within, and appropriate procedures for, the Commission to provide for the creation of Uniform Standards and other Rules, receipt and review of product filings, administrative and technical support functions, review of decisions regarding the disapproval of a product filing, and the review of elections made by a Compacting State to opt out of a Uniform Standard; provided that a Uniform Standard shall not be submitted to the Compacting States for adoption unless approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Management Committee;
iii.Overseeing the offices of the Commission; and
iv.Planning, implementing, and coordinating communications and activities with other state, federal and local government organizations in order to advance the goals of the Commission.
c.The Commission shall elect annually officers from the Management Committee, with each having such authority and duties, as may be specified in the Bylaws.
d.The Management Committee may, subject to the approval of the Commission, appoint or retain an executive director for such period, upon such terms and conditions and for such compensation as the Commission may deem appropriate.The executive director shall serve as secretary to the Commission, but shall not be a Member of the Commission.The executive director shall hire and supervise such other staff as may be authorized by the Commission.
3.Legislative and Advisory Committees
a.A legislative committee comprising state legislators or their designees shall be established to monitor the operations of, and make recommendations to, the Commission, including the Management Committee; provided that the manner of selection and term of any legislative committee member shall be as set forth in the Bylaws.Prior to the adoption by the Commission of any Uniform Standard, revision to the Bylaws, annual budget or other significant matter as may be provided in the Bylaws, the Management Committee shall consult with and report to the legislative committee.
b.The Commission shall establish two (2) advisory committees, one of which shall comprise consumer representatives independent of the insurance industry, and the other comprising insurance industry representatives.
c.The Commission may establish additional advisory committees as its Bylaws may provide for the carrying out of its functions.
4.Corporate Records of the Commission
TheCommission shall maintain its corporate books and records in accordance with the Bylaws.
5.Qualified Immunity, Defense and Indemnification
a.The Members, officers, executive director, employees and representatives of the Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person.
b.The Commission shall defend any Member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission in any civil action seeking to impose liability arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that the person against whom the claim is made had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit that person from retaining his or her own counsel; and provided further, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from that person's intentional or willful and wanton misconduct.
c.The Commission shall indemnify and hold harmless any Member, officer, executive director, employee or representative of the Commission for the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against that person arising out of any actual or alleged act, error or omission that occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, or that such person had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Commission employment, duties or responsibilities, provided, that the actual or alleged act, error or omission did not result from the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of that person.
ARTICLE VI.
MEETINGS AND ACTS OF THE COMMISSION
1.The Commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this Compact and the Bylaws.
2.Each Member of the Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that Compacting State is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Commission.A Member shall vote in person or by such other means as provided in the Bylaws.The Bylaws may provide for Members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of communication.
3.The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. Additional meetings shall be held as set forth in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII.
RULES AND OPERATING PROCEDURES: RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION AND OPTING OUT OF UNIFORM STANDARDS
1.Rulemaking Authority.The Commission shall promulgate reasonable Rules, including Uniform Standards, and Operating Procedures in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of this Compact.Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Commission exercises its rulemaking authority in a manner that is beyond the scope of the purposes of this Act*, or the powers granted hereunder, then such an action by the Commission shall be invalid and have no force and effect.
2.Rulemaking Procedure.Rules and Operating Procedures shall be made pursuant to a rulemaking process that conforms to the Model State Administrative Procedure Act of 1981 as amended, as may be appropriate to the operations of the Commission.Before the Commission adopts a Uniform Standard, the Commission shall give written notice to the relevant state legislative committee(s) in each Compacting State responsible for insurance issues of its intention to adopt the Uniform Standard.The Commission in adopting a Uniform Standard shall consider fully all submitted materials and issue a concise explanation of its decision.
3.Effective Date and Opt Out of a Uniform Standard. A Uniform Standard shall become effective ninety (90) days after its promulgation by the Commission or such later date as the Commission may determine; provided, however, that a Compacting State may opt out of a Uniform Standard as provided in this Article."Opt out" shall be defined as any action by a Compacting State to decline to adopt or participate in a promulgated Uniform Standard.All other Rules and Operating Procedures, and amendments thereto, shall become effective as of the date specified in each Rule, Operating Procedure or amendment.
4.Opt Out Procedure.A Compacting State may opt out of a Uniform Standard, either by legislation or regulation duly promulgated by the Insurance Department under the Compacting State's Administrative Procedure Act.If a Compacting State elects to opt out of a Uniform Standard by regulation, it must (a) give written notice to the Commission no later than ten (10) business days after the Uniform Standard is promulgated, or at the time the State becomes a Compacting State and (b) find that the Uniform Standard does not provide reasonable protections to the citizens of the State, given the conditions in the State.The Commissioner shall make specific findings of fact and conclusions of law, based on a preponderance of the evidence, detailing the conditions in the State which warrant a departure from the Uniform Standard and determining that the Uniform Standard would not reasonably protect the citizens of the State.The Commissioner must consider and balance the following factors and find that the conditions in the State and needs of the citizens of the State outweigh: (i) the intent of the legislature to participate in, and the benefits of, an interstate agreement to establish national uniform consumer protections for the Products subject to this Act*; and (ii) the presumption that a Uniform Standard adopted by the Commission provides reasonable protections to consumers of the relevant Product.Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Compacting State may, at the time of its enactment of this Compact, prospectively opt out of all Uniform Standards involving long-term care insurance products by expressly providing for such opt out in the enacted Compact, and such an opt out shall not be treated as a material variance in the offer or acceptance of any State to participate in this Compact.Such an opt out shall be effective at the time of enactment of this Compact by the Compacting State and shall apply to all existing Uniform Standards involving long-term care insurance products and those subsequently promulgated.
5.Effect of Opt Out.If a Compacting State elects to opt out of a Uniform Standard, the Uniform Standard shall remain applicable in the Compacting State electing to opt out until such time the opt out legislation is enacted into law or the regulation opting out becomes effective.Once the opt out of a Uniform Standard by a Compacting State becomes effective as provided under the laws of that State, the Uniform Standard shall have no further force and effect in that State unless and until the legislation or regulation implementing the opt out is repealed or otherwise becomes ineffective under the laws of the State.If a Compacting State opts out of a Uniform Standard after the Uniform Standard has been made effective in that State, the opt out shall have the same prospective effect as provided under Article XIV for withdrawals.
6.Stay of Uniform Standard.If a Compacting State has formally initiated the process of opting out of a Uniform Standard by regulation, and while the regulatory opt out is pending, the Compacting State may petition the Commission, at least fifteen (15) days before the effective date of the Uniform Standard, to stay the effectiveness of the Uniform Standard in that State.The Commission may grant a stay if it determines the regulatory opt out is being pursued in a reasonable manner and there is a likelihood of success.If a stay is granted or extended by the Commission, the stay or extension thereof may postpone the effective date by up to ninety (90) days, unless affirmatively extended by the Commission; provided, a stay may not be permitted to remain in effect for more than one (1) year unless the Compacting State can show extraordinary circumstances which warrant a continuance of the stay, including, but not limited to, the existence of a legal challenge which prevents the Compacting State from opting out.A stay may be terminated by the Commission upon notice that the rulemaking process has been terminated.
7.Not later than thirty (30) days after a Rule or Operating Procedure is promulgated, any person may file a petition for judicial review of the Rule or Operating Procedure; provided, that the filing of such a petition shall not stay or otherwise prevent the Rule or Operating Procedure from becoming effective unless the court finds that the petitioner has a substantial likelihood of success.The court shall give deference to the actions of the Commission consistent with applicable law and shall not find the Rule or Operating Procedure to be unlawful if the Rule or Operating Procedure represents a reasonable exercise of the Commission's authority.
ARTICLE VIII.
COMMISSION RECORDS AND ENFORCEMENT
1.The Commission shall promulgate Rules establishing conditions and procedures for public inspection and copying of its information and official records, except such information and records involving the privacy of individuals and insurers' trade secrets.The Commission may promulgate additional Rules under which it may make available to federal and state agencies, including law enforcement agencies, records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure, and may enter into agreements with such agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions.
2.Except as to privileged records, data and information, the laws of any Compacting State pertaining to confidentiality or nondisclosure shall not relieve any Compacting State Commissioner of the duty to disclose any relevant records, data or information to the Commission; provided, that disclosure to the Commission shall not be deemed to waive or otherwise affect any confidentiality requirement; and further provided, that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Act*, the Commission shall not be subject to the Compacting State's laws pertaining to confidentiality and nondisclosure with respect to records, data and information in its possession.Confidential information of the Commission shall remain confidential after such information is provided to any Commissioner.
3.The Commission shall monitor Compacting States for compliance with duly adopted Bylaws, Rules, including Uniform Standards, and Operating Procedures.The Commission shall notify any non-complying Compacting State in writing of its noncompliance with Commission Bylaws, Rules or Operating Procedures.If a non-complying Compacting State fails to remedy its noncompliance within the time specified in the notice of noncompliance, the Compacting State shall be deemed to be in default as set forth in Article XIV.
4.The Commissioner of any State in which an Insurer is authorized to do business, or is conducting the business of insurance, shall continue to exercise his or her authority to oversee the market regulation of the activities of the Insurer in accordance with the provisions of the State's law.The Commissioner's enforcement of compliance with the Compact is governed by the following provisions:
a.With respect to the Commissioner's market regulation of a Product or Advertisement that is approved or certified to the Commission, the content of the Product or Advertisement shall not constitute a violation of the provisions, standards or requirements of the Compact except upon a final order of the Commission, issued at the request of a Commissioner after prior notice to the Insurer and an opportunity for hearing before the Commission.
b.Before a Commissioner may bring an action for violation of any provision, standard or requirement of the Compact relating to the content of an Advertisement not approved or certified to the Commission, the Commission, or an authorized Commission officer or employee, must authorize the action.However, authorization pursuant to this paragraph does not require notice to the Insurer, opportunity for hearing or disclosure of requests for authorization or records of the Commission's action on such requests.
ARTICLE IX.
The Commission shall attempt, upon the request of a Member, to resolve any disputes or other issues that are subject to this Compact and which may arise between two or more Compacting States, or between Compacting States and Non-compacting States, and the Commission shall promulgate an Operating Procedure providing for resolution of such disputes.
ARTICLE X.
PRODUCT FILING AND APPROVAL
1.Insurers and Third-Party Filers seeking to have a Product approved by the Commission shall file the Product with, and pay applicable filing fees to, the Commission.Nothing in this Act* shall be construed to restrict or otherwise prevent an insurer from filing its Product with the insurance department in any State wherein the insurer is licensed to conduct the business of insurance, and such filing shall be subject to the laws of the States where filed.
2.The Commission shall establish appropriate filing and review processes and procedures pursuant to Commission Rules and Operating Procedures.Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Commission shall promulgate Rules to establish conditions and procedures under which the Commission will provide public access to Product filing information.In establishing such Rules, the Commission shall consider the interests of the public in having access to such information, as well as protection of personal medical and financial information and trade secrets, that may be contained in a Product filing or supporting information.
3.Any Product approved by the Commission may be sold or otherwise issued in those Compacting States for which the Insurer is legally authorized to do business.
ARTICLE XI.
REVIEW OF COMMISSION DECISIONS REGARDING FILINGS
1.Not later than thirty (30) days after the Commission has given notice of a disapproved Product or Advertisement filed with the Commission, the Insurer or Third Party Filer whose filing was disapproved may appeal the determination to a review panel appointed by the Commission.The Commission shall promulgate Rules to establish procedures for appointing such review panels and provide for notice and hearing.An allegation that the Commission, in disapproving a Product or Advertisement filed with the Commission, acted arbitrarily, capriciously, or in a manner that is an abuse of discretion or otherwise not in accordance with the law, is subject to judicial review in accordance with Article III, Section 4.
2.The Commission shall have authority to monitor, review and reconsider Products and Advertisement subsequent to their filing or approval upon a finding that the product does not meet the relevant Uniform Standard.Where appropriate, the Commission may withdraw or modify its approval after proper notice and hearing, subject to the appeal process in Section 1 above.
ARTICLE XII.
1.The Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment and organization.To fund the cost of its initial operations, the Commission may accept contributions and other forms of funding from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Compacting States and other sources.Contributions and other forms of funding from other sources shall be of such a nature that the independence of the Commission concerning the performance of its duties shall not be compromised.
2.The Commission shall collect a filing fee from each Insurer and Third Party Filer filing a product with the Commission to cover the cost of the operations and activities of the Commission and its staff in a total amount sufficient to cover the Commission's annual budget.
3.The Commission's budget for a fiscal year shall not be approved until it has been subject to notice and comment as set forth in Article VII of this Compact.
4.The Commission shall be exempt from all taxation in and by the Compacting States.
5.The Commission shall not pledge the credit of any Compacting State, except by and with the appropriate legal authority of that Compacting State.
6.The Commission shall keep complete and accurate accounts of all its internal receipts, including grants and donations, and disbursements of all funds under its control.The internal financial accounts of the Commission shall be subject to the accounting procedures established under its Bylaws.The financial accounts and reports including the system of internal controls and procedures of the Commission shall be audited annually by an independent certified public accountant.Upon the determination of the Commission, but no less frequently than every three (3) years, the review of the independent auditor shall include a management and performance audit of the Commission.The Commission shall make an Annual Report to the Governor and legislature of the Compacting States, which shall include a report of the independent audit.The Commission's internal accounts shall not be confidential and such materials may be shared with the Commissioner of any Compacting State upon request provided, however, that any work papers related to any internal or independent audit and any information regarding the privacy of individuals and insurers' proprietary information, including trade secrets, shall remain confidential.
7.No Compacting State shall have any claim to or ownership of any property held by or vested in the Commission or to any Commission funds held pursuant to the provisions of this Compact.
ARTICLE XIII.
COMPACTING STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT
1.Any State is eligible to become a Compacting State.
2.The Compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the Compact into law by two Compacting States; provided, the Commission shall become effective for purposes of adopting Uniform Standards for, reviewing, and giving approval or disapproval of, Products filed with the Commission that satisfy applicable Uniform Standards only after twenty-six (26) States are Compacting States or, alternatively, by States representing greater than forty percent (40%) of the premium volume for life insurance, annuity, disability income and long-term care insurance products, based on records of the NAIC for the prior year.Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other Compacting State upon enactment of the Compact into law by that State.
3.Amendments to the Compact may be proposed by the Commission for enactment by the Compacting States.No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the Commission and the Compacting States unless and until all Compacting States enact the amendment into law.
ARTICLE XIV.
WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT AND TERMINATION
1.Withdrawal
a.Once effective, the Compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each and every Compacting State; provided, that a Compacting State may withdraw from the Compact ("Withdrawing State" ) by enacting a statute specifically repealing the statute which enacted the Compact into law.
b.The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repealing statute.However, the withdrawal shall not apply to any product filings approved or self-certified, or any Advertisement of such products, on the date the repealing statute becomes effective, except by mutual agreement of the Commission and the Withdrawing State unless the approval is rescinded by the Withdrawing State as provided in Paragraph e of this section.
c.The Commissioner of the Withdrawing State shall immediately notify the Management Committee in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this Compact in the Withdrawing State.
d.The Commission shall notify the other Compacting States of the introduction of such legislation within ten (10) days after its receipt of notice thereof.
e.The Withdrawing State is responsible for all obligations, duties and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal, except to the extent those obligations may have been released or relinquished by mutual agreement of the Commission and the Withdrawing State.The Commission's approval of Products and Advertisement prior to the effective date of withdrawal shall continue to be effective and be given full force and effect in the Withdrawing State, unless formally rescinded by the Withdrawing State in the same manner as provided by the laws of the Withdrawing State for the prospective disapproval of products or advertisement previously approved under state law.
f.Reinstatement following withdrawal of any Compacting State shall occur upon the effective date of the Withdrawing State reenacting the Compact.
2.Default
a.If the Commission determines that any Compacting State has at any time defaulted ("Defaulting State" ) in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this Compact, the Bylaws or duly promulgated Rules or Operating Procedures, then, after notice and hearing as set forth in the Bylaws, all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact on the Defaulting State shall be suspended from the effective date of default as fixed by the Commission.The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a Compacting State to perform its obligations or responsibilities, and any other grounds designated in Commission Rules.The Commission shall immediately notify the Defaulting State in writing of the Defaulting State's suspension pending a cure of the default.The Commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the Defaulting State must cure its default.If the Defaulting State fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the Commission, the Defaulting State shall be terminated from the Compact and all rights, privileges and benefits conferred by this Compact shall be terminated from the effective date of termination.
b.Product approvals by the Commission or product self-certifications, or any Advertisement in connection with such product, that are in force on the effective date of termination shall remain in force in the Defaulting State in the same manner as if the Defaulting State had withdrawn voluntarily pursuant to Section 1 of this article.
c.Reinstatement following termination of any Compacting State requires a reenactment of the Compact.
3.Dissolution of Compact
a.The Compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of the Compacting State which reduces membership in the Compact to one Compacting State.
b.Upon the dissolution of this Compact, the Compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Commission shall be wound up and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the Bylaws.
ARTICLE XV.
SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
1.The provisions of this Compact shall be severable; and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Compact shall be enforceable.
2.The provisions of this Compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
ARTICLE XVI.
BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
1.Other Laws
a.Nothing herein prevents the enforcement of any other law of a Compacting State, except as provided in Paragraph b of this section.
b.For any Product approved or certified to the Commission, the Rules, Uniform Standards and any other requirements of the Commission shall constitute the exclusive provisions applicable to the content, approval and certification of such Products.For Advertisement that is subject to the Commission's authority, any Rule, Uniform Standard or other requirement of the Commission which governs the content of the Advertisement shall constitute the exclusive provision that a Commissioner may apply to the content of the Advertisement.Notwithstanding the foregoing, no action taken by the Commission shall abrogate or restrict: (i) the access of any person to state courts; (ii) remedies available under state law related to breach of contract, tort, or other laws not specifically directed to the content of the Product; (iii) state law relating to the construction of insurance contracts; or (iv) the authority of the attorney general of the state, including but not limited to maintaining any actions or proceedings, as authorized by law.
c.All insurance products filed with individual States shall be subject to the laws of those States.
2.Binding Effect of this Compact
a.All lawful actions of the Commission, including all Rules and Operating Procedures promulgated by the Commission, are binding upon the Compacting States.
b.All agreements between the Commission and the Compacting States are binding in accordance with their terms.
c.Upon the request of a party to a conflict over the meaning or interpretation of Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the Compacting States, the Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding the meaning or interpretation in dispute.
d.In the event any provision of this Compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any Compacting State, the obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by that provision upon the Commission shall be ineffective as to that Compacting State, and those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction shall remain in the Compacting State and shall be exercised by the agency thereof to which those obligations, duties, powers or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this Compact becomes effective.
*"This act" (H.B. 577, 2009) contained numerous sections.Consult Disposition of Sections table for a definitive listing.
374.207 - Examiners, appointment of, restrictions — expenses of examination, how paid — immunity of director, examiners.
1.No examiner may be appointed by the director if such examiner, either directly or indirectly, has a conflict of interest or is affiliated with the management of or owns a pecuniary interest in any person subject to examination under sections 374.202 to 374.207.This subsection shall not be construed to automatically preclude an examiner from being:
(1)A policyholder or claimant under an insurance policy;
(2)A grantor of a mortgage or similar instrument on the examiner's residence to a regulated entity if done under customary terms and in the ordinary course of business;
(3)An investment owner in shares of regulated diversified investment companies; or
(4)A settlor or beneficiary of a blind trust into which any otherwise impermissible holdings have been placed.
Notwithstanding the requirement of this subsection, the director may retain from time to time, on an individual basis, qualified actuaries, certified public accountants, or other similar individuals who are independently practicing their professions, even though said persons may from time to time be similarly employed or retained by persons subject to examination under sections 374.202 to 374.207.
2.Expenses and costs of examinations shall be paid as set forth in section 374.160.
3.The director, the director's authorized representatives or any examiner appointed by the director shall have such official immunity as exists at common law.
374.007 - Statutory reference changes authorized.
1.The revisor of statutes shall change all references in the revised statutes of Missouri from "department of insurance", "insurance department" or "department of insurance, financial and professional regulation" to "department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration".
2.The revisor of statutes shall change all references in the revised statutes of Missouri from "director of insurance" or "commissioner of insurance" to "director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration".
374.503 - Certificate required for utilization review agents, exceptions.
1.A utilization review agent may not conduct utilization review in this state unless the Missouri department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration has granted the utilization review agent a certificate.
2.No certificate is required for those review agents conducting general in-house utilization review for hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, private offices or any other health facility or entity, so long as the review does not result in the approval or denial of payment for hospital or medical services for a particular case.
374.507 - Information may be required by department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.
In conjunction with the application, the utilization review agent shall submit additional information as required by the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.
374.217 - Covenant not to sue officers of insurer, prohibited — no force and effect.
1.The director or any other employee of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall not enter into any covenant not to sue or any agreement to defer, refrain or desist from instituting or asserting against any officer or director of any insurer or any other person or entity in the business of insurance and regulated by the department any claim, demand, action or suit, either administrative or judicial, for injuries, damages or penalties to the state or any person or property.
2.Any covenant or agreement entered into in derogation of subsection 1 of this section, shall be deemed to be in violation of the public policy of this state that the general assembly shall by law provide adequate regulation of insurers in order to protect citizens of this state; and that the department shall carry out and enforce such regulation.The courts of this state shall not enforce or give effect to any such covenant or agreement.
374.717 - Prohibited acts.
No insurer or licensee, court, or law enforcement officer shall:
(1)Pay a fee or rebate or give or promise anything of value in order to secure a settlement, compromise, remission, or reduction of the amount of any bail bond to:
(a)A jailer, police officer, peace officer, committing judge, or any other person who has power to arrest or to hold in custody any person; or
(b)Any public official or public employee;
(2)Pay a fee or rebate or give anything of value to an attorney in bail bond matters, except in defense of any action on a bond;
(3)Pay a fee or rebate or give anything of value to the principal or anyone on the principal's behalf;
(4)Accept anything of value from a principal except the premium and expenses incurred, provided that the licensee shall be permitted to accept collateral security or other indemnity from the principal in accordance with the provisions of section 374.719.
374.046 - Relief issued by director for violations of state laws — considerations — notice — effective date of order — contents of order, procedures — penalty — costs — powers of director — service — order filed — noncompliance — modification of order — additional penalties — definitions.
1.If the director determines based upon substantial and competent evidence that a person has engaged, is engaging in or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354, and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354, and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may order the following relief:
(1)An order directing the person to cease and desist from engaging in the act, practice, omission, or course of business;
(2)A curative order or order directing the person to take other action necessary or appropriate to comply with the insurance laws of this state;
(3)Order a civil penalty or forfeiture as provided in section 374.049; and
(4)Award reasonable costs of the investigation.
2.In determining any relief sought, the director shall consider, among other factors, whether:
(1)The violations are likely to continue or reoccur;
(2)Actual financial loss was sustained by consumers and restitution has been made;
(3)The act, practice, omission, or course of business was detected as part of a self-audit or internal compliance program and immediately reported to the director; and
(4)The act, practice, omission, or course of business had previously been detected, but inadequate policies and procedures were implemented to prevent reoccurrence.
3.Unless the director determines that a summary order is appropriate under subsection 4 of this section, the director shall provide notice of the intent to initiate administrative enforcement by serving a statement of the reasons for the action upon any person subject to the proceedings.A statement of reasons, together with an order to show cause why a cease and desist order and other relief should not be issued, shall be served either personally or by certified mail on any person named therein.The director shall schedule a time and place at least ten days thereafter for hearing, and after notice of and opportunity for hearing to each person subject to the order, the director may issue a final order under subsection 6 of this section.
4.If the director determines that sections 375.014, 375.144, or 375.310 are being violated and consumers are being aggrieved by the violations, the order issued under subdivision (1) of subsection 1 of this section may be summary and be effective on the date of issuance.Upon issuance of the order, the director shall promptly serve each person subject to the order with a copy of the order and a notice that the order has been entered.
5.A summary order issued under subsection 4 of this section must include a statement of the reasons for the order, notice within five days after receipt of a request in a record from the person that the matter will be scheduled for a hearing, and a statement whether the department is seeking a civil penalty or costs of the investigation.If a person subject to the order does not request a hearing and none is ordered by the director within thirty days after the date of service of the order, the order becomes final as to that person by operation of law.If a hearing is requested or ordered, the director, after notice of and opportunity for hearing to each person subject to the order, may modify or vacate the order or extend it until final determination.
6.If a hearing is requested or ordered pursuant to subsection 3 or subsection 5 of this section, a hearing before the director or a hearing officer designated by the director must be provided.A final order may not be issued unless the director makes findings of fact and conclusions of law in a record in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536 and procedural rules promulgated by the director.The final order may make final, vacate, or modify the order issued under subsection 5 of this section.
7.In a final order under subsection 6 of this section, the director may impose a civil penalty or forfeiture as provided in section 374.049.No civil penalty or forfeiture may be imposed against a person unless the person has engaged in the act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting the violation.
8.In a final order under subsection 6 of this section, the director may charge the actual cost of an investigation or proceeding for a violation of the insurance laws of this state or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto.These funds shall be paid to the director to the credit of the insurance dedicated fund.
9.The director is authorized to issue subpoenas, compel attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, hear testimony of witnesses, receive evidence, and require the production of books, papers, records, correspondence, and all other written instruments or documents relevant to the proceeding and authorized in contested cases under the provisions of chapter 536 and procedural rules promulgated by the director.
10.Statements of charges, notices, orders, and other processes of the director may be served by anyone duly authorized by the director either in the manner provided by law for service of process in civil actions, or by registering or certifying and mailing a copy thereof to the person affected by such statement, notice, order, or other process at his or its residence or principal office or place of business.The verified return by the person so serving such statement, notice, order, or other process setting forth the manner of such service shall be proof of the same, and the return postcard receipt for such statement, notice, order, or other process, registered and mailed as aforesaid, shall be proof of the service of the same.
11.If a petition for judicial review of a final order is not filed in accordance with section 374.055, the director may file a certified copy of the final order with the clerk of a court of competent jurisdiction.The order so filed has the same effect as a judgment of the court and may be recorded, enforced, or satisfied in the same manner as a judgment of the court.
12.If a person violates or does not comply with an order under this section, the director may under section 374.048 petition a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the order.The court may not require the director to post a bond in an action or proceeding under this section.If the court finds, after service and opportunity for hearing, that the person was not in compliance with the order, the court may, in addition to relief authorized in section 374.048, adjudge the person in civil contempt of the order.A violation of or failure to comply with an order under this section is a level three violation under section 374.049.The court may impose a further civil penalty against the person for contempt in an amount not less than five thousand dollars but not greater than one hundred thousand dollars for each violation and may grant any other relief the court determines is just and proper in the circumstances.
13.Until the expiration of the time allowed under section 374.055 for filing a petition for judicial review, if no such petition has been duly filed within such time or if a petition for review has been filed within such time, then until the transcript of the record in the proceeding has been filed in the circuit court of Cole County, the director may at any time, upon such notice and in such manner as he shall deem proper, modify or set aside in whole or in part any order issued by him under this section.
14.The enforcement authority of the director under this section is cumulative to any other statutory authority of the director.
15.The director is authorized to issue administrative consent orders in the public interest as complete or partial settlement of any investigation, examination, or other proceeding, which curative orders may contain any provision necessary or appropriate to assure compliance with the insurance laws of this state, require payment of restitution to be distributed directly or by the director to any aggrieved consumers, civil penalties, or voluntary forfeiture, reimbursement for costs of investigation or examination, or any other relief deemed by the director to be necessary and appropriate.Any remaining matters not addressed in settlement may be submitted to the director through a contested proceeding under this section.
16.(1)Any person willfully violating any provision of any cease and desist order of the director after it becomes final, while the same is in force, upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred thousand dollars, by imprisonment of up to ten years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(2)In addition to any other penalty provided, violation of any cease and desist order shall subject the violator to suspension or revocation of any certificate of authority or license as may be applicable under the laws of this state relating to the business of insurance.
17.The term "person" as used in this chapter shall include any individual, partnership, corporation, association or trust, or any other legal entity.
18.The term "order" as used in this chapter shall include a formal administrative direction or command of the director issued under this section or in any contested case subject to the provisions of section 536.063 or any lawful administrative proceeding subject to judicial review, but shall not include department bulletins, no-action letters, advisory opinions, or any other statement of general applicability that should be adopted by rule.
(L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 2006 H.B. 1837)
(1984) Nothing in this section prevents the Governor from directing the division of insurance to issue a cease and desist order. American Family Life Assurance Co. v. Teasdale (8th Cir.) 733 F.2d 559.
1.A person is guilty of a class E felony if he or she does not hold a valid surety recovery agent license or a bail bond license and commits any of the following acts:
(1)Holds himself or herself out to be a licensed surety recovery agent within this state;
(2)Claims that he or she can render surety recovery agent services; or
(3)Engages in fugitive recovery in this state.
2.Any person who engages in fugitive recovery in this state and wrongfully causes damage to any person or property, including, but not limited to, unlawful apprehension, unlawful detainment, or assault, shall be liable for such damages and may be liable for punitive damages.
