CHAPTER 33.  INSURANCE.

ARTICLE 12. INSURANCE PRODUCERS AND SOLICITORS.

§33-12-9. Issuance of license.

(a) Unless denied licensure pursuant to §33-12-24 of this code, individuals who have met the requirements of §33-12-5 and §33-12-6 of this code shall be issued an insurance producer license. An insurance producer may receive qualification for a license in one or more of the following lines of authority:

(1) Life insurance coverage on human lives including benefits of endowment and annuities, and may include benefits in the event of death or dismemberment by accident and benefits for disability income;

(2) Accident and health or sickness. — Insurance coverage for sickness, bodily injury, or accidental death and may include benefits for disability income;

(3) Property insurance coverage for the direct or consequential loss or damage to property of every kind;

(4) Casualty. — Insurance coverage against legal liability, including that for death, injury, or disability or damage to real or personal property;

(5) Variable life and variable annuity products. — Insurance coverage provided under variable life insurance contracts and variable annuities;

(6) Personal lines. — Property and casualty insurance coverage sold to individuals and families for primarily noncommercial purposes;

(7) Credit. — Limited line credit insurance; or

(8) Any other line of insurance permitted under state laws or regulations.

(b) An insurance producer license shall remain in effect unless revoked or suspended as long as the fee set forth in §33-3-13 of this code is paid and education requirements for resident individual producers are met by the due date.

(c) An individual insurance producer who allows his or her license to lapse may, within 12 months from the due date of the renewal fee, reinstate the same license without the necessity of passing a written examination. However, a penalty in the amount of double the unpaid renewal fee shall be required for any renewal fee received after the due date.

(d) An individual licensed insurance producer who is unable to comply with license renewal procedures due to military service or some other extenuating circumstance (e.g., a long-term medical disability) may request a waiver of those procedures. The producer may also request a waiver of any examination requirement or any other fine or sanction imposed for failure to comply with renewal procedures.

(e) The license shall contain the licensee’s name, address, personal identification number, and the date of issuance, the lines of authority, the expiration date, and any other information the Insurance Commissioner considers necessary.

(f) At the time of application for licensure, the applicant shall inform the Insurance Commissioner of the applicant’s full name, physical and mailing address, if different, and electronic mail address. Each agent, insurance agency, solicitor, or service representative that is licensed on July 1, 2021, shall provide the Insurance Commissioner with the licensee’s electronic mail address in connection with the next license renewal application of the respective licensee. If a change occurs to the licensee’s name, physical address, mailing address, or electronic mail address after licensure, the licensee shall inform the Insurance Commissioner by any means acceptable to the Insurance Commissioner of the updated contact information within 30 days of the change. Failure to timely inform the Insurance Commissioner of a change in legal name, residency, mailing address, or electronic mail address may result in a penalty pursuant to §33-12-24 of this code. The commissioner shall maintain the information provided pursuant to this subsection for each agent, insurance agency, solicitor, and service representative on file.

(g) In order to assist in the performance of the Insurance Commissioner’s duties, the Insurance Commissioner may contract with nongovernmental entities, including the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) or any affiliates or subsidiaries that the NAIC oversees, to perform any ministerial functions, including the collection of fees, related to producer licensing that the Insurance Commissioner and the nongovernmental entity may consider appropriate.