An agent, broker, or solicitor who is not an active member of the State Bar of California may not share a commission or other compensation with an active member of the State Bar of California. For purposes of this section, ?commission or other compensation? means pecuniary or nonpecuniary compensation of any kind relating to the sale or renewal of an insurance policy or certificate or an annuity, including, but not limited to, a bonus, gift, prize, award, or finder?s fee.
(Added by Stats. 2003, Ch. 547, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2004.)
Every individual and organization licensee and every applicant for a license shall file with the commissioner in writing the true name of the individual or organization and also all fictitious names under which an individual or organization conducts or intends to conduct business and after licensing shall file with the commissioner any change in or discontinuance of those names. The commissioner may in writing disapprove the use of any true or fictitious name (other than the bona fide natural name of an individual) by any licensee on any of the following grounds:
(a)The name is an interference with or is too similar to a name already filed and in use by another licensee;
(b)The use of the name may mislead the public in any respect;
(c)The name states, infers or implies that the licensee is an insurer, motor club, hospital service plan or entitled to engage in insurance activities not permitted under licenses held or applied for;
(d)The name states or implies that the licensee is an underwriter. This subdivision shall not prevent natural persons who are life licensees from describing themselves as an ?underwriter? or from using the designation ?Chartered Life Underwriter? if entitled thereto nor shall it prevent a natural person who is a fire and casualty licensee from using the designation ?Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter? if entitled thereto nor a producers trade association each member of which is also separately licensed from having a name containing the word underwriter; or
(e)The licensee has already filed and not discontinued the use of more than two names including the true name. This subdivision shall not prevent a licensee who has lawfully purchased or succeeded to the business or businesses of other licensees from using for each business not more than two additional names, true or fictitious, consisting of names used by the licensee?s predecessors in the conduct of those businesses.
A licensee may not use a true or fictitious name after being notified by the commissioner in writing that the use is contrary to this section. If the commissioner determines that there are facts in mitigation in connection with the continued use of the name the commissioner may permit its use for a specified reasonable period of time if in connection therewith the commissioner imposes conditions that will protect the public and achieve the purposes of this section. The permission and conditions shall be written.
The grounds specified in subdivisions (a), (c), and (d) shall not be applicable to the true name of any organization licensee that on October 1, 1961, holds under that name any type of license issued under this chapter (commencing with Section 1621) or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831) of this part nor to any fictitious name in use on October 1, 1961, by any individual or organization holding any type of license issued under this chapter or Chapter 8 of this part on that date, provided the fictitious name is filed with the commissioner on or before January 2, 1962.
The ground specified in subdivisions (b) and (e) shall not be applicable to any licensee who, or which, on October 1, 1961, holds a license issued under this chapter or Chapter 8 of this part until on and after January 2, 1964.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 16. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
A license to act as a resident property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, personal lines broker-agent, and limited lines automobile insurance agent shall be prominently displayed by the holder thereof in the license holder?s office in a manner whereby anyone may readily inspect it and ascertain both its currency and the capacity in which its holder is licensed to act.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 17. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
(a)A person licensed under Section 1625, 1625.5, 1625.55, 1626, 1758.1, 1765, 1800, 14020, or 15006, or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831), shall affix, type, or print on business cards, written price quotations for insurance products, and print advertisements distributed exclusively in this state for insurance products, its license number in a type size that is at least as large as any indicated telephone number, address, or fax number or in 12-point type, or in 8-point type for business cards, whichever is larger. If a licensee includes the names of multiple licensed organizations on a business card, written price quotation, or print advertisement distributed exclusively in this state, affixing, typing, or printing the license number of any one of the organizations complies with the requirements of this section.
(b)A person licensed under Section 1625, 1625.5, 1625.55, 1626, 1758.1, 1765, 14020, or 15006, or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831), shall affix, type, or print on business cards, written price quotations for insurance products, and print advertisements distributed in this state for insurance products, the word ?Insurance? in a type size that is at least as large as the smallest telephone number or in 12-point type, or in 8-point type for business cards, whichever is larger.
(c)A person licensed under Section 1625, 1625.5, 1625.55, 1626, 1758.1, 1765, 14020, or 15006, or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831), shall include the person?s license number in the emails the person sends that involve an activity for which a license is required. A person?s license number shall be in a type size that is no smaller than the largest of any telephone number, street address, or email address of the person included in the email. The license number of an individual licensee shall appear adjacent to or on the line below the individual?s name or title. The license number of an organizational licensee shall appear adjacent to or on the line below the organization?s name if the email is sent from the organization and not an individual licensee, and the communication involves an activity for which a license is required.