374.785 - Apprehension of defendant, permitted where.
For the purpose of surrender of the defendant, a surety recovery agent may apprehend the defendant anywhere within the state of Missouri before or after the forfeiture of the undertaking without personal liability for false imprisonment or may empower any surety recovery agent to make apprehension by providing written authority endorsed on a certified copy of the undertaking and paying the lawful fees.
374.085 - Division of consumer affairs, duties — legal adviser may assist.
1.The division of consumer affairs of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall perform the following functions:
(1)The division shall receive complaints and inquiries from the general public concerning insurance companies, health services corporations and health maintenance organizations, their agents and employees, insurance producers, and any other persons licensed by or registered with the department, except those licensed by the division of finance, credit unions or professional registration, or any boards assigned to those divisions;
(2)The division shall maintain records of each complaint received and the disposition of that complaint, indexed by type of complaint, company, and such other factors as the section deems appropriate;
(3)The division shall operate a statewide toll-free telephone service to receive complaints and inquiries, and shall publicize the existence of this service to the general public;
(4)The division shall investigate complaints received of unfair or unlawful acts under the insurance laws of this state and shall close the file on each investigation only when the director of the consumer services division is satisfied that the person or persons complained against have taken a fair and reasonable position or one which is legally correct;
(5)The division shall prepare such brochures and other documents as it deems appropriate to help inform the general public on such topics as the state's insurance laws, insurance practices, policy coverages and policy costs; and
(6)The division shall recommend changes to state statutes when it considers such statutes to adversely or unfairly affect the interests of the general public.
2.In performing the functions of this section, the consumer services division may be assisted by a legal adviser.The legal adviser shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri and shall possess a knowledge of the state's insurance laws and regulations.
(L. 1990 H.B. 1739, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
374.185 - Uniformity of regulation, director to cooperate.
1.The director may cooperate, coordinate, and consult with other members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the commissioner of securities, state securities regulators, the division of finance, the division of credit unions, the attorney general, federal banking and securities regulators, the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), the United States Department of Justice, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to effectuate greater uniformity in insurance and financial services regulation among state and federal governments, and self-regulatory organizations.The director may share records with any aforesaid entity, except that any record that is confidential, privileged, or otherwise protected from disclosure by law shall not be disclosed unless such entity agrees in writing prior to receiving such record to provide it the same protection.No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality regarding any record shall occur as the result of any disclosure.
2.In cooperating, coordinating, consulting, and sharing records and information under this section and in acting by rule, order, or waiver under the laws relating to insurance, the director shall, at the discretion of the director, take into consideration in carrying out the public interest the following general policies:
(1)Maximizing effectiveness of regulation for the protection of insurance consumers;
(2)Maximizing uniformity in regulatory standards; and
(3)Minimizing burdens on the business of insurance, without adversely affecting essentials of consumer protection.
3.The cooperation, coordination, consultation, and sharing of records and information authorized by this section includes:
(1)Establishing or employing one or more designees as a central electronic depository for licensing and rate and form filings with the director and for records required or allowed to be maintained;
(2)Encouraging insurance companies and producers to implement electronic filing through a central electronic depository;
(3)Developing and maintaining uniform forms;
(4)Conducting joint market conduct examinations and other investigations through collaboration and cooperation with other insurance regulators;
(5)Holding joint administrative hearings;
(6)Instituting and prosecuting joint civil or administrative enforcement proceedings;
(7)Sharing and exchanging personnel;
(8)Coordinating licensing under section 375.014;
(9)Formulating rules, statements of policy, guidelines, forms, no action determinations, and bulletins; and
(10)Formulating common systems and procedures.
(L. 2007 S.B. 66, A.L. 2016 S.B. 865 & 866)
374.162 - Insurance examiners fund, established — assessments against insurer, how determined, when.
1.There is hereby established a fund for the examination expenses to be paid pursuant to section 374.160, to be known as the "Insurance Examiners Fund".There shall be an amount assessed against all insurers, health services corporations and health maintenance organizations which are engaged in the business of insurance within this state in order to provide initial funding for the insurance examiners fund.The assessment shall be made between August 28, 1991, and December 31, 1991, in the total amount of four hundred thousand dollars.The assessment of each such insurer, health services corporation and health maintenance organization shall be proportionate to the amount of premiums or enrollment fees received in this state by the insurer, health services corporation or health maintenance organization during calendar year 1990, is to the total amount of premiums and enrollment fees received in this state by all such entities during calendar year 1990.
2.The director may make an assessment between August 28, 1993, and June 30, 1994, of each insurer, health services corporation and health maintenance organization to provide a minimum balance in the insurance examiners fund.The total amount of all assessments made pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed four hundred thousand dollars.Such assessments shall be proportionate to the amount of premiums or enrollment fees received by such insurer, health services corporation, or health maintenance organization during the calendar year 1992 to the total amount of premiums and enrollment fees received in this state by all such entities during calendar year 1992, except that the total amount of all assessments on each insurer, health services corporation or health maintenance organization shall be at least two hundred fifty dollars and shall not exceed two thousand dollars.
(L. 1991 H.B. 385, et al. § 1, A.L. 1993 H.B. 709)
374.285 - Expungement of certain disciplinary action records.
Except as provided in section 375.141, all records of disciplinary actions against an insurance producer which resulted in a forfeiture or other monetary relief of two hundred dollars or less and places no other legal duty upon the producer shall be expunged after a period of five years from the date of the execution of the order or settlement agreement by the director.
(L. 2001 S.B. 193, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66)
Sections 374.695 to 374.789 may be known and shall be cited as the "Professional Bail Bondsman and Surety Recovery Agent Licensure Act".
374.191 - Interest rate on certain claims, refunds, penalties, or payments under legal or remedial actions — inapplicable, when.
1.If an insurance company is required to pay interest on any claims, refunds, penalties, or payments under a market conduct examination, investigation, stipulation of settlement agreement, voluntary forfeiture agreement, or any other legal or remedial action ordered by the department under any law of this state in which the interest rate is not provided for by law, such claims, refunds, penalties, or payments shall bear interest at the annual adjusted prime rate of interest as determined by section 32.065, but under no circumstance shall such interest rate exceed nine percent per annum.
2.The provisions of this section shall not apply to payments subject to the provisions of section 376.383 nor any other statute in which the interest rate is specified.
374.764 - Alleged violations and complaints, procedure.
1.The director shall examine and inquire into all alleged violations or complaints filed with the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration of the bail bond law of the state, and inquire into and investigate the bail bond business transacted in the state by any bail bond agent, general bail bond agent, or surety recovery agent.
2.The director or any of his or her duly appointed agents may compel the attendance before him or her, and may examine, under oath, the directors, officers, bail bond agents, general bail bond agents, surety recovery agents, employees, or any other person in reference to the condition, affairs, management of the bail bond or surety recovery business, or any matters relating thereto.He or she may administer oaths or affirmations and shall have power to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and to require and compel the production of records, books, papers, contracts, or other documents if necessary.
3.The director may make and conduct the investigation in person or the director may appoint one or more persons to make and conduct the investigation.If made by a person other than the director, the person duly appointed by the director shall have the same powers as granted to the director pursuant to this section.A certificate of appointment under the official seal of the director shall be sufficient authority and evidence thereof for the person to act.For the purpose of making the investigations, or having the same made, the director may employ the necessary clerical, actuarial, and other assistance.
374.783 - Surety recovery agents, license required — director to license, powers.
1.No person shall hold himself or herself out as being a surety recovery agent in this state, unless such person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of sections 374.783 to 374.789.Licensed bail bond agents and general bail bond agents may perform fugitive recovery without being licensed as a surety recovery agent.
2.The director shall have authority to license all surety recovery agents in this state.The director shall have control and supervision over the licensing of such agents and the enforcement of the terms and provisions of sections 374.783 to 374.789.
3.The director shall have the power to:
(1)Set and determine the amount of the fees authorized and required pursuant to sections 374.783 to 374.789.The fees shall be set at a level sufficient to produce revenue which shall not substantially exceed the cost and expense of administering sections 374.783 to 374.789.However, such fees shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars for a two-year license; and
(2)Determine the sufficient qualifications of applicants for a license.
4.The director shall license for a period of two years all surety recovery agents in this state who meet the requirements of sections 374.783 to 374.789.
374.060 - Office location and hours.
1.The director shall maintain his office in Jefferson City and shall keep the same open from eight a.m. to five p.m. every day except Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.He shall be furnished with suitable rooms in the capitol or other state office building, which shall be furnished with a safe, furniture, stationery, printing and such other things as may be necessary for the transaction of the business of his office.
2.With the approval of the governor, the director may maintain branch offices in this state as may be needed to effectively discharge the duties of his office.
(RSMo 1939 § 5788, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1967 p. 516)
374.160 - Expenses, how paid — state liability — assessment against companies, director to make, how.
1.The expenses of examinations, valuations or proceedings against any company, and for dissolving or settling the affairs of companies are to be paid by the company, or as provided by law.The state shall not be responsible in any manner for the payment of any such expenses, or any charges connected therewith.
2.At the request of the director, every domestic insurance company or health maintenance organization subject to an order of conservation, rehabilitation, or liquidation shall reimburse the insurance dedicated fund for administrative services rendered by state employees to the company.Reimbursement shall include that portion of the employee's salary, state benefits, and expenses that specifically relates to the services rendered on behalf of the company.
3.All other expenses of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration now or hereafter incurred and unpaid, or that may be hereafter incurred, including the salaries of the director and deputy director, shall be paid out of the state treasury in the manner provided by law.
4.The director shall assess the expenses of any examination against the company examined and shall order that the examination expenses be paid into the insurance examiners fund created by section 374.162.This assessment shall include the costs of compensation, including benefits, for the examiners, analysts, actuaries, and attorneys directly contributing to the examination of the company, any reasonable travel, lodging, and meal expenses related to an on-site examination, and other expenses related to the examination of the company, including an allocation for examiners' office space, supplies, and equipment, but not expenses associated with attending a course, seminar, or meeting, unless solely related to the examination of the company assessed.The director shall pay from the insurance examiners fund the compensation of insurance examiners, analysts, actuaries, and attorneys, including standard benefits afforded to state employees, for performance of any such examination and other expenses covered in the assessment.The general assembly shall annually provide appropriations sufficient to distribute all receipts into the insurance examiners fund.The provisions of section 33.080 relating to the transfer of unexpended balances to the general revenue fund shall not apply to the insurance examiners fund.
5.If any company shall refuse to pay the expenses of any examination, valuation or proceeding assessed by the director pursuant to this section, the company shall be liable for double the amount of such expenses and all costs of collection, including attorney's fees.The company shall not be entitled to a credit, pursuant to section 148.400, for any fees, expenses or costs ordered pursuant to this subsection other than in the amount of the expenses originally assessed by the director.All amounts collected pursuant to this subsection shall be credited to the insurance examiners fund.
(RSMo 1939 § 5789, A.L. 1945 p. 1018, A.L. 1980 H.B. 1266, A.L. 1991 H.B. 385, et al., A.L. 2007 S.B. 66)
(1962) Attorneys' fees, arising under 1930 agreement whereby director had agreed to pay attorneys out of unreturned excess premiums which attorneys might be successful in recovering from companies, could not be allowed as department expense payable out of current appropriations and state was not liable for fees by estoppel where method of payment provided in contract was invalid. State ex rel. Johnson v. Leggett (Mo.), 359 S.W.2d 790.
374.760 - Unsatisfied judgments, affidavit filed monthly, form — content.
Each general bail bond agent shall file, between the first and tenth day of each month, sworn affidavits with the department stating that there are no unsatisfied judgments against him.Such affidavits shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the department.
374.787 - Complaint procedure.
1.The director may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621 against any surety recovery agent or any person who has failed to renew or has surrendered his or her license for any one or any combination of the following causes:
(1)Violation of any provisions of, or any obligations imposed by, the laws of this state, the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration rules and regulations, or aiding or abetting other persons to violate such laws, orders, rules, or regulations;
(2)Final adjudication or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in a criminal prosecution under state or federal law for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude, whether or not a sentence is imposed;
(3)Using fraud, deception, misrepresentation, or bribery in securing a license or in obtaining permission to take any examination required by sections 374.783 to 374.789;
(4)Obtaining or attempting to obtain any compensation as a surety recovery agent by means of fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;
(5)Acting as a surety recovery agent or aiding or abetting another in acting as a surety recovery agent without a license;
(6)Incompetence, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, or misrepresentation in the performance of the functions or duties of a surety recovery agent;
(7)Having a license revoked or suspended that was issued by another state.
2.After the filing of the complaint, the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 621.Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that one or more of the causes stated in subsection 1 of this section have been met, the director may suspend or revoke the license or enter into an agreement for a monetary or other penalty pursuant to section 374.280.
3.In lieu of filing a complaint with the administrative hearing commission, the director and the surety recovery agent may enter into an agreement for a monetary or other penalty pursuant to section 374.280.
4.In addition to any other remedies available, the director may issue a cease and desist order or may seek an injunction in a court of law pursuant to section 374.046 whenever it appears that any person is acting as a surety recovery agent without a license.
374.425 - Time for compliance may be waived or extended.
The director may waive or extend time of compliance for reporting requirements under sections 374.400 to 374.425 for any insurer upon showing that such requirements would cause the insurer undue expense or that an unreasonable amount of time would be required to comply with the requirements.
(L. 1978 H.B. 1302 § 6)
374.270 - Department may elect workers' compensation coverage — coverage, how provided.
1.The department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration may elect, under the provisions of section 287.030, to come under the provisions of chapter 287, governing workers' compensation, and that law is extended to include all employees of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, or under any appointment or election.The state of Missouri may be a self-insurer and assume all liability imposed by chapter 287, in respect to the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration employees, without insurance.The attorney general shall appear on behalf of and defend the state in all actions, when the state is a self-insurer, brought by employees of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration referred to herein under the provisions of the workers' compensation law.
2.The workers' compensation coverage may be provided by the purchase of insurance or by the deposit in the commissioner of administration's office of a fund from which workers' compensation benefits to employees shall be paid.Purchase of the insurance or the deposit of a fund shall be made from general appropriations.
3.The department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall adopt rules classifying the employees mentioned herein who may be eligible for compensation under this section, and its classification shall be decisive as to whether or not an employee falls within the definition of an employee eligible for workers' compensation coverage under this section.
4.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration is authorized to perform such duties as may be necessary to carry out effectively the purposes of this section.
(L. 1967 p. 516)
374.170 - Forms furnished companies.
The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall cause to be prepared, and furnished to every insurance company doing business in this state, forms of the statements required by him from said companies, and he may make such changes and additions, from time to time, in the same, and in any statements required, as shall seem to him best adapted to elicit from said companies a true exhibit of their condition and management.
