SB1607 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB097 08415 RPM 48542 b

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
SB1607

Introduced 2/9/2011, by Sen. Mike Jacobs

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

215 ILCS 5/155.43 new
215 ILCS 5/424	from Ch. 73, par. 1031

Amends the Illinois Insurance Code. Provides that no insurance producer shall use a senior-specific certification or professional designation that indicates or implies in such a way as to mislead a purchaser or prospective purchaser that the insurance producer has a special certification or training in advising or servicing seniors in connection with the solicitation, sale, or purchase of a life insurance or annuity product or in the provision of advice as to the value of or the advisability of purchasing or selling a life insurance or annuity product, either directly or indirectly through publications, writings, or by issuing or promulgating analyses or reports related to a life insurance or annuity product. Defines "use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations". Makes other changes. Effective immediately.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning insurance.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by changing Section 424 and by adding Section 155.43 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/155.43 new)

Sec. 155.43. Misrepresentation of Senior-Specific Certification.

(a) No insurance producer shall use a senior-specific certification or professional designation that indicates or implies in such a way as to mislead a purchaser or prospective purchaser that the insurance producer has a special certification or training in advising or servicing seniors in connection with the solicitation, sale, or purchase of a life insurance or annuity product or in the provision of advice as to the value of or the advisability of purchasing or selling a life insurance or annuity product, either directly or indirectly through publications, writings, or by issuing or promulgating analyses or reports related to a life insurance or annuity product.

(b) "Use of senior-specific certifications or professional designations" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Use of a certification or professional designation by an insurance producer who has not actually earned or is otherwise ineligible to use such certification or designation.

(2) Use of a nonexistent or self-conferred certification or professional designation.

(3) Use of a certification or professional designation that indicates or implies a level of occupational qualifications obtained through education, training, or experience that the insurance producer using the certification or designation does not have.

(4) Use of a certification or professional designation that was obtained from a certifying or designating organization that:

(i) is primarily engaged in the business of instruction in sales or marketing;

(ii) does not have reasonable standards or procedures for assuring the competency of its certificate holders or designees;

(iii) does not have reasonable standards or procedures for monitoring and disciplining its certificate holders or designees for improper or unethical conduct; or

(iv) does not have reasonable continuing education requirements for its certificate holders or designees in order to maintain the certificate or designation.

(c) There is a rebuttable presumption that a certifying or designating organization is not disqualified under this Section if the certification or designation issued from the organization does not primarily apply to sales or marketing and if the organization or the certification or designation in question has been accredited by any of the following entities:

(i) the American National Standards Institute;

(ii) the National Commission for Certifying Agencies; or

(iii) any organization included on the list "Accrediting Agencies Recognized for Title IV Purposes" prepared by the United States Department of Education.

(d) In determining whether a combination of words or an acronym standing for a combination of words constitutes a certification or professional designation indicating or implying that a person has a special certification or training in advising or servicing seniors, the Department of Insurance shall consider all of the following:

(1) Use of one or more words, such as "senior", "retirement", "elder", or like words combined with one or more words, such as "certified", "registered", "chartered", "advisor", "specialist", "consultant", "planner", or like words in the name of the certification or professional designation.

(2) The manner in which the words listed in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) are combined.

(e) For purposes of this Section, a job title within an organization that is licensed or registered by a State or federal financial services regulatory agency is not a certification or professional designation, unless it is used in a manner that would confuse or mislead a reasonable consumer, if the job title indicates seniority or standing within the organization or specifies an individual's area of specialization within the organization. For purposes of this subsection (e), "financial services regulatory agency" includes, but is not limited to, an agency that regulates insurers, insurance producers, broker-dealers, investment advisers, or investment companies.

(215 ILCS 5/424) (from Ch. 73, par. 1031)

Sec. 424. Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined. The following are hereby defined as unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance:

(1) The commission by any person of any one or more of the acts defined or prohibited by Sections 134, 143.24c, 147, 148, 149, 151, 155.22, 155.22a, 155.42, 236, 237, 364, and 469 of this Code.

(2) Entering into any agreement to commit, or by any concerted action committing, any act of boycott, coercion or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in unreasonable restraint of, or monopoly in, the business of insurance.

(3) Making or permitting, in the case of insurance of the types enumerated in Classes 1, 2, and 3 of Section 4, any unfair discrimination between individuals or risks of the same class or of essentially the same hazard and expense element because of the race, color, religion, or national origin of such insurance risks or applicants. The application of this Article to the types of insurance enumerated in Class 1 of Section 4 shall in no way limit, reduce, or impair the protections and remedies already provided for by Sections 236 and 364 of this Code or any other provision of this Code.

(4) Engaging in any of the acts or practices defined in or prohibited by Sections 154.5 through 154.8 of this Code.

(5) Making or charging any rate for insurance against losses arising from the use or ownership of a motor vehicle which requires a higher premium of any person by reason of his physical handicap, race, color, religion, or national origin.

(Source: P.A. 92-399, eff. 8-16-01; 92-651, eff. 7-11-02; 92-669, eff. 1-1-03.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.