(d)A natural person who is a solicitor, as defined in Section 1624, working exclusively as an employee of a motor club agent, or working exclusively for a property broker-agent or casualty broker-agent on behalf of a motor club, shall use the organizational licensee number of that person?s employer.
(e)A person in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine levied by the commissioner in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200) for the first offense, five hundred dollars ($500) for the second offense, and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the third and subsequent offenses. The penalty shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for any one offense. These fines shall be deposited into the Insurance Fund.
(f)A separate penalty shall not be imposed upon each piece of printed material that fails to conform to the requirements of this section.
(g)If the commissioner finds that the failure of a licensee to comply with the provisions of subdivision (a) or (b) is due to reasonable cause or circumstance beyond the licensee?s control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and in the absence of willful neglect, the licensee may be relieved of the penalty in subdivision (e).
(h)A licensee seeking to be relieved of the penalty in subdivision (e) shall file with the department a statement with supporting documents setting forth the facts upon which the licensee bases its claims for relief.
(i)This section does not apply to a person or entity that is not currently required to be licensed by the department or that is exempted from licensure.
(j)This section does not apply to general advertisements of motor clubs that merely list insurance products as one of several services offered by the motor club, and do not provide any details of the insurance products.
(k)This section does not apply to life insurance policy illustrations required by Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 10509.950) of Part 2 of Division 2 or to life insurance cost indexes required by Chapter 5.6 (commencing with Section 10509.970) of Part 2 of Division 2.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 280, Sec. 1. (AB 1578) Effective January 1, 2024.)
(a)A person who is licensed in this state as an insurance agent or broker, advertises insurance on the internet, and transacts insurance in this state, shall identify all of the following information in the same size type on the person?s internet website home page or in a prominently displayed link from the home page, regardless of whether the insurance agent or broker maintains the internet presence or if the presence is maintained on the person?s behalf:
(1)The person?s name as filed with the commissioner that has not been disapproved pursuant to Section 1724.5.
(2)The person?s state of domicile and principal place of business.
(3)The person?s California insurance license number.
(4)The word ?insurance.?
(b)A person shall be deemed to be transacting insurance in this state when the person advertises on the internet, regardless of whether the insurance agent or broker maintains the internet presence or if it is maintained on the person?s behalf, and does any of the following:
(1)Solicits a California resident.
(2)Provides an insurance premium quote to a California resident.
(3)Accepts an application for coverage from a California resident.
(4)Communicates with a California resident regarding one or more terms of an agreement to provide insurance or an insurance policy.
(5)Enters into negotiations before executing an insurance contract with a California resident.
(6)Executes an insurance contract with a California resident.
(7)Transacts matters after executing an insurance contract with a California resident that arise out of that contract.
(c)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2020.
(Repealed in (Sec. 6) and added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 201, Sec. 7. (AB 1813) Effective January 1, 2020. Section operative July 1, 2020, by its own provisions.)
(a)The commissioner shall, after notice and hearing, promulgate reasonable rules and regulations specifying the manner and type of records to be maintained by those licensees acting as insurance agents and brokers and the location where the records shall be kept. Those records shall be open to inspection or examination by the commissioner at all times, and the commissioner may at any time require the licensee to furnish any information maintained or required to be maintained in those records.
(b)Every licensee acting as an insurance agent and broker shall keep the records as required by the regulations promulgated pursuant to subdivision (a).
(c)Every licensee acting as an insurance agent and broker employing a licensee in the capacity of an insurance solicitor shall keep the records required by the regulations promulgated pursuant to subdivision (a) for any insurance transacted by the insurance solicitor in the capacity of employee of the employing licensee.
(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 782, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2000.)
Every resident insurance property broker-agent and every resident insurance casualty broker-agent shall maintain a principal office in this state for the transaction of business. The address of the office shall, pursuant to Section 1658, be specified on all applications for license and renewal applications.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 411, Sec. 29. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2012.)
Every licensee and every applicant for a license shall immediately notify the commissioner using an electronic service approved by the commissioner of any change in that licensee or applicant?s email, residence, principal business, or mailing address as given to the commissioner pursuant to Sections 1658 and 1728.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 19. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
(a)An applicant or licensee shall notify the commissioner when any of the background information set forth in this section changes after the application has been submitted or the license has been issued. If the licensee is listed as an endorsee on any business entity license, the licensee shall also provide this notice to any officer, director, or partner listed on that business entity license.