(RSMo 1939 § 5791, A.L. 1987 H.B. 700)
374.070 - Office and records, public — copies — records disposed of or destroyed, when.
1.The office shall be a public office and the records shall be public records and shall at all times be open to the inspection of the public subject to such rules as the director shall make for their safekeeping; provided, however, that the work product of the director, the director's employees and agents, including but not limited to work papers of examinations of companies, work papers of investigations of insurance companies and producers and other persons licensed or with a certificate of authority under this chapter, chapter 354, and chapters 375 to 385, or of other entities as provided by law and confidential communications to the director, shall not be considered public records except as provided by law.
2.When requested, the director shall furnish certified copies of any paper, report, or documents on file in the director's office to any person requesting them, upon payment of the fees allowed by law.
3.Five years after the conclusion of the transactions to which they relate, the director is authorized to destroy or otherwise dispose of all correspondence, complaints, claim files, working papers of examinations of companies, examination reports of companies made by the insurance supervisory officials of states other than Missouri, rating files, void or obsolete or superseded rate filings and schedules, individual company rating experience data, applications, requisitions, and requests for licenses, all license cards and records, all expired bonds, all records of hearings, and all similar records, papers, documents, and memoranda now or hereafter in the possession of the director.
4.Ten years after the conclusion of the transactions to which they relate, the director is authorized to destroy or otherwise dispose of all foreign companies' and alien companies' annual statements, valuation reports, tax reports, and all similar records, papers, documents and memoranda now or hereafter in the possession of the director.
5.Disposal and destruction of records shall be in accordance with sections 109.200 to 109.310.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 5788, 5793, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1953 p. 242, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19 merged with S.B. 386, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 5678, 5683; 1919 §§ 6089, 6094; 1909 §§ 6883, 6888
374.770 - Bond forfeiture, when — exception, defendant incarcerated in United States, procedure — surety's duties — violation of bond, rights and obligations of bondsman.
1.If there is a breach of the contract of the bond, the court in which the case is pending shall declare a bond forfeiture, unless the surety upon such bond informs the court that the defendant is incarcerated somewhere within the United States.If forfeiture is not ordered because the defendant is incarcerated somewhere within the United States, the surety is responsible for the return of the defendant.If bond forfeiture is ordered and the surety can subsequently prove the defendant is incarcerated somewhere within the United States, then the bond forfeiture shall be set aside and the surety be responsible for the return of the defendant.When the surety notifies the court of the whereabouts of the defendant, a hold order shall be placed by the court having jurisdiction on the defendant in the state in which the defendant is being held.
2.In all instances in which a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent duly licensed by sections 374.700 to 374.775 has given his bond for bail for any defendant who has absented himself in violation of the condition of such bond, the bail bond agent or general bail bond agent shall have the first opportunity to return such defendant to the proper court.If he is unable to return such defendant, the state of Missouri shall return such defendant to the proper court for prosecution, and all costs incurred by the state in so returning a defendant may be levied against the bail bond agent or general bail bond agent in question.
374.705 - Department, powers and duties — fees, how determined.
1.The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789, prescribe the duties of its officers and employees with respect to sections 374.695 to 374.789, and promulgate, pursuant to section 374.045 and chapter 536, such rules and regulations within the scope and purview of the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789 as the director considers necessary and proper for the effective administration and interpretation of the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789.
2.The director shall set the amount of all fees authorized and required by the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789 by rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to chapter 536.All such fees shall be set at a level designed to produce revenue which shall not substantially exceed the cost and expense of administering the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789.However, such fees shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars every two years for biennial licenses and renewable licenses for general bail bond agents as provided for in section 374.710.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 2, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122)
374.505 - Application for certificate, content, form, fee.
1.An applicant for a certificate shall:
(1)Submit an application to the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration; and
(2)Pay to the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration the application fee established by the department through regulation.
2.The application shall:
(1)Be on a form and accompanied by any reasonably related supporting documentation that the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration requires; and
(2)Be signed and verified by the applicant.
3.The application fee required under this subsection shall be sufficient to pay for the administrative cost of the certification program and any other cost associated with carrying out the provisions of sections 374.500 to 374.515.
374.405 - Reports of premiums and loss data required, when — director may review.
1.The director shall establish statistical bases for the reporting of premium and loss data under policies of homeowners' insurance, dwelling-owners' insurance, renters' or tenants' insurance, or residential fire insurance.
2.Each insurer shall annually report to the director all premium and loss data under policies of homeowners' insurance, dwelling-owners' insurance, renters' or tenants' insurance, or residential fire insurance as the director may require.
3.The director shall have the authority to review and verify the accuracy of the data reported.
374.005 - Department created, duties — definitions.
1.The department of insurance created by Section 36(b) of Article IV of the Missouri Constitution shall operate under the name "Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration".Under the authority of the Omnibus State Reorganization Act of 1974 and executive order 06-04, the department shall administer and enforce the laws assigned to the department.
2.Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, the following words, as used in this chapter, mean:
(1)"Department", the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration; and
(2)"Director", the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.
3.Wherever the laws, rules, or regulations of this state make reference to the "department of insurance" or the "department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration", such references shall be deemed to refer to the department created by Section 36(b) of Article IV of the Missouri Constitution and this chapter.
374.305 - Conditioning loan on purchase of credit insurance from certain persons prohibited — freedom of selection of insurer required.
No financial institution, as defined in section 374.300, shall, as a condition of a loan, require any debtor to purchase life or health insurance from an agent who is employed or retained by, or is a director or officer of the financial institution making the loan.When life or accident and sickness insurance is required or requested as additional security for indebtedness, the debtor shall be informed of the option of furnishing the insurance, or any portion thereof, through existing policies owned or controlled by the debtor, or of procuring and furnishing the required coverage through any agent or insurer authorized to transact such insurance business within this state.
(L. 1977 H.B. 40 § 2)
374.205 - Examination, director may conduct when, required when — duties — nonresident insurer, options, procedures — reports, contents, use of — hearings, procedures — working papers, records, confidential.
1.(1)The director or any of the director's examiners may conduct an examination pursuant to sections 374.202 to 374.207 of any company as often as the director in his or her sole discretion deems appropriate, but shall, at a minimum, conduct a financial examination of every insurer licensed in this state at least once every five years.In scheduling and determining the nature, scope and frequency of examinations, the director may consider such matters as the results of financial statement analyses and ratios, changes in management or ownership, actuarial opinions, reports of independent certified public accountants, consumer complaints, and other criteria as set forth in the Examiners' Handbook adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and in effect when the director exercises discretion pursuant to this section.
(2)For purposes of completing an examination of any company pursuant to sections 374.202 to 374.207, the director may examine or investigate any person, or the business of any person, insofar as such examination or investigation is, in the sole discretion of the director, necessary or material to the examination of the company.
(3)In lieu of a financial examination pursuant to section 374.207 of any foreign or alien insurer licensed in this state, the director may accept a financial examination report on the company as prepared by the insurance department or other appropriate agency for the company's state of domicile or port-of-entry state until January 1, 1994.After January 1, 1994, such reports may only be accepted if such insurance department or other appropriate agency was at the time of the examination accredited pursuant to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Financial Regulation Standards and Accreditation Program or the examination is performed under the supervision of an accredited insurance department or other appropriate agency or with the participation of one or more examiners who are employed by such an accredited state insurance department or other appropriate agency and who, after a review of the examination workpapers and report, state under oath that the examination was performed in a manner consistent with the standards and procedures required by their insurance department or other appropriate agency.
2.(1)Upon determining that an examination should be conducted, the director or the director's designee shall issue an examination warrant appointing one or more examiners to perform the examination and instructing them as to the scope of the examination.In conducting the examination, the examiner shall observe those guidelines and procedures set forth in the Examiners' Handbook adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.The director may also employ such other guidelines or procedures as the director may deem appropriate.
(2)Every company or person from whom information is sought, its officers, directors and agents shall provide to the examiners appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection timely, convenient and free access at all reasonable hours at its offices to all books, records, accounts, papers, documents and any or all computer or other recordings relating to the property, assets, business and affairs of the company being examined.The company or person being examined shall provide within ten calendar days any record requested by an examiner during a market conduct examination, unless such company or person demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that the requested record cannot be provided within ten calendar days of the request.All policy records for each policy issued shall be maintained for the duration of the current policy term plus two calendar years and all claim files shall be maintained for the calendar year in which the claim is closed plus three calendar years.The officers, directors, employees and agents of the company or person shall facilitate the examination and aid in the examination so far as it is in their power to do so.The refusal of any company, by its officers, directors, employees or agents, to submit to examination or to comply with any reasonable written request of the examiners shall be grounds for suspension or refusal of, or nonrenewal of, any license or authority held by the company to engage in an insurance or other business subject to the director's jurisdiction.Any such proceeding for suspension, revocation or refusal of any license or authority shall be conducted pursuant to section 374.046.
(3)The director or any of the director's examiners may issue subpoenas to administer oaths and to examine under oath any person as to any matter pertinent to the examination.Upon the failure or refusal of any person to obey a subpoena, the director may petition a court of competent jurisdiction, and upon proper showing, the court may enter an order compelling the witness to appear and testify or produce documentary evidence.Failure to obey the court order shall be punishable as contempt of court.Such subpoenas may also be enforced pursuant to the provisions of sections 375.881 and 375.1162.
(4)When making an examination pursuant to sections 374.202 to 374.207, the director may retain attorneys, appraisers, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants or other professionals and specialists as examiners, the cost of which shall be borne directly by the company which is the subject of the examination.
(5)The provisions of sections 374.202 to 374.207 shall not be construed to limit the director's authority to terminate or suspend any examination in order to pursue other legal or regulatory action pursuant to the insurance laws of this state.Findings of fact and conclusions made pursuant to any examination shall be prima facie evidence in any legal or regulatory action.
(6)Nothing contained in sections 374.202 to 374.207 shall be construed to limit the director's authority to use and, if appropriate, to make public any final or preliminary examination report, any examiner or company workpapers or other documents, or any other information discovered or developed during the course of any examination in the furtherance of any legal or regulatory action which the director may, in his or her sole discretion, deem appropriate.
3.(1)All examination reports shall be comprised of only facts appearing upon the books, records, or other documents of the company, its agents or other persons examined, or as ascertained from the testimony of its officers or agents or other persons examined concerning its affairs, and such conclusions and recommendations as the examiners find reasonably warranted from the facts.
(2)No later than sixty days following completion of the examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the department a verified written report of examination under oath.Upon receipt of the verified report, the department shall transmit the report to the company examined, together with a notice which shall afford the company examined a reasonable opportunity of not more than thirty days to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report.
(3)Within thirty days of the end of the period allowed for the receipt of written submissions or rebuttals, the director shall fully consider and review the report, together with any written submissions or rebuttals and any relevant portions of the examiner's workpapers and either initiate legal action or enter an order:
(a)Adopting the examination report as filed or with modification or corrections.If the examination report reveals that the company is operating in violation of any law, regulation or prior order of the director, the director may order the company to take any action the director considers necessary and appropriate to cure such violation;
(b)Rejecting the examination report with directions to the examiners to reopen the examination for purposes of obtaining additional data, documentation or information, and refiling pursuant to subsection 1 of this section;
(c)Calling for an investigatory hearing with no less than twenty days' notice to the company for purposes of obtaining additional documentation, data, information and testimony; or
(d)Calling for such regulatory action as the director deems appropriate, provided that this order shall be a confidential internal order directing the department to take certain action.
(4)All orders entered pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be accompanied by findings and conclusions resulting from the director's consideration and review of the examination report, relevant examiner workpapers and any written submissions or rebuttals.Any such order shall be considered a final administrative decision and may be appealed pursuant to section 536.150 and shall be served upon the company by certified mail, together with a copy of the adopted examination report.Within thirty days of the issuance of the adopted report, the company shall file affidavits executed by each of its directors stating under oath that they have received a copy of the adopted report and related orders.In lieu of the preceding affidavit requirement, in the case of an adopted market conduct report, rather than an adopted financial examination report, the company may file an affidavit executed by its general counsel or chief legal officer stating under oath that the general counsel or chief legal officer has received a copy of the adopted market conduct report and related orders.Any hearing conducted pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision (3) of this subsection by the director or authorized representative shall be conducted as a nonadversarial confidential investigatory proceeding as necessary for the resolution of any inconsistencies, discrepancies or disputed issues apparent upon the face of the filed examination report or raised by or as a result of the director's review of relevant workpapers or by the written submission or rebuttal of the company.Within twenty days of the conclusion of any such hearing, the director shall enter an order pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision (3) of this subsection.In conducting a hearing pursuant to paragraph (c) of subdivision (3) of this subsection:
(a)The director shall not appoint an examiner as an authorized representative to conduct the hearing.The hearing shall proceed expeditiously with discovery by the company limited to the examiner's workpapers which tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal.The director or his or her representative may issue subpoenas for the attendance of any witnesses or the production of any documents deemed relevant to the investigation whether under the control of the department, the company or other persons.The documents produced shall be included in the record, and testimony taken by the director or his or her representative shall be under oath and preserved for the record.The provisions of this section shall not require the department to disclose any information or records which would indicate or show the existence of any investigation or activity of a criminal justice agency; and
(b)The hearing shall proceed with the director or his or her representative posing questions to the persons subpoenaed.Thereafter, the company and the department may present testimony relevant to the investigation.Cross-examination shall be conducted only by the director or the director's representative.The company and the department shall be permitted to make closing statements and may be represented by counsel of their choice.
(5)Upon the adoption of the examination report pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision (3) of this subsection, the director shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for a period of ten days except to the extent provided in this subdivision.Thereafter, the director may open the report for public inspection so long as no court of competent jurisdiction has stayed its publication.Nothing contained in the insurance laws of this state shall prevent or be construed as prohibiting the director from disclosing the content of an examination report, preliminary examination report or results, or any matter relating thereto, to the insurance department of this or any other state or country, or to law enforcement officials of this or any other state or agency of the federal government at any time, so long as such agency or office receiving the report or matters relating thereto agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner consistent with this section.In the event the director determines that legal or regulatory action is appropriate as a result of any examination, he or she may initiate any proceedings or actions as provided by law.
4.All working papers, recorded information, documents and copies thereof produced by, obtained by or disclosed to the director or any person in the course of an examination made pursuant to this section shall be given confidential treatment and are not subject to subpoena and may not be made public by the director or any other person, except to the extent provided in subdivision (5) of subsection 3 of this section.Access may also be granted to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.Such parties shall agree in writing prior to receiving the information to provide to it the same confidential treatment as required by this section, unless the prior written consent of the company to which it pertains has been obtained.
