SB 1206

SB1206:v96#DOCUMENT

Bill Start

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 1206

An act to amend Sections 805, 1628, 1629, 1661, 1666, 1668, 1668.5, 1670, 1676, 1686, 1712.5, 1728, 1729, 1729.2, 1736.5, 1738, 1742, 1748.5, 1807.5, 1821, 1872.83, 10089.7, 10089.13, 10163.2, 10168.25, 11623, 11797, 12928.7, 15027, 15028.7, and 15029 of, and to amend and repeal Section 1210 of, the Insurance Code, relating to insurance.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1206, as amended, Committee on Insurance. Insurance: omnibus.

(1) Existing law generally regulates insurance and creates the Department of Insurance, headed by the Insurance Commissioner. Existing law makes inactive the license of any licensee that is suspended by the Secretary of State and prohibits the inactive licensee from conducting any activity for which a license is required until the licensee is no longer suspended. Existing law makes a violation of this provision a crime.

This bill would additionally make inactive the license of any licensee that is dissolved, forfeited, terminated, canceled, or surrendered by the Secretary of State.

(2) Existing law regulates the types and amounts of investments that insurers may make. Existing law establishes the California Organized Investment Network (COIN) within the department to pursue active measures to encourage insurers to make investments in California’s underserved and low- and moderate-income communities. Existing law authorizes a domestic incorporated insurer to make discretionary investments after investment of an amount equal to its required minimum paid-in capital in specified securities. Under existing law, those discretionary investments may include the purchase of, or loans upon, properties and securities, but are limited to the lesser of 5% of the insurer’s admitted assets or 50% of the excess of admitted assets over the sum of capital paid up, liabilities, and a required surplus. Existing law, until January 1, 2027, increases that limitation if the commissioner has approved the amount and terms of the investment in advance and COIN has identified the investment in an investment opportunity bulletin or otherwise deemed it to be a qualified investment.

This bill would indefinitely extend the increased limitation.

(3) Existing law sets forth various provisions for the regulation and licensing of production agencies.

This bill would specify those provisions generally apply to any applicant for a license issued by the commissioner or any licensee regulated by the commissioner, unless otherwise provided.

Existing law prohibits the commissioner from issuing a permanent license to an applicant unless the applicant has, within the 12-month period preceding the date of issue of the license, taken and passed the qualifying examination for that license.

This bill would toll that 12-month period during a review of the applicant’s background information by the commissioner for an alleged violation that would, if proven, result in the suspension, revocation, or denial of the application, as specified. The bill would provide that background information also includes a judgment or order of restitution and a judgment or order assessing a fine or monetary penalty, excluding late fees. The bill would clarify that every licensee and applicant is required to promptly supply a complete written response to an inquiry from the commissioner relative to an application for, or the retention or renewal of, a license.

(4) Under existing law, if an organization licensed as certain agents desires to change, remove, or add to the natural persons who are to transact insurance under the authority of the organization’s license, the organization is required to file an application or notice, as prescribed by the commissioner, for an endorsement. Existing law makes the license of an organization licensed as certain agents inoperative upon the removal or termination of the last natural person named under the organization’s license, as specified.

This bill would apply the above-described provisions to organizations that are licensed as an accident and health or sickness agent.

Existing law authorizes the commissioner to issue to an eligible person a certificate of convenience, a temporary permit issued as a matter of convenience to allow the transaction of certain insurance without a permanent license. Existing law specifies certain categories of people who are eligible for an estate certificate of convenience, including, but not limited to, the executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, or life agent.

This bill would additionally include in the eligibility categories the executor or administrator of the estate of, the surviving spouse or heir otherwise entitled to conduct business of, and the conservator of the estate of, a deceased accident and health or sickness agent.

(5) Existing law requires the commissioner to ensure that the Fraud Division within the department aggressively pursues all reported incidents of probable workers’ compensation fraud, as specified. Existing law requires specified funds to be distributed to district attorneys, as provided, for purposes of the investigation and prosecution of workers’ compensation fraud cases. Existing law requires the department to report to the Governor, the Legislature, specified legislative committees, and the Fraud Assessment Commission on the activities of the Fraud Division and district attorneys supported by the funds. To meet that requirement, existing law requires the department to submit a biannual information request to those district attorneys who have received funding.

This bill would instead authorize the department to submit the biannual information request to meet that requirement.

(6) Existing law provides for an assigned risk plan for automobile insurance. Existing law requires the commissioner to administer and operate the plan as authorized by law and creates an advisory committee with which the commissioner is required to consult on a regular basis with respect to policy matters affecting the operation of the plan.

The bill would set a term of 2 years for noninsurer members of that advisory committee, to be staggered as specified.

(7) Existing law establishes the State Compensation Insurance Fund to be administered by a board of directors for the purpose of transacting workers’ compensation insurance and other public employment-related insurances. Existing law requires the board to invest and reinvest all moneys in the fund in excess of current requirements in the same manner as is authorized in certain provisions applicable to private insurance carriers.

This bill would require the board of directors officers of the State Compensation Insurance Fund to provide an annual and quarterly investment report to the department, as specified.