(b)A business entity licensee, upon learning of a change in background information pertaining to any unlicensed person listed on its business entity license or application therefor, shall notify the commissioner of that change. The changes subject to this requirement include changes pertaining to any unlicensed officer, director, partner, member, or controlling person, or any other natural person named under the business entity license or in an application therefor.
(c)The following definitions apply for the purposes of this section:
(1)?License? includes all types of licenses issued by the commissioner pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1621), Chapter 5A (commencing with Section 1759), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760), Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 1781.1), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1800), and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831) of Part 2 of Division 1, Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 10110) of Part 2 of Division 2, Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 12280) of Part 5 of Division 2, Article 8 (commencing with Section 12418) of Chapter 1 of Part 6 of Division 2, and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 14000) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 5.
(2)?Background information? means any of the following: a misdemeanor or felony conviction; a filing of felony criminal charges in state or federal court; an administrative action regarding a professional or occupational license; any licensee?s discharge or attempt to discharge, in a personal or organizational bankruptcy proceeding, an obligation regarding any insurance premiums or fiduciary funds owed to any company, including a premium finance company, or managing general agent; and any admission, or judicial finding or determination, of fraud, misappropriation or conversion of funds, misrepresentation, or breach of fiduciary duty.
(3)?Applicant? and ?licensee? include individual and organization applicants and licensees, and officers, directors, partners, members, and controlling persons (as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1668.5) of an organization.
(d)Notification to the commissioner shall be in writing and shall be sent within 30 days of the date the applicant or licensee learns of the change in background information.
(e)The commissioner may adopt regulations necessary or desirable to implement this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 348, Sec. 11. (AB 1515) Effective January 1, 2016.)
A property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, or life agent who has a service contract with a corporation licensed under this code or who is a stockholder or member of any incorporated association or corporation organized under the Corporations Code for the purpose of providing services to property broker-agents, casualty broker-agents, or life agents may use the name of that corporation or association on any stationery or advertisements and other written or printed matter used to identify the business of the property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, or life agent provided that the name of the property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, or life agent is clearly identified as bearing only that relationship to the corporation or association in one of the following ways:
?Representing ____;?
?A stockholder of ____;?
?Placing business through ____;?
?Using services of ____.?
The use of the corporation or association name in the manner provided in this section shall not constitute such use as would mislead the public within the meaning of Section 1724.5.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 411, Sec. 30. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2012.)
A licensee shall not misrepresent the type of license under which that licensee is transacting insurance, nor shall that licensee engage in transactions not authorized by the licenses held by that licensee.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 20. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
A life agent, a property broker-agent, and a casualty broker-agent shall provide to all insureds or applicants at the time of application or receipt of premium moneys the effective date of coverage, if known, or the circumstances under which coverage will be effective if there exists conditions precedent to coverage. This section shall apply only to coverage for personal lines of insurance, such as private passenger automobile, homeowner and renter insurance, personal liability, and individual disability and health insurance.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 411, Sec. 31. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2012.)
(a)Every property broker-agent and every casualty broker-agent shall, prior to arranging premium financing or transacting any agreement for the periodic payment of premium for any new or renewal policy of insurance specified in Section 660, disclose to any applicant or prospective insured any options for premium financing or the periodic payment of premium from the insurer or, if applicable, the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, that are available for the insurance being purchased. This disclosure may be in the form of a written document. In the event the applicant or prospective insured elects to enter into an agreement for premium financing, the property broker-agent and casualty broker-agent shall comply with the requirements of Section 778.4.
(b)For purposes of this section and Section 778.4:
(1)?Periodic payment of premium? means the payment plan provided by the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, or a payment plan provided by the insurer that allows the total premium to be paid in more than one installment.
(2)?Arrange premium financing? means assisting an applicant or prospective insured to arrange for payment of the premium through a premium finance agreement as defined in Section 778.1.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 411, Sec. 32. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2012.)
A person licensed as a broker-agent shall be deemed to be acting as an insurance agent in the transaction of insurance placed with those insurers for whom a notice of appointment has been filed with the Insurance Commissioner in accordance with Section 1704 and is then in force.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1420, Sec. 56.5. Operative January 1, 1992, by Sec. 77 of Ch. 1420.)
A person acting as an insurance broker may, on behalf of an insurance company, collect and transmit premium or return premium and deliver policies and other documents evidencing insurance. Performance of those functions shall not be construed for any purpose to mean that the person is an insurance agent.