(L. 1992 H.B. 1574, A.L. 1997 H.B. 626 merged with H.B. 793, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19 merged with S.B. 386, A.L. 2016 H.B. 2194)
374.150 - Fees paid to director, exception — insurance dedicated fund established, purpose — lapse into general revenue, when.
1.All fees due the state under the provisions of the insurance laws of this state shall be paid to the director and deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the insurance dedicated fund unless otherwise provided for in subsection 2 of this section.
2.There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the "Insurance Dedicated Fund".The fund shall be subject to appropriation of the general assembly and shall be devoted solely to the payment of expenditures incurred by the department attributable to duties performed by the department for the regulation of the business of insurance, regulation of health maintenance organizations and the operation of the division of consumer affairs as required by law which are not paid for by another source of funds.Other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, beginning on January 1, 1991, all fees charged under any provision of chapter 325, 354, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384 or 385 due the state shall be paid into this fund.The state treasurer shall invest moneys in this fund in the same manner as other state funds and any interest or earnings on such moneys shall be credited to the insurance dedicated fund.The provisions of section 33.080 notwithstanding, moneys in the fund shall not lapse, be transferred to or placed to the credit of the general revenue fund unless and then only to the extent to which the unencumbered balance at the close of the biennium year exceeds two times the total amount appropriated, paid, or transferred to the fund during such fiscal year.
(RSMo 1939 § 5786, A.L. 1945 p. 1018, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575, A.L. 2003 S.B. 675, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66, A.L. 2013 H.B. 1035 merged with S.B. 23, A.L. 2018 S.B. 982)
374.050 - Seal of office — effect.
1.The seal now used by said department shall be the seal of the office of the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, and the same may be renewed whenever necessary.
2.Every certificate or other paper executed by said director in pursuance of any authority conferred on him by law, and sealed with his seal of office, and all copies of papers in the office of said director, certified by him and authenticated by said seal, shall, in all cases, be evidence equally and in like manner as the originals, and shall have the same force and effect as the originals thereof would, in any suit or proceeding in any court of this state.
(RSMo 1939 § 5787)
374.250 - Accounts of director.
1.The director shall take proper vouchers for all payments made by the department and shall take receipts from the director of revenue for all moneys the department pays to the director of revenue.
2.At the close of each state fiscal year, the state auditor shall audit, adjust and settle all receipts and disbursements in the insurance dedicated fund and the insurance examiners' fund, and taxes certified or collected under sections 148.310 to 148.461 or sections 384.011 to 384.071.
(RSMo 1939 § 5797, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
374.350 - Short title.
Sections 374.350 to 374.352 may be cited as the "Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact".
374.750 - Refusal to issue or renew license — applicant's right to hearing.
The department may refuse to issue or renew any license required pursuant to sections 374.700 to 374.775 for any one or any combination of causes stated in section 374.755.The department shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for the refusal and shall advise the applicant of his right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 7 subsec. 1)
Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, the following words and terms as used in sections 374.450 and 374.455 shall mean:
(1)"Director", the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration;
(2)"Insurer", any insurance company, reciprocal or inter-insurance exchange, licensed and authorized by the director to write automobile insurance within this state;
(3)"Private automobile insurance", a policy of insurance covering private passenger nonfleet vehicles owned by an individual or by a husband and wife and providing any one or more perils of protection against bodily injury liability, property damage liability, medical payments, uninsured motorist, comprehensive, collision, or other insurance coverage incidental to the operation of the vehicle.
374.040 - Director — duties — administrative hearing commission law not applicable.
1.It shall be the duty of the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration to file in his office and safely keep all books and papers required by law to be filed therein, to issue certificates of authority to transact insurance business in this state to any companies who have fully complied with the laws of this state, and to issue such other certificates as are required by the laws of this state in the organization of insurance companies and the transaction of the business of insurance, and generally to do and perform with justice and impartiality all such duties as are or may be imposed upon him by the laws regulating the business of insurance in this state and to perform those duties imposed upon him in such a manner as to be in the best interests of and protect the general public, policyholders, insurance companies, and the officers, directors and stockholders thereof; and every director shall, upon retiring from office, deliver to his qualified successor the possession of his office, and all furniture, papers and property belonging to the same.
2.Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 621.015 to 621.198, whenever the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration undertakes to issue, refuse, revoke or suspend the license or certificate of authority of an insurance company, fraternal benefit society, orreciprocal or interinsurance exchange, he shall proceed in accordance with the insurance laws of this state.
(RSMo 1939 § 5790, A.L. 1967 p. 516)
Administrative hearing required on policy disapproval, 375.920
(1974) Disapproval of policy containing a "termination premium" was within power of director of insurance and termination penalty to be paid if insured cancelled within ten years discriminated against cancelling policyholder as opposed to policyholder who died within the same period. Survivor's Benefit Insurance Co. v. Farmer (Mo.), 514 S.W.2d 565.
374.719 - Collateral security accepted, when — receipt required — used to reimburse costs, when — records to be retained.
1.A licensee may accept collateral security from the principal in a fiduciary capacity, which collateral shall be returned upon final termination of liability on the bond.When a licensee accepts collateral, the licensee shall provide a prenumbered written receipt, which shall include a detailed account of the collateral received by the licensee.The acceptance of collateral security by a bail bond agent shall be reported to the general bail bond agent.
2.The collateral security required by the licensee shall be reasonable in relation to the amount of the bond.
3.If a failure to appear, absconding or attempting to abscond, or a judgment of forfeiture on the bond has occurred, the collateral security may be used to reimburse the licensee for any costs and expenses incurred associated with the forfeiture.
4.The general bail bond agent shall retain records of the acceptance, return, or judgment of forfeiture resulting in the use of the collateral to reimburse the licensee for a period of three years.
374.240 - Suit to recover fees — penalties.
1.The director may bring suit to recover any fees or other sums which he is authorized by law to demand or collect.
2.Any company or person liable for any fees or assessments who shall neglect or refuse to pay the same within ten days after written demand by the director, shall be liable to pay double the amount of such fees or assessments; and any judgment recovered in such case shall be for double such amount and costs.
(RSMo 1939 § 5797, A. 1949 H.B. 2115)
374.740 - Nonresident license requirements.
Any person applying to be licensed as a nonresident general bail bond agent who has been licensed in another state shall devote fifty percent of his or her working time in the state of Missouri and shall file proof with the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration as to his or her compliance, and accompany his or her application with the fees set by the director by regulation and, if applying for a nonresident general bail bond agent's license, with a duly executed assignment of twenty-five thousand dollars to the state of Missouri, which assignment shall become effective upon the applicant's violating any provision of sections 374.695 to 374.789.Failure to comply with this section will result in revocation of the nonresidence license.The assignment required by this section shall be in the form and executed in the manner prescribed by the department.All licenses issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to the same renewal requirements set for other licenses issued pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.789.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 6 subsec. 2, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122)
374.715 - Application, form, qualifications, fee — monetary assignment required, amount, effective when.
1.Applications for examination and licensure as a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent shall be in writing and on forms prescribed and furnished by the department, and shall contain such information as the department requires.Each application shall be accompanied by proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant is a citizen of the United States, has a high school diploma or general education development certificate (GED), is of good moral character, and meets the qualifications for surety on bail bonds as provided by supreme court rule.Each application shall be accompanied by the examination and application fee set by the department.Individuals currently employed as bail bond agents and general bail bond agents shall not be required to meet the education requirements needed for licensure pursuant to this section.
2.In addition, each applicant for licensure as a general bail bond agent shall furnish proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant or, if the applicant is a corporation, that each officer thereof has completed at least two years as a bail bond agent, and that the applicant possesses liquid assets of at least ten thousand dollars, along with a duly executed assignment of ten thousand dollars to the state of Missouri.The assignment shall become effective upon the applicant's violating any provision of sections 374.695 to 374.789.The assignment required by this section shall be in the form and executed in the manner prescribed by the department.The director may require by regulation conditions by which additional assignments of assets of the general bail bond agent may occur when the circumstances of the business of the general bail bond agent warrants additional funds.However, such additional funds shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 4, A.L. 1997 S.B. 248, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122, A.L. 2018 H.B. 1719)
374.415 - Product liability insurance reports required — when — contents.
1.As used in sections 374.400 to 374.425, "product liability insurance" or "product liability policy" means:
(1)Any policy of insurance insuring only the insured's legal obligation arising from the product liability exposure of the insured;
(2)Any other policy of liability insurance in which the premium computation includes a specific premium charge for product liability exposures of the insured; and
(3)Any other insurance policy designated by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration as providing product liability insurance.
2.Every insurer authorized to transact business in this state and providing product liability insurance shall, if asked by the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, on the first day of January of each year in which said insurer actually provides product liability insurance in Missouri or within sixty days thereafter, file with the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration a report containing the information hereinafter specified; provided, however, insurers are not required to report product liability information pursuant to sections 374.400 to 374.425 for business incidental to the operation of affiliated companies or organizations.Such report may be made upon forms provided by the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration and shall request the following information
(1)The name of the insurance company;
(2)The name of all other companies associated with the company submitting the report, as either a holding company, parent, wholly owned subsidiary, division, or through interlocking directorates;
(3)All the lines of insurance a company offers in all states;
(4)The states in which the company has been admitted for product liability insurance;
(5)The total premium dollar amount collected for all lines of insurance in Missouri and in all states in each of the five calendar years next preceding the initial report or in the year next preceding the filing of each annual report thereafter;
(6)The dollar amount collected each year in product liability premiums in Missouri and in all states beginning with calendar year 1978;
(7)The amount in dollars of product liability premiums for primary coverage and for excess coverage in Missouri and in all states;
(8)The amounts shown in answer to subdivision (6) which include premises and operations insurance or any other insurance delivered as part of a package which cannot be considered exclusively product liability insurance and the amounts which are nonproduct liability insurance.Such amounts shall be listed separately for amounts relating to experience in all states and amount relating to experience in Missouri only;
(9)Whether or not the company sets reserves for product liability claims filed;
(10)Whether or not the company sets reserves for product liability claims for losses which have been incurred but not reported;
(11)All reserves established in connection with the company's product liability line;
(12)How dollars reserved are treated in each of the categories listed in subdivisions (9), (10), and (11) for federal income tax purposes;
(13)The value of the securities held in the company's investment portfolio as of December thirty-first of the year next preceding the filing of each annual report.
3.In addition, each company may be required to report to the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration for the year next preceding the filing of each annual report, beginning with the annual report for 1978, any claim or action for damages for personal injury, death or property damage claimed to have been by reason of a defect in such insured's product, if the claim resulted in:
(1)A final judgment in any amount;
(2)A settlement in any amount; or
(3)A final disposition not resulting in payment on behalf of the insured.
Every insurer authorized to transact business in this state shall be subject to the provisions of this section in regard to claims against policies issued to Missouri insureds, regardless of the jurisdiction under which these claims were adjudicated, settled or otherwise disposed of.Every insurer authorized to transact business in this state shall be subject to the provisions of this section in regard to claims adjudicated, settled or disposition made pursuant to the laws of this state regardless of the domicile of the insured.
4.The reports required by subsection 3 of this section may contain:
(1)The city and state of the insured;
(2)Type of product;
(3)Rating classification code of product liability coverage;
(4)Date of occurrence which created the claim, including the state or other jurisdiction under whose jurisdiction the claim was adjudicated, settled, or disposition made;
(5)Date of suit if filed;
(6)Date and amount of judgment or settlement, if any, and the parties involved in the distributions of such judgment or settlement and the amount received by any such party;
(7)Date and reason for final disposition if no judgment or settlement;
(8)A summary of the occurrence which created the claim;
(9)Total number of claims;
(10)Total claims closed without payment;
(11)Total claims closed with payment;
(12)Total amount of payments;
(13)Total number of suits filed;
(14)Total number of verdicts or judgments for defendants;
(15)Total number of verdicts or judgments for plaintiffs;
(16)Total amount for plaintiffs; and
(17)Such other information as the director may require.
5.With respect to amounts paid in claims for the year next preceding the filing of each annual report, each company may be required to provide the following information:
(1)Total amounts reserved with respect to those claims;
(2)The year in which the reserves were set; and
(3)The amounts set in each year.
(L. 1978 H.B. 1302 § 4, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575)
374.515 - Rules and regulations authorized.
The director may promulgate such rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of sections 374.500 to 374.515, pursuant to the provisions of section 374.045 and chapter 536.
(L. 1991 S.B. 352 § 6 subsecs. 4 to 8, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52)
374.015 - Issuance of bulletins by director — definitions — bulleting not to have force and effect of law and are not binding.
1.For purposes of this section, "insurer" shall mean any person, reciprocal exchange, interinsurer, Lloyds insurer, fraternal benefit society, and any other legal entity engaged in the business of insurance including producers, adjusters and third-party administrators, health services corporations, health maintenance organizations, health carriers, prepaid limited health care service plans, dental, optometric, and other similar health service plans."Insurer" shall also include all companies organized, incorporated, or doing business under the provisions of chapters 325, 354, and 374 to 385.
2.For purposes of this section, "bulletin" shall mean an informal written communication to inform or educate the insurance industry and the general public about a regulatory topic or issue.A bulletin is informational in nature and is not an evaluation of specific facts and circumstances.
3.Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the director may at his or her discretion issue bulletins addressing the business of insurance in this state.
4.Bulletins do not have the force or effect of law and shall not be considered statements of general applicability that would require promulgation by rule.
5.Such bulletins shall not be binding on the department or an insurer.The director may revise or withdraw any previously issued bulletin; however such revision or withdrawal shall be prospective in nature.The effective date for such bulletin which was withdrawn or revised shall be ninety days after the date the revision or withdrawal notice is published and, where applicable, shall apply to new policies issued and policies that renew on or after that date.
374.048 - Violations of state laws, action in circuit court — relief — bond — venue — judgment — fund created.
1.If the director believes that a person has engaged, is engaging in or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto or that a person has or is engaging in an act, practice, omission, or course of business that materially aids a violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may maintain an action in the circuit court of any county of the state or any city not within a county to enjoin the act, practice, omission, or course of business and to enforce compliance with the laws of this state relating to insurance or a rule adopted or order issued by the director.
