SENATE BILL No. 715

 

 

December 5, 2013, Introduced by Senators CASPERSON, HUNE, ROBERTSON and SMITH and referred to the Committee on Insurance.

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1956 PA 218, entitled

 

"The insurance code of 1956,"

 

(MCL 500.100 to 500.8302) by adding chapter 22A.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

CHAPTER 22A

 

     Sec. 2270. As used in this chapter:

 

     (a) "Certificate of insurance" means a document, regardless of

 

how titled or described, that is prepared by an insurer or

 

insurance producer that is a statement or summary of an insured's

 

property or casualty insurance coverage. Certificate of insurance

 

does not include a policy of insurance, insurance binder, policy

 

endorsement, automobile identification card, certificate issued

 

under a group or master policy, or evidence of coverage provided to

 

a lender in a lending transaction involving a mortgage, lien, deed

 

of trust, or other security interest in or on any real or personal


 

property.

 

     (b) "Director" means the director of the department of

 

insurance and financial services.

 

     (c) "Insurance" means any of the lines of authority in chapter

 

6.

 

     (d) "Insurance producer" means that term as defined in section

 

1201.

 

     Sec. 2271. A person shall not do any of the following:

 

     (a) Issue or deliver a certificate of insurance that purports

 

to affirmatively or negatively alter, amend, or extend the coverage

 

provided by an insurance policy referenced in the certificate of

 

insurance.

 

     (b) Prepare or issue a certificate of insurance that contains

 

any false or misleading information concerning an insurance policy

 

referenced in the certificate of insurance.

 

     (c) Demand or require the issuance of a certificate of

 

insurance from an insurer, insurance producer, or policyholder that

 

contains any false or misleading information concerning an

 

insurance policy referenced in the certificate of insurance.

 

     Sec. 2272. A person shall not issue or deliver a certificate

 

of insurance unless it contains the following or similar statement:

 

     "This certificate of insurance is issued as a matter of

 

information only. It does not confer rights upon a person

 

requesting the certificate of insurance beyond what an insurance

 

policy expressly provides. This certificate of insurance does not

 

extend, amend, or alter the coverage, terms, exclusions, or

 

conditions afforded by an insurance policy referenced in this


 

certificate of insurance.".

 

     Sec. 2273. Except as otherwise provided in an insurance

 

policy, a certificate of insurance does not represent an insurer's

 

obligation to give notice of cancellation or nonrenewal to a

 

person.

 

     Sec. 2275. A person is entitled to notice of cancellation,

 

nonrenewal, and any similar notice concerning a policy of insurance

 

only if the person has notice rights under the terms of a policy of

 

insurance or an endorsement to a policy of insurance. The terms and

 

conditions of a notice described in this section are governed by

 

the policy of insurance or endorsement. A certificate of insurance

 

does not alter the terms and conditions of the notice.

 

     Sec. 2277. If the director finds that a person has violated

 

this chapter, after an opportunity for a hearing under the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328, the director shall reduce the findings and decision to

 

writing and shall issue and cause to be served upon the person

 

charged with the violation a copy of the findings and an order

 

requiring the person to cease and desist from the violation. In

 

addition, the director may order any of the following:

 

     (a) Payment of a civil fine of not more than $500.00 for each

 

violation. However, if the person knew or reasonably should have

 

known that he or she was in violation of this chapter, the director

 

may order the payment of a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00

 

for each violation. An order of the director under this section

 

shall not require the payment of civil fines exceeding $25,000.00.

 

A fine collected under this subdivision shall be turned over to the


 

state treasurer and credited to the general fund of this state.

 

     (b) The director may apply to the circuit court of Ingham

 

county for an order of the court enjoining a violation of this

 

chapter.