(Amended by Stats. 2008, Ch. 304, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009.)
All funds received by any person acting as a licensee under this chapter, Chapter 5A (commencing with Section 1759), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760), or Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1800), as premium or return premium on or under any policy of insurance or undertaking of bail, are received and held by that person in that person?s fiduciary capacity. A person who diverts or appropriates those fiduciary funds to that person?s own use is guilty of theft and punishable for theft as provided by law. Any premium that a premium financer agrees to advance pursuant to the terms of a premium finance agreement shall constitute fiduciary funds as defined in this section only if actually received by a person licensed in one or more of the capacities herein specified.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 21. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
This section applies to a person licensed, hereinafter ?licensee,? whether under a permanent license, restricted license, temporary license, or certificate of convenience, to act in any of the capacities specified in Section 1733. If fiduciary funds, as defined in Section 1733, are received by the licensee, the licensee shall do one of the following:
(a)Remit premiums, less commissions, and return premiums received or held by the licensee to the insurer or the person entitled thereto.
(b)Maintain those fiduciary funds at all times in a trust account in a bank or savings and loan association, within any state of the United States, which account is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and is licensed by any state government within the United States or by the United States government, separate from any other account, in an amount at least equal to the premiums and return premiums, net of commissions, received by the licensee and unpaid to the persons entitled thereto or, at their direction or pursuant to written contract, for the account of those persons. However, that person may commingle with those fiduciary funds in the account those additional funds as the licensee may deem prudent for the purpose of advancing premiums, establishing reserves for the paying of return commissions, or for those contingencies as may arise in the licensee?s business of receiving and transmitting premium or return premium funds.
(c)Maintain those fiduciary funds pursuant to Section 1734.5.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 22. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
(a)(1)If fiduciary funds, as defined in Section 1733, are received by any person licensed, hereinafter the ?licensee,? whether under a permanent license, restricted license, temporary license, or certificate of convenience, to act in any of the capacities specified in Section 1733, and the funds are not remitted, or maintained pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 1734, except as provided in subdivision (f), the funds shall be maintained in any of the following:
(A)United States government bonds and treasury certificates or other obligations for which the full faith and credit of the United States are pledged for payment of principal and interest.
(B)Certificates of deposit of banks or savings and loan associations, which are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and licensed by any state government within the United States or by the United States government.
(C)Repurchase agreements collateralized by securities issued by the United States government.
(D)Either of the following:
(i)Bonds and other obligations of this state or of any local agency or district of the State of California having the power, without limit as to rate or amount, to levy taxes or assessments upon all property within its boundaries subject to taxation or assessment by the local agency or district to pay the principal and interest of the obligations.
(ii)Revenue bonds and other obligations payable solely out of the revenues from a revenue-producing property owned, controlled, or operated by this state, or a local agency or district, or by a department, board, agency, or authority thereof.
(2)The bonds and obligations described in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (1) shall either have maturities of not more than one year or afford the holder of the obligation the unilateral right to redeem the obligation from its issuer within one year from date of purchase at an amount equal to, or greater than, its par value, and the bonds and obligations shall be required to be rated at least Aa1, MIG-1/VMIG-1, or Prime-1 by Moody?s Investor Service, Inc., or AA, SP-1, or A-1 by Standard and Poor?s Corporation.
(3)For the fiduciary funds maintained as provided in paragraph (1), the bonds, certificates, obligations, certificates of deposit, and repurchase agreements shall be valued on the basis of their acquisition cost.
(b)As a condition to maintaining the fiduciary funds pursuant to this section, a written agreement shall be obtained from each and every insurer or person entitled thereto authorizing the maintenance and the retention of any earnings accruing on the funds.
(c)Except as provided in subdivision (f), evidence of the funds shall be maintained at all times in a trust account in a bank or savings and loan association within any state of the United States, which account is insured by the FDIC and which institution is licensed by any state government within the United States or by the United States government, separate from any other funds, in an amount at least equal to the premiums and return premiums, net of commissions received by the licensee and unpaid to the persons entitled thereto, or, at their discretion or pursuant to a written contract, for the account of these persons. However, the person may commingle with the fiduciary funds any additional funds as the licensee may deem prudent for the purpose of advancing premiums, establishing reserves for the paying of return premiums, or for any contingencies that may arise in the business of receiving and transmitting premium or return premium funds by the licensee.