2.In an action under this section and on a proper showing, the court may:
(1)Issue a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or declaratory judgment;
(2)Order other appropriate or ancillary relief, which may include:
(a)An asset freeze, accounting, writ of attachment, writ of general or specific execution, and appointment of a receiver or conservator, which may be the director, for the defendant or the defendant's assets;
(b)Ordering the director to take charge and control of a defendant's property, including accounts in a depository institution, rents, and profits; to collect debts; and to acquire and dispose of property;
(c)Imposing a civil penalty or forfeiture as provided in section 374.049;
(d)Upon showing financial loss, injury, or harm to identifiable consumers, imposing an order of restitution or disgorgement directed to a person who has engaged in an act, practice, omission, or course of business in violation of the laws or rules relating to insurance;
(e)Ordering the payment of prejudgment and postjudgment interest;
(f)Ordering reasonable costs of investigation and prosecution; and
(g)Ordering the payment to the insurance dedicated fund an additional amount equal to ten percent of the total restitution or disgorgement ordered, or such other amount as awarded by the court, which shall be appropriated to an insurance consumer education program administered by the director; or
(3)Order such other relief as the court considers necessary or appropriate.
3.The director may not be required to post a bond in an action or proceeding under this section.
4.The case may be brought in the circuit court of Cole County, any county or city not within a county in which a violation has occurred, or any county or city not within a county which has venue of an action against the person, partnership, or corporation under other provisions of law.
5.The enforcement authority of the director under this section is cumulative to any other authority of the director to impose orders under other provisions of the laws relating to insurance in this state.
6.If the director determines it to be in the public interest, the director is authorized to enter into a consent injunction and judgment in the settlement of any proceeding under the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385.
7.A "Consumer Restitution Fund" shall be created for the purpose of preserving and distributing to aggrieved consumers disgorgement or restitution funds obtained through enforcement proceedings brought by the director.In addition to the equitable powers of the court authorized above, the court may order that such funds be paid into the consumer restitution fund for distribution to aggrieved consumers.It shall be the duty of the director to distribute such funds to those persons injured by the unlawful acts, practices, omissions, or courses of business by the subject of the proceeding.Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080, any funds remaining in the director's consumer restitution fund at the end of any biennium shall not be transferred to the general revenue fund, but if the director is unable with reasonable efforts to ascertain the aggrieved consumers, then the funds may be transferred to the insurance dedicated fund to be used for consumer education.
374.215 - Failure to timely file report or statement, penalty.
1.If any insurance company or other entity regulated by the director doing business in this state fails to timely make and file any statutorily required report or statement, the department shall notify such company or entity of such failure by first class mail.Any company or entity notified by the department pursuant to this section shall file such report or statement within fifteen days of receiving notification.After the expiration of such fifteen days, each day in which the company or entity fails to file such report or statement is a separate violation of this section.
2.If the director determines that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may issue such administrative orders as authorized under section 374.046.A violation of this section is a level two violation under section 374.049.The director may also suspend or revoke the certificate of authority of such person for any willful violation.
3.If the director believes that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may maintain a civil action for relief authorized under section 374.048.A violation of this section is a level two violation under section 374.049.
374.045 - Director authorized to make rules and regulations, procedure, this chapter.
1.The director shall have the full power and authority to make all reasonable rules and regulations to accomplish the following purposes:
(1)To regulate the internal affairs of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration;
(2)To prescribe forms and procedures to be followed in proceedings before the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration; and
(3)To effectuate or aid in the interpretation of any law of this state in this chapter, chapter 354, chapters 375 to 385, or as otherwise authorized by law.
2.The director may from time to time withdraw or amend any rule or regulation in this chapter, chapter 354, chapters 375 to 385, or as otherwise authorized by law.
3.No rule or regulation shall conflict with any law of this state.No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this chapter shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024.
4.At least fifteen days prior to the adoption of any rule or regulation, or any amendment thereof, to be issued under the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection 1, the director shall give notice of a hearing on the proposed action.The notice shall be mailed to all persons who have made timely requests of the director for advance notice of its rulemaking proceedings.The notice shall contain a statement of the terms or the substance of the proposed rule or regulation.In addition, the notice shall give the time and place where a hearing on the proposed rule or regulation will be held and the manner in which interested parties may present their views thereon.On the date of the hearing, all interested parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present their views or arguments in writing or orally.The failure of any person to receive any notice of a hearing on any proposed rule or regulation shall not invalidate any rule or regulation subsequently adopted.
5.The willful violation of any rule or regulation shall subject the person violating it to such penalty as may be applicable and which the director has within his power to impose under the laws of this state relating to the business of insurance for violation of the law to which the rule or regulation relates.
6.Upon request and payment of the reasonable cost thereof, if required and fixed by the director, the director shall furnish a copy of any rule, regulation, or order to any person so requesting.
(L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A.L. 1995 S.B. 3, A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
374.245 - Director or director of revenue may make supplemental assessment for certain premium taxes, when.
The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration or the director of revenue may, within three years after a return is filed or at any time if no return is filed, make a supplemental assessment or certification whenever it is found that any assessment or certification of premium taxes covered by this section is imperfect or incomplete in any material aspect.The provisions of this section shall apply to taxes assessed under sections 148.310 to 148.461, and sections 287.690, and 375.916.
374.018 - Issuance of no-action letters by director — definitions — effect of letters — duty of department — letters not public records.
1.For purposes of this section, "no-action letter" shall mean a letter that states the intention of the department to not take enforcement actions under section 374.046 with respect to the requesting insurer, based on the specific facts then presented and applicable law, as of the date a no-action letter is issued.
2.For purposes of this section, "insurer" shall mean all insurance companies organized, incorporated, or doing business under the provisions of chapter* 354, 376, 379, or 380.
3.Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the director may at his or her discretion issue no-action letters addressing the business of insurance in this state.
4.No-action letters shall not be considered statements of general applicability that would require promulgation by rule.
5.Insurers who seek guidance may submit a written request for a no-action letter to the department.
6.An insurer is under an affirmative obligation to make full, true, and accurate disclosure of all information related to the activities for which the no-action letter is requested.Each request shall be accompanied by all relevant supplementary information including, but not limited to, background information regarding the request, policies, procedures, and applicable marketing materials.Each request shall also include complete copies of documents, and shall identify all provisions of law applicable to the request.
7.The insurer requesting the no-action letter shall provide the department with any additional information or documents the department requests for its review of the matter.
8.The insurer may withdraw the request for a no-action letter prior to the issuance of the no-action letter.
9.The department shall act on the no-action letter request within ninety days after it receives all information necessary to complete its review.
10.At the completion of its review of a request for a no-action letter the department shall do one of the following:
(1)Issue a no-action letter;
(2)Decline to issue a no-action letter; or
(3)Take such other action as the department considers appropriate.
11.A no-action letter shall be effective as of the date it is issued.
12.As long as there is no change in any material fact or law or the discovery of a material misrepresentation or omission made by the insurer, the department is estopped from bringing any enforcement action under section 374.046 against the requesting insurer concerning the specific conduct that is the subject of the no-action letter issued by the department.However, this estoppel shall not apply to those enforcement actions related to the financial condition of the insurer.The determination of materiality shall be in the sole discretion of the director.
13.A no-action letter request shall not be a public record as defined in chapter 610 until the date of issuance by the department of a response to the no-action letter request.The request for a no-action letter and the department's response shall, after the date of issuance by the department, be considered a public record as defined in chapter 610.Upon request of the insurer, information submitted with a request for a no-action letter as required under this section that contains proprietary or trade secret information as defined in sections 417.450 to 417.467 shall not be considered a public record.
*Word "chapters" appears in original rolls.
374.710 - License required for bail bond agents, application, qualifications — exceptions.
1.Except as otherwise provided in sections 374.695 to 374.775, no person or other entity shall practice as a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent, as defined in section 374.700, in Missouri unless and until the department has issued to him or her a license, to be renewed every two years as hereinafter provided, to practice as a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent.
2.An applicant for a bail bond and general bail bond agent license shall submit with the application proof that he or she has received twenty-four hours of initial basic training in areas of instruction in subjects determined by the director deemed appropriate to professionals in the bail bond profession.Bail bond agents and general bail bond agents who are licensed at the date which this act becomes law* shall be exempt from such twenty-four hours of initial basic training.
3.In addition to the twenty-four hours of initial basic training to become a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent, there shall be eight hours of biennial continuing education for all bail bond agents and general bail bond agents to maintain their state license.The director shall determine said appropriate areas of instruction for said biennial continuing education.The director shall determine which institutions, organizations, associations, and individuals shall be eligible to provide the initial basic training and the biennial continuing education instruction.The department may allow state institutions, organizations, associations, or individuals to provide courses for the initial basic training and the biennial continuing education training.The cost shall not exceed two hundred dollars for the initial basic training and one hundred fifty dollars for biennial continuing education.
4.Upon completion of said basic training or biennial continuing education and the licensee meeting the other requirements as provided under sections 374.695 to 374.789, the director shall issue a two-year license for the bail bond agent or general bail bond agent for a fee not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars.
5.Nothing in sections 374.695 to 374.775 shall be construed to prohibit any person from posting or otherwise providing a bail bond in connection with any legal proceeding, provided that such person receives no fee, remuneration or consideration therefor.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 3, A.L. 1995 S.B. 3, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122)
*"This act" (S.B. 1122, 2004) contained effective dates of August 28, 2004, and January 1, 2005.
374.049 - Classification of violations — orders, penalties — enhancement of penalties — reduction of penalties — deposit and use of penalties — effective date.
1.Violations of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued by the director, are classified for the purpose of civil penalties and forfeitures into the following five classifications:
(1)Level one violations;
(2)Level two violations;
(3)Level three violations;
(4)Level four violations; and
(5)Level five violations.
2.An order to impose a civil penalty or forfeiture, when imposed by the director in an administrative proceeding under section 374.046 on a person for any violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued by the director, shall be an order to pay an amount not exceeding the following:
(1)No civil penalty or forfeiture for a level one violation;
(2)One thousand dollars per each level two violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of fifty thousand dollars per annum for multiple violations;
(3)Five thousand dollars per each level three violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of one hundred thousand dollars per annum for multiple violations;
(4)Ten thousand dollars per each level four violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of two hundred fifty thousand dollars per annum for multiple violations;
(5)Fifty thousand dollars per each level five violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of two hundred fifty thousand dollars per annum for multiple violations.
3.An order to impose a civil penalty or forfeiture, when imposed by the court in an enforcement proceeding under section 374.048 on a person for any violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted or order issued by the director, shall be an order to pay an amount not exceeding the following:
(3)Five thousand dollars per each level three violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of two hundred thousand dollars per annum for multiple violations;
(4)Twenty thousand dollars per each level four violation, up to an aggregate civil penalty or forfeiture of one million dollars per annum for multiple violations;
(5)One million dollars per each level five violation, with no limit to civil penalties or forfeitures for multiple violations.
4.No civil penalty or forfeiture may be imposed against a person, unless the person has engaged in the act, practice, omission or course of business constituting the violation.
5.Any violation of the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385, which is not classified or does not authorize a specific range for a civil penalty or forfeiture for violations, shall be classified as a level one violation.In bringing an action to enforce a rule adopted by the director, unless the conduct that violates the rule also violates the enabling statute, the violation shall be classified as a level one violation and shall not be subject to any provision in this section regarding the enhancement of a civil penalty or forfeiture.
6.The civil penalties or forfeitures set forth in this section establish a maximum range.The court, or the director in administrative enforcement, shall consider all of the circumstances, including the nature of violations to determine whether, and to any extent, a civil penalty or forfeiture is justified.
7.In any enforcement proceeding, the court, or director in administrative enforcement, may enhance the civil penalty or forfeiture with a one-classification step increase under this section, if the violation was knowing.The court, or director in administrative enforcement, may enhance the civil penalty or forfeiture with a two-level increase if the violation was knowingly committed in conscious disregard of the law.
8.In any enforcement proceeding, the court, or director in administrative enforcement, may, after consideration of the factors specified in subsection 2 of section 374.046, enhance the civil penalty or forfeiture with a one-classification step increase under this section, if the violations resulted in actual financial loss to consumers.
9.In any enforcement proceeding, the court, or director in administrative enforcement, shall reduce the civil penalty or forfeiture on that person with up to a two-classification step reduction under this section, if prior to receiving notice of the violation from the department, the person detects the violation through a self-audit or internal compliance program reasonably designed to detect and prevent insurance law violations and immediately reports the violation to the director.
10.If more than one error is caused by a single act or omission in the use of data processing equipment and such errors are not known by the violator at the time the error occurs, then any such errors shall be regarded as a single violation under this section.
11.Any civil penalty or forfeiture recovered by the director shall be paid to the treasurer and then distributed to the public schools as required by Article IX, Section 7 of the Missouri Constitution.
12.The penalties and forfeitures authorized by this section govern all actions and proceedings that are instituted on the basis of conduct occurring after August 28, 2006.
374.410 - Director to be notified of changes in town grading schedules — may set aside, when.
Whenever any insurer, group, association or other organization of insurers, or rating organization shall change any town grading schedule used in connection with the development of rates under policies of homeowners' insurance, dwelling-owners' insurance, renters' or tenants' insurance, or residential fire insurance written upon property located within this state, such change shall be filed with the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration may set aside any change in town grading schedules that he finds is not supported by substantial evidence and credible data acquired under sections 374.400 to 374.410.
374.510 - Minimum requirements for utilization review agents.
1.All utilization review agents shall meet the minimum requirements set forth in sections 376.1350 to 376.1390.
2.All utilization review agents certified before September 1, 1997, shall meet the requirements set forth in sections 376.1350 to 376.1390 by January 1, 1998, or such certification shall be deemed invalid.
374.110 - Examiner — duties — assistants — fees.
1.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, through the chief examiner, may examine into the affairs and good faith of any person who is engaged in, or is claiming or advertising that he is engaged in, organizing or receiving subscriptions for or disposing of stock of, or in any manner aiding or taking part in the formation of or business of an insurance corporation, association or organization and the chief examiner shall conduct or assist in conducting the examination of insurance companies, associations and organizations and reciprocal or interinsurance exchanges as required by law, and do such other things pertaining to the department as the director may direct.
2.The director may also employ one or more expert actuaries or examiners to assist the chief examiner in making such examinations.
3.The fees and expenses in all cases to be reasonable and to be paid by the company, association, organization or reciprocal or interinsurance exchange being examined upon accounts approved by the director.
374.010 - Department — general powers.
The department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall be charged with the execution of all laws now in force, or which may be hereafter enacted, in relation to insurance and insurance companies doing business in this state, and such other duties as are provided for by law.
(RSMo 1939 § 5780, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739)
374.210 - False testimony — refusal to furnish information — penalties.
1.It is unlawful for any person in any investigation, examination, inquiry, or other proceeding under this chapter, chapter 354, or chapters 375 to 385, to:
(1)Knowingly make or cause to be made a false statement upon oath or affirmation or in any record that is submitted to the director or used in any proceeding under this chapter, chapter 354, and chapters 375 to 385; or
(2)Make any false certificate or entry or memorandum upon any of the books or papers of any insurance company, or upon any statement or exhibit offered, filed or offered to be filed in the department, or used in the course of any examination, inquiry, or investigation under this chapter, chapter 354 and chapters 375 to 385.