(d)All administrative actions involving trust accounts shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner. All suits involving trust accounts shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of California and the federal courts located within the State of California.
(1)Any licensee specified in Section 1733 utilizing a trust account located outside of the State of California shall be required to file and maintain in the commissioner?s office, as a condition of maintaining a license, a written designation identifying the agent for service of process in this state for the bank or savings and loan association located outside the State of California being utilized by the licensee. The designated agent shall be a person residing in this state. The writing shall state the name of the agent and the agent?s place of business in this state with sufficient particularity so that the agent can readily be found by peace officers or process servers. Appointment of an agent reasonably available for service of papers, notice, proof of loss, summons, or other process during business hours shall be continuously maintained by every licensee subject to this article while the licensee holds a valid and unrevoked license.
(2)The commissioner shall not have jurisdiction over any disputes arising between parties concerning the maintenance of fiduciary funds pursuant to this section. However, this subdivision shall not otherwise affect the authority granted to the commissioner over fiduciary funds by other provisions of this code, or regulations adopted pursuant thereto. As used in this subdivision, ?parties? shall not include the commissioner.
(e)Investment losses to the principal of fiduciary funds maintained pursuant to this section are the responsibility of the person licensed, whether under a permanent license, restricted license, temporary license, or certificate of convenience, to act in any of the capacities specified in Section 1733, and any obligation to insurers or other persons entitled to the fiduciary funds shall in no way be diminished due to any loss in the value to the principal of the fiduciary funds held pursuant to this section.
(f)Any fiduciary funds, as defined in Section 1733, received as cash, lawful money of the United States, or freely tradeable currency of any foreign government, by any person licensed, whether under a permanent license, restricted license, temporary license, or certificate of convenience, to act in any of the capacities specified in Section 1733, shall comply with Section 1734, but shall initially be maintained in a trust account in a bank or savings and loan association in California, licensed by the State of California or the United States government and insured by the FDIC.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 23. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
(a)As used in this section, a managing general agent is a licensed property broker-agent and casualty broker-agent, or a life agent to whom all of the following apply:
(1)Has a written management contract and an appointment on file with the commissioner in accordance with Section 1704, which appointment is then in force, with one or more admitted insurers covering business transacted by the insurer in a substantial portion of the State of California.
(2)Under the contract specified in paragraph (1), manages the transaction of either all or one or more of the classes of insurance written by those insurers in that territory or the transactions therein by those insurers under a specified fictitious underwriter?s name.
(3)Has the power to appoint, supervise, and terminate the appointment of local agents in that territory.
(4)Has the power to accept or decline risks.
(5)Collects premium moneys from producing broker-agents and remits those moneys to those insurers pursuant to the account current system.
(b)The managing general agent shall, with respect to any principals for whom fiduciary funds are held, comply with Section 1734.
(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 411, Sec. 33. (AB 1416) Effective January 1, 2012.)
A property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, or surplus line broker, hereinafter the ?licensee,? may offset funds due an insured for return premiums on any policy against amounts due the licensee from the same insured for unpaid premiums on the same or any other policy. Any insurer may pay return premiums to any property broker-agent or any casualty broker-agent for that purpose. This section shall not invalidate an assignment of return premium made concurrently with policy issuance as security for financing that premium, nor the right of the assignee, or the assignee?s assign, to enforce the assignment as a prior claim.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 133, Sec. 24. (SB 272) Effective July 23, 2021.)
If any acts are forbidden or conduct prescribed by any provisions of this code, such acts shall not be performed and such conduct shall be followed by both the organization and by any person named to exercise the power and perform the duties under any license issued to such organization.
(Repealed and added by Stats. 1959, Ch. 4.)
(a)Every licensee and applicant shall promptly reply in writing to an inquiry from the commissioner relative to an application for, or the retention or renewal of, a license, or an investigation relating to a consumer complaint or a matter relating to a producer licensing background change reporting requirement under Section 1729.2. The commissioner may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue or renew a license if the licensee or applicant does not promptly reply in writing to an inquiry from the commissioner.
(b)For purposes of this section, ?promptly reply? means to provide a written response to the inquiry that is received by the commissioner no later than 21 days after the date the inquiry was mailed or otherwise communicated to the applicant or licensee.
(c)For purposes of this section, the term ?licensee? and ?applicant? have the same definitions as those contained in paragraph (3) of subdivision (c) of Section 1729.2, and the licenses covered by this section are the same as those covered by paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 1729.2.
(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 312, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2006.)