2.If a person does not appear or refuses to testify, file a statement, produce records, or otherwise does not obey a subpoena as required by the director, the director may apply to the circuit court of any county of the state or any city not within a county, or a court of another state to enforce compliance.The court may:
(1)Hold the person in contempt;
(2)Order the person to appear before the director;
(3)Order the person to testify about the matter under investigation or in question;
(4)Order the production of records;
(5)Grant injunctive relief;
(6)Impose a civil penalty of up to fifty thousand dollars for each violation; and
(7)Grant any other necessary or appropriate relief.The director may also suspend, revoke or refuse any license or certificate of authority issued by the director to any person who does not appear or refuses to testify, file a statement, produce records, or does not obey a subpoena.
3.This section does not preclude a person from applying to the circuit court of any county of the state or any city not within a county for relief from a request to appear, testify, file a statement, produce records, or obey a subpoena.
4.A person is not excused from attending, testifying, filing a statement, producing a record or other evidence, or obeying a subpoena of the director under an action or proceeding instituted by the director on the grounds that the required testimony, statement, record, or other evidence, directly or indirectly, may tend to incriminate the individual or subject the individual to a criminal fine, penalty, or forfeiture.If the person refuses to testify, file a statement, or produce a record or other evidence on the basis of the individual's privilege against self-incrimination, the director may apply to the circuit court of any county of the state or any city not within a county to compel the testimony, the filing of the statement, the production of the record, or the giving of other evidence.The testimony, record, or other evidence compelled under such an order may not be used as evidence against the person in a criminal case, except in a prosecution for perjury or contempt or otherwise failing to comply with the order.
5.If the director determines that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of this section, or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may issue such administrative orders as authorized under section 374.046.A violation of subsection 1 of this section is a level four violation under section 374.049.The director may also suspend or revoke the license or certificate of authority of such person for any willful violation.
6.If the director believes that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of this section or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may maintain a civil action for relief authorized under section 374.048.A violation of subsection 1 of this section is a level four violation under section 374.049.
7.Any person who knowingly engages in any act, practice, omission, or course of business in violation of subsection 1 of this section is guilty of a class E felony.If the offender holds a license or certificate of authority under the insurance laws of this state, the court imposing sentence shall order the department to revoke such license or certificate of authority.
8.The director may refer such evidence as is available concerning violations of this section to the proper prosecuting attorney, who with or without a criminal reference, or the attorney general under section 27.030, may institute the appropriate criminal proceedings.
9.Nothing in this section shall limit the power of the state to punish any person for any conduct that constitutes a crime under any other state statute.
(RSMo 1939 § 5794, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)
374.310 - Refusal to grant or renew insurance license, when.
The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall not grant or renew any life or health insurance license if the license has been or is being used by the applicant or licensee for any purpose prohibited by sections 374.300 to 374.310.Before the director can deny renewal he shall be required to hold a public hearing, with ten days' notice to the applicant, to determine whether the license has been or is being used contrary to the mandates of sections 374.300 to 374.310.Appeal from the decision of the director shall be to the administrative hearing commission which shall conduct a hearing de novo.
(1)"Bail bond agent", a surety agent or an agent of a property bail bondsman who is duly licensed pursuant to the provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789, is employed by and is working under the authority of a licensed general bail bond agent;
(2)"Bail bond or appearance bond", a bond for a specified monetary amount which is executed by the defendant and a qualified licensee pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.789, and which is issued to a court or authorized officer as security for the subsequent court appearance of the defendant upon the defendant's release from actual custody pending the appearance;
(3)"Department", the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration of the state of Missouri;
(5)"General bail bond agent", a surety agent or a property bail bondsman, as defined in sections 374.700 to 374.775, who is licensed in accordance with sections 374.700 to 374.775 and who devotes at least fifty percent of his working time to the bail bond business in this state;
(6)"Insurer", any surety insurance company which is qualified by the department to transact surety business in Missouri;
(7)"Licensee", a bail bond agent or a general bail bond agent;
(8)"Property bail bondsman", a person who pledges United States currency, United States postal money orders or cashier's checks or other property as security for a bail bond in connection with a judicial proceeding, and who receives or is promised therefor money or other things of value;
(9)"Surety bail bond agent", any person appointed by an insurer by power of attorney to execute or countersign bail bonds in connection with judicial proceedings, and who receives or is promised money or other things of value therefor;
(10)"Surety recovery agent", a person not performing the duties of a sworn peace officer who tracks down, captures and surrenders to the custody of a court a fugitive who has violated a bail bond agreement, excluding a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent;
(11)"Taking a bail" or "take bail", the acceptance by a person authorized to take bail of the undertaking of a sufficient surety for the appearance of the defendant according to the terms of the undertaking or that the surety will pay to the court the sum specified.Taking of bail or take bail does not include the fixing of the amount of bail and no person other than a competent court shall fix the amount of bail.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 1, A.L. 2001 S.B. 267, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122)
(1)"Certificate", a certificate of registration granted by the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration to a utilization review agent;
(3)"Enrollee", an individual who has contracted for or who participates in coverage under a health insurance policy, an employee welfare benefit plan, a health services corporation plan or any other benefit program providing payment, reimbursement or indemnification for health care costs for himself or eligible dependents or both himself and eligible dependents.The term "enrollee" shall not include an individual who has health care coverage pursuant to a liability insurance policy, workers' compensation insurance policy, or medical payments insurance issued as a supplement to a liability policy;
(4)"Provider of record", the physician or other licensed practitioner identified to the utilization review agent as having primary responsibility for the care, treatment and services rendered to an enrollee;
(5)"Utilization review", a set of formal techniques designed to monitor the use of, or evaluate the clinical necessity, appropriateness, efficacy, or efficiency of, health care services, procedures, or settings.Techniques may include ambulatory review, prospective review, second opinion, certification, concurrent review, case management, discharge planning or retrospective review.Utilization review shall not include elective requests for clarification of coverage;
(6)"Utilization review agent", any person or entity performing utilization review, except:
(a)An agency of the federal government;
(b)An agent acting on behalf of the federal government, but only to the extent that the agent is providing services to the federal government; or
(c)Any individual person employed or used by a utilization review agent for the purpose of performing utilization review services, including, but not limited to, individual nurses and physicians, unless such individuals are providing utilization review services to the applicable benefit plan, pursuant to a direct contractual relationship with the benefit plan;
(d)An employee health benefit plan that is self-insured and qualified pursuant to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended;
(e)A property-casualty insurer or an employee or agent working on behalf of a property-casualty insurer;
(f)A health carrier, as defined in section 376.1350, that is performing a review of its own health plan;
(7)"Utilization review plan", a summary of the utilization review procedures of a utilization review agent.
(L. 1991 S.B. 352 § 1, A.L. 1993 H.B. 709, A.L. 1997 H.B. 335)
Unless otherwise clearly indicated by the context, the following words and terms as used in sections 374.400 to 374.410 shall mean:
(2)"Dwelling-owners' insurance", a policy of insurance on a one- or two-family owner-occupied premises* which combines fire and allied lines with any one or more perils of casualty, liability, or other types of insurance within one policy form at a single premium, where the insurer's liability for damage to the premises* under said policy is determined with reference to the premises' actual cash value;
(3)"Homeowners' insurance", a policy of insurance on a one- or two-family owner-occupied premises* which combines fire and allied lines with any one or more perils of casualty, liability, or other types of insurance within one policy form at a single premium, where the insurer's liability for damage to the premises* under said policy is determined with reference to the premises' replacement value;
(4)"Insurer", any insurance company, reciprocal or inter-insurance exchange, licensed and authorized by the director to write homeowners' insurance, dwelling-owners' insurance, renters' or tenants' insurance, or residential fire insurance upon property located within this state;
(5)"Renters' or tenants' insurance", a policy of insurance on a single- or multiple-family premises* which combines fire and allied lines with any one or more perils of casualty, liability, or other types of insurance within one policy form at a single premium, where the insurer's liability for damage to the contents of the premises* under said policy is determined with reference to the contents' actual cash value;
(6)"Residential fire insurance", a policy of insurance which provides fire coverage or fire and allied lines coverage on a residential premises* within one policy form, where the insurer's liability for damage to the premises* under said policy is determined with reference to the premises' actual cash value.
*Word "premise" appears in original rolls.
374.759 - Access to court records, when — defendant access to bail bond agent, how — agents qualified in all jurisdictions in the state.
1.Any bail bond agent licensed in the state of Missouri shall have access to all publicly available court records of the defendant by available means to make a realistic assessment of the* defendant's probability of attending all court dates as set in his or her charges relating to the* bond request.
2.Any defendant shall have free access to any bail bond agent via one phone call so long as the call is made to a local phone number.All other numbers may be available as a collect call to any nonlocal number.
3.All Missouri licensed bail bond agents or licensed general agents shall be qualified, without further requirements, in all jurisdictions of this state, as provided in rules promulgated by the supreme court of Missouri and not by any circuit court rule.
*Word "the" does not appear in original rolls.
374.100 - Actuary — duties — fees.
1.The actuary shall perform those duties usually performed by actuaries and such other duties in connection with the department as the director may direct.
2.All fees allowed or paid to the actuary as provided by law shall be paid to the director of revenue and shall be deposited to the credit of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration fund.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 5784, 5786, A. 1949 H.B. 2115)
Prior revisions: 1929 §§ 5674, 5676; 1919 § 6087; 1909 § 6881
374.300 - Financial institution defined.
As used in sections 374.300 to 374.310, "financial institution" means any bank, bank holding company, sales finance company, consumer finance company, credit union, insurance company, lender as that term is defined in subdivision (3) of section 367.100, savings and loan association, savings and loan association holding company, savings and loan association service corporation, company operating under the mortgage brokerage laws of this state, or any subsidiary of any of the foregoing.This definition shall not, however, include any financial institution which has been granted an exemption by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System pursuant to Section 4(d) of the Federal Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, or any financial institution which neither owns more than ten percent of the capital stock nor exercises effective control of a bank, savings and loan association or entity licensed under the mortgage brokerage laws of this state, which is licensed or authorized to transact business in this state.
374.055 - Grievance procedure.
1.Except as otherwise provided, any interested person aggrieved by any order of the director under the laws of this state relating to insurance in this chapter, chapter 354, and chapters 375 to 385, or a rule adopted by the director, or by any refusal or failure of the director to make an order pursuant to any of said provisions, shall be entitled to a hearing before the director in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.A final order issued by the director is subject to judicial review in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.However, any findings of fact or conclusions of law in any order regarding the actual costs of the investigation or proceedings under section 374.046, or the classification of any violation under section 374.049, shall be subject to de novo review.
2.A rule adopted by the director is subject to judicial review in accordance with the provisions of chapter 536.
3.Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no person or entity shall impose an accident response service fee on or from an insurance company, the driver or owner of a motor vehicle, or any other person.As used in this section, the term "accident response service fee" means a fee imposed for the response or investigation by a local law enforcement agency of a motor vehicle accident.
374.800 - Contracts by the department in excess of $100,000 to be reviewed and approved by the attorney general.
1.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration intends to enter into any contract or other written agreement or approve any letter of intent for payment of money by the state in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, modification or potential reduction of a party's financial obligation to the state in excess of one hundred thousand dollars, the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall forward a copy to the attorney general before entering into that contract, subcontract or other written agreement or approving the letter of intent.
2.Upon receiving the contract, other written agreement or letter of intent, the attorney general shall, within ten days, review and approve that contract, other written contract or letter of intent for its legal form and content as may be necessary to protect the legal interest of the state.If the attorney general does not approve, then the attorney general shall return the contract, other written agreement or letter of intent with additional proposed provisions as may be necessary to the proper enforcement of the contract as required to protect the state's legal interest.If the attorney general does not respond within ten days or, in the case of any contract that involves a payment of money by the state or a modification or potential reduction of a party's financial obligation to the state of one million dollars or more, within thirty days, the contract shall be deemed approved.
3.Communications related to the attorney general's review are attorney-client communications.The attorney general's written disposition shall be subject to chapter 610.
374.351 - Intent of compact.
The Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact is intended to help States join together to establish an interstate compact to regulate designated insurance products.Pursuant to terms and conditions of this Act*, the State of Missouri seeks to join with other States and establish the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Compact, and thus become a member of the Interstate Insurance Product Regulation Commission.The Director of the Department of Insurance, Financial Institutions and Professional Registration is hereby designated to serve as the representative of this State to the Commission.
374.755 - Complaint by department, procedure — grounds — disciplinary action — alternate procedure — additional remedy.
1.The department may cause a complaint to be filed with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621 against any holder of any license required by sections 374.695 to 374.775 or any person who has failed to renew or has surrendered his or her license for any one or any combination of the following causes:
(1)Use of any controlled substance, as defined in chapter 195, or alcoholic beverage to an extent that such use impairs a person's ability to perform the work of the profession licensed under sections 374.695 to 374.775;
(2)Final adjudication or a plea of guilty or nolo contendere within the past fifteen years in a criminal prosecution under any state or federal law for a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude whether or not a sentence is imposed, prior to issuance of license date;
(3)Use of fraud, deception, misrepresentation or bribery in securing any license or in obtaining permission to take any examination required pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.775;
(4)Obtaining or attempting to obtain any compensation as a member of the profession licensed by sections 374.695 to 374.775 by means of fraud, deception or misrepresentation;
(5)Misappropriation of the premium, collateral, or other things of value given to a bail bond agent or a general bail bond agent for the taking of bail, incompetency, misconduct, gross negligence, fraud, or misrepresentation in the performance of the functions or duties of the profession licensed or regulated by sections 374.695 to 374.775;
(6)Violation of any provision of or any obligation imposed by the laws of this state, department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration rules and regulations, or aiding or abetting other persons to violate such laws, orders, rules or regulations, or subpoenas;
(7)Transferring a license or permitting another person to use a license of the licensee;
(8)Disciplinary action against the holder of a license or other right to practice the profession regulated by sections 374.695 to 374.789 granted by another state, territory, federal agency or country upon grounds for which revocation or suspension is authorized in this state;
(9)Being finally adjudged insane or incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction;
(10)Assisting or enabling any person to practice or offer to practice the profession licensed or regulated by sections 374.695 to 374.789 who is not currently licensed and eligible to practice pursuant to sections 374.695 to 374.789;
(11)Acting in the capacity of an attorney at a trial or hearing of a person for whom the attorney is acting as surety;
(12)Failing to provide a copy of the bail contract, renumbered written receipt for acceptance of money, or other collateral for the taking of bail to the principal, if requested by any person who is a party to the bail contract, or any person providing funds or collateral for bail on the principal's behalf.
2.After the filing of such complaint, the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 621.Upon a finding by the administrative hearing commission that one or more of the causes stated in subsection 1 of this section have been met, the director may suspend or revoke the license or enter into an agreement for a monetary or other penalty pursuant to section 374.280.
3.In lieu of filing a complaint at the administrative hearing commission, the director and the bail bond agent or general bail bond agent may enter into an agreement for a monetary or other penalty pursuant to section 374.280.
4.In addition to any other remedies available, the director may issue a cease and desist order or may seek an injunction in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the provisions of section 374.046 whenever it appears that any person is acting as a bail bond agent or general bail bond agent without a license or violating any other provisions of sections 374.695 to 374.789.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 7 subsecs. 2, 3, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1122)
374.455 - Premium and loss data, annual report — available to public.
1.The director shall establish statistical bases for the reporting of premium and loss data under policies of automobile insurance.
2.Each insurer shall annually report to the director or a statistical agency designated by the director all premium and loss data under policies of automobile insurance in such a manner as the director may require.
4.The director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration shall make reports of data acquired hereunder and such reports shall be made available to the public.
(L. 1979 H.B. 503 §§ 2, 3)
374.051 - Refusal of license and nonrenewal, applicant may appeal, procedure.
1.Any applicant refused a license or the renewal of a license by order of the director under sections 374.755, 374.787, and 375.141 may file a petition with the administrative hearing commission alleging that the director has refused the license.The administrative hearing commission shall conduct hearings and make findings of fact and conclusions of law in determining whether the applicant may be disqualified by statute.Notwithstanding section 621.120, the director shall retain discretion in refusing a license or renewal and such discretion shall not transfer to the administrative hearing commission.
2.If a proceeding is instituted to revoke or suspend a license of any person under sections 374.755, 374.787, and 375.141, the director shall refer the matter to the administrative hearing commission by directing the filing of a complaint.The administrative hearing commission shall conduct hearings and make findings of fact and conclusions of law in such cases.The director shall have the burden of proving cause for discipline.If cause is found, the administrative hearing commission shall submit its findings of fact and conclusions of law to the director, who may determine appropriate discipline.
3.Hearing procedures before the director or the administrative hearing commission and judicial review of the decisions and orders of the director and of the administrative hearing commission, and all other procedural matters under this chapter, shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 536.Hearings before the administrative hearing commission shall also be governed by the provisions of chapter 621.
374.420 - Insurers not liable because of compliance.
There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of action of any nature shall arise against any insurer reporting hereunder or its agents or employees, or the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration or* the director's employees, for any action taken by them pursuant to sections 374.400 to 374.425.
*Word "of" appears in original rolls.
374.720 - Examination, form, content — reexamination fee.
1.Each applicant for licensure as a general bail bond agent, after complying with this section and the provisions of section 374.715, shall be issued a license by the department unless grounds exist under section 374.755 for denial of a license.
2.Each applicant for examination and licensure as a bail bond agent, after complying with the provisions of section 374.715, shall appear for examination at the time and place specified by the department.Such examination shall be as prescribed by the director as provided under section 375.018 and shall be designed to test the applicant's knowledge and expertise in the area of surety bonds in general and the practice of a bail bond agent, as defined in sections 374.700 to 374.775, in particular. The applicant shall be notified of the result of the examination within twenty working days of the examination.Any applicant who fails such examination may, upon reapplication and payment of the reexamination fee set by the department, retake the examination.
(L. 1983 S.B. 363 § 5 subsecs. 1, 2, A.L. 1993 H.B. 709)
374.220 - Expenses, how paid.
1.The expenses of proceedings against insurance companies, and examinations of the assets or liabilities and valuations of policies of insurance companies doing business in this state, shall be assessed by the director upon the company proceeded against or examined, or whose policies have been valued.
2.If the company has been or shall be adjudged insolvent, or shall neglect, fail or refuse to pay the expenses, the director may approve the payment of the expenses, in whole or in part, which shall be paid in like manner as other expenses of the department; and the amount so paid, together with cost, charges and fees for collecting the same, shall be a first lien upon all the assets and property of such company, and may be recovered by the director of revenue in any court of competent jurisdiction; or if said company be in liquidation, or process of being wound up, the cost and expenses of settling its affairs shall be allowed and taxed as cost against said company, and shall be a first lien upon and payable out of its assets.The director of revenue shall deposit such sums in the state treasury to reimburse the insurance fund.
3.Before any costs of any examination or valuation shall be paid, vouchers for the same shall be submitted to and approved by the commissioner of administration.
4.When any examination or valuation is made by the director in person or by any salaried employee of the department, the cost of making the same shall be certified to the director of revenue for collection.
(RSMo 1939 § 5795, A.L. 1945 p. 1018, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1991 H.B. 385, et al., A.L. 2008 S.B. 788)
(1956) Action for attorney fees against insurance director for services rendered state will not lie; only remedy provided is under § 374.220 and review of the director's decision under § 536.100. Barker v. Leggett (Mo.), 295 S.W.2d 836.
(1958) In prohibition proceeding against circuit judge where attorney had brought action against director of insurance in circuit court of county of attorney's residence for review of denial of attorney's claim for compensation, held judge lacked jurisdiction as director was not required by law to hold hearing on attorney's claim and, therefore, it was not a contested case within the meaning of § 536.100. State v. Jensen (Mo.), 318 S.W.2d 353.
(1960) Fees and expenses imposed under this section for examiners of insurance companies held not to be taxes. Leggett v. Missouri State Life Insurance Co. (Mo.), 342 S.W.2d 833.
374.020 - Director — qualifications — appointment.
1.The chief officer of said department shall be designated as the director of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.He shall be a citizen of this state, and experienced in matters of insurance, and be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and shall hold his office concurrently with that of the governor and until his successor is appointed and qualified, and shall be subject to removal from office by the governor at his pleasure.
2.If a vacancy shall at any time occur, the same shall be filled by the governor, by appointment, subject to the confirmation of the senate, if in session; if not, then at its next session.
3.It shall not be lawful for the director or his deputy to hold any position as officer, agent or employee of any insurance or assurance company, nor shall he otherwise be directly or indirectly interested in any insurance company, except as a policyholder.
374.120 - Director to appoint employees — legal counsel — reinsurance analyst, qualifications.
1.The director shall appoint and employ such clerks and clerical and other help which are necessary for a proper dispatch of the business of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration at salaries as now or hereafter provided by law, and may employ such actuarial work to be done as may be necessary, all of which expense shall be paid as provided for by section 374.160, out of the amount appropriated by law from the fees collected by the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.
2.The director shall appoint and employ legal counsel regarding the enforcing of the insurance laws of the state; provided, however, that with respect to criminal prosecutions, the attorney general shall be the legal adviser to the director.All counsel employed by the legal section shall be attorneys licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri and the general counsel shall be subject to removal at the pleasure of the director.In addition, the general counsel shall have had at least two years of experience in the areas of insurance law, insurance regulation or insurance litigation, or any combination thereof.The general counsel may receive an annual salary of up to one thousand dollars less than the annual salary paid the director.The director may assign legal counsel to specific divisions established pursuant to section 374.075.Legal counsel may act as hearing officers at any hearing before the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration, but may not act as a hearing officer in any contested case brought to the director from a division to which legal counsel was assigned.
3.The director may also employ suitable persons to make examinations as to the solvency or market conduct of companies when he deems it necessary.
4.The director shall also employ a reinsurance analyst to assist the department in carrying out its responsibilities regarding reinsurers as are provided for by law.The reinsurance analyst shall have knowledge of the state's insurance laws and regulations, shall have a degree in accounting, and shall be able to meet the requirements of an Associate in Reinsurance of the American Institute of Property and Liability Underwriters within two years of appointment, or comparable standards as provided for by regulation, and have at least three years' experience in insurance or reinsurance matters.
5.The director shall not employ any person in any capacity who is an officer, agent or employee of any insurance company or association.
(RSMo 1939 § 5788, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1990 H.B. 1739, A.L. 1991 H.B. 575)
(1956) Counsel employed by the director must be paid in the same way as other expenses of the insurance division and cannot be paid from funds escheated to the state under § 379.395. Jacobs v. Leggett (Mo.), 295 S.W.2d 825.
374.075 - Divisions, director may establish.
1.The director may establish three or more divisions within the department to administer and enforce the laws of this state relating to insurance.The director shall establish at least one division, to be known as the "Division of Consumer Affairs", which shall perform the functions of the consumer services section in addition to such other functions as may be assigned to it by the director.The director shall establish a division to be known as the "Division of Insurance Company Regulation", which shall perform the functions of insurance company admissions and financial supervision, in addition to such other functions as may be assigned to it by the director, and a division to be known as the "Division of Insurance Market Regulation", which shall perform the functions of rate and form regulation in addition to such other functions as may be assigned to it by the director.
2.Wherever the laws, rules or regulations of this state make reference to the "division of insurance" or to the "insurance division", such references shall be deemed to refer to the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration.
374.071 - Insurance records exempt from public disclosure — release permitted, when.
1.The following records of the department are not public records and are not available for public examination under section 374.070:
(1)Any document or other material in any consumer complaint file maintained under section 374.085, including medical records, repair estimates, adjuster notes, insurance policy provisions, recordings or transcripts of witness interviews, and any other records regarding coverage, settlement, payment, or denial of claim asserted under an insurance policy;
(2)Any document or other material submitted by an insurer or producer under section 374.190, or any other inquiry, information request, or data call initiated by the department.
2.Any record that is not public under subsections 1 and 2 of this section is confidential and is not subject to disclosure, including discovery or subpoena, unless the subpoena is issued by the prosecuting attorney, attorney general, administrative hearing officer, or under the authority of any court.The director may only produce the documents or other material to another state or federal governmental agency or officer under a lawful request, subpoena, or formal discovery procedure.The documents or material may, in the discretion of the director, be made public once admitted as evidence in any administrative, civil, or criminal enforcement proceeding.
3.The director may release contents of any record that is not public under this section as part of an examination report under section 374.205, if the release is in the public interest.Notwithstanding any provision of subsections 1 and 2 of this section to the contrary, in all cases, the director may release an incident report record consisting of the date and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding the initial consumer report or complaint.
4.No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality regarding any document shall occur as a result of disclosure to the director or by the director in sharing documents with other state and federal regulatory agencies, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and its affiliates and subsidiaries, or state or federal law enforcement authorities, and the recipient of such document is bound by the provisions of this section as to the confidentiality of such document.
374.775 - Bonds of one thousand dollars or less — fee — additional fee — prohibited.
When issuing bonds of one thousand dollars or less, licensed bail bond agents or general bail bond agents may charge a minimum premium of fifty dollars.In connection with such bonds no bail bond agent, general bail bond agent, or corporation shall charge or receive any additional fee for investigations or services rendered in connection with the execution of the bond.
374.786 - Renewal, procedure.
1.Every person licensed pursuant to sections 374.783 to 374.789 shall, before the license renewal date, apply to the director for renewal for the ensuing licensing period.The application shall be made on a form furnished to the applicant and shall state the applicant's full name, the applicant's business address, the address at which the applicant resides, the date the applicant first received a license, and the applicant's surety recovery agent identification number, if any.
2.A renewal form shall be mailed to each person licensed in this state at the person's last known address.The failure to mail the renewal form or the failure of a person to receive it does not relieve any person of the duty to be licensed and to pay the license fee required nor exempt such person from the penalties provided for failure to be licensed.
3.Each applicant for renewal shall accompany such application with a renewal fee to be paid to the department for the licensing period for which renewal is sought.
4.The director may refuse to renew any license required pursuant to sections 374.783 to 374.789 for any one or any combination of causes stated in section 374.787.The director shall notify the applicant in writing of the reasons for refusal to renew and shall advise the applicant of his or her right to file a complaint with the administrative hearing commission as provided by chapter 621.
374.182 - Organization plan to be submitted — contents.
The department shall submit an organizational plan in the same manner as is required of departments under subsection (2) of section 1 of the Reorganization Act of 1974; provided, however, that the compensation levels to be reported shall include those of the director, the deputy director, the assistant director for policies and licenses, the assistant director for consumer services and the general counsel.
374.730 - License, biannual renewal, fee.
All licenses issued to bail bond agents and general bail bond agents under the provisions of sections 374.700 to 374.775 shall be renewed biennially, which renewal shall be in the form and manner prescribed by the department and shall be accompanied by the renewal fee set by the department.
374.230 - Fees — paid to director.
Every individual or entity making a filing with the department described below shall pay to the director the following fees and charges, to be paid into the insurance dedicated fund established under section 374.150:
(1)For filing the declaration required on organization of each domestic company, one thousand dollars;
(2)For filing statement and certified copy of charter required of foreign companies, one thousand dollars;
(3)For filing application to renew certificate of authority, along with all required annual reports, including the annual statement, actuarial statement, risk-based capital report, report of valuation of policies or other obligations of assurance, and audited financial report annual statement of any company doing business in this state, two thousand dollars;
(4)For filing the ORSA summary report required by sections 382.500 to 382.550, or a preacquisition notification required by sections 382.040 to* 382.060, or section 382.095, five hundred dollars;
(5)Unless otherwise specified in subdivision (4) or another section of law, for any filings required under chapter 382, two hundred fifty dollars;
(6)For filing any paper, document, or report for which a filing fee is not otherwise provided for in another section of law that is not filed under subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), but required to be filed in the office of the director, one hundred fifty dollars each.
(RSMo 1939 §§ 5795, 5796, A.L. 1945 p. 1018, A. 1949 H.B. 2115, A.L. 1967 p. 516, A.L. 1989 S.B. 250, A.L. 2007 S.B. 66, A.L. 2018 S.B. 982)
*Word "through" appears in original rolls.
374.130 - Chief clerk, duties and powers.
The director may designate one of the clerks of the department of insurance, financial institutions and professional registration as chief clerk, who shall possess the qualifications of the director, and shall, subject to the director and his deputy, have charge of the clerical and detail work of the department, and the employees thereof.In the absence or inability of both the director and deputy or in case of a vacancy in both of said offices, the chief clerk shall have and exercise the powers of the director.Chief clerk shall serve during the pleasure of the director, and shall perform such other duties as the director may direct.
Prior revisions: 1929 § 5675; 1919 § 6086
374.030 - Director — oath — bond.
Within twenty days after receiving his commission, and before entering upon the duties of his office, the director shall take the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of this state, and shall give a bond with a corporate surety or five or more good and sufficient sureties to the state of Missouri in the sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to be approved by the governor and attorney general, conditioned for the faithful discharge of his duty, which oath and bond shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.