(8) Existing law establishes the California Earthquake Authority (CEA), administered under the authority of the Insurance Commissioner and governed by a 3-member governing board, to transact insurance in this state as necessary to sell policies of basic residential earthquake insurance. Existing law sets forth the powers of the board to conduct the affairs of the CEA. Existing law requires the CEA to annually report on its financial capacity to pay claims, requires the Department of Finance to approve independent qualified auditors to examine the CEA’s books and accounts, and requires the commissioner to file a certified report of the examination with specified persons. Under existing law, the CEA’s employees are subject to civil service provisions.This bill would require the CEA to select and retain independent qualified auditors, whose selection would be subject to the commissioner’s approval, to examine the CEA’s books and accounts and would specify their retention as a duty of the governing board. The bill would require that the CEA file the certified report of the examination. The bill would specify that the CEA’s employees subject to civil service provisions are also subject to specified incompatible activities provisions.

(8)

(9) Existing law, the Public Insurance Adjusters Act, governs the regulation, licensing, and registration of public insurance adjusters. Existing law prohibits a licensee from acting as a public insurance adjuster without having first entered into a written contract. Existing law governs the form and content of the contract. Existing law requires a public adjuster who receives, accepts, or holds any funds on behalf of an insured towards the settlement of a claim to deposit the funds in a non-interest-bearing escrow or trust account, as specified, within 15 business days of receipt. Existing law makes a violation of the act a misdemeanor.

This bill would require the written contract to also include the licensee’s email address and would clarify that the licensee’s listed address is a California business address. The bill would instead require a public adjuster to deposit funds within 15 calendar days of receipt or, if the funds relate to a claim for loss or damage in an area that is or was subject to a catastrophic disaster or a state of emergency or a local emergency, within 7 calendar days of receipt. The bill would require a public adjuster to remit to the insured any funds received towards the settlement of a claim within 30 calendar days of receipt or, if the funds relate to an area that is or was subject to a catastrophic disaster or state of emergency or a local emergency, within 15 calendar days of receipt.

(9)

(10) This bill would make other technical changes relating to the calculation of adjusted premiums and present values for life insurance policies issued in a particular calendar year.

(10)

(11) By creating new requirements for certain insurance licensees, the violation of which constitutes a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 805 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

805.

The license of any licensee that is suspended, dissolved, forfeited, terminated, canceled, or surrendered by the Secretary of State shall become inactive. The inactive licensee shall not conduct any activity for which a license, issued by the commissioner, is required until the licensee is restored to active status by the Secretary of State.

SEC. 2.

Section 1210 of the Insurance Code, as amended by Section 3 of Chapter 627 of the Statutes of 2021, is amended to read:

1210.

(a) A domestic incorporated insurer, after investing an amount equal to its required minimum paid-in capital in securities specified in Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170), may make investments as it may see fit in the purchase of, or loans upon, properties and securities other than or in addition to or in excess of those set forth in Article 2 (commencing with Section 1152), Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 1190). Investments under this section shall not exceed, in the aggregate, the lesser of either of the following:

(1) Five percent of the insurer’s admitted assets.

(2) Fifty percent of the excess of admitted assets over the sum of capital paid up, liabilities, and the surplus required by Section 700.02. The percentage or dollar value of admitted assets and capital paid up and liabilities shall be determined by the insurer’s last preceding annual statement of conditions and affairs made as of the preceding December 31 and that has been filed with the commissioner as required by law. The investments shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 1153.5, 1154, 1200, 1201, and 1202 as if they were excess funds investments. This section applies to an insurer other than a life insurer only if the insurer has aggregate capital and surplus of at least ten million dollars ($10,000,000).

(b) An investment originally made by an insurer pursuant to this section that subsequently meets the requirements of an investment contained in Article 2 (commencing with Section 1152), Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170), or Article 4 (commencing with Section 1190) may, at the election of the insurer, be considered to be held pursuant to any provision contained in those articles.

(c) Pursuant to the authority conferred by subdivision (a), notwithstanding Section 1100, an insurer may make discretionary investments in shares of an open-end diversified management investment company, as defined in the federal Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. This subdivision does not prohibit any other discretionary investment, now or in the future, that might otherwise be made by an insurer, whether expressly identified in this section or not.

(d) The limitation in subdivision (a) shall be increased, at any time, for an insurer if both of the following apply:

(1) The commissioner has approved the amount and other terms of the investment for the insurer before the insurer makes the investment.

(2) The California Organized Investment Network (COIN) has identified the investment in an investment opportunity bulletin, or otherwise deemed the investment to be a qualified investment, pursuant to Article 10.1 (commencing with Section 926) of Chapter 1.

SEC. 3.

Section 1210 of the Insurance Code, as added by Section 4 of Chapter 627 of the Statutes of 2021, is repealed.

SEC. 4.

Section 1628 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1628.

As used in this code, an “organization” means any legal entity other than a natural person. If reference is made to a natural person named on an organization license, the reference shall be to a person who is named to exercise the power and perform the duties under an organization license, pursuant to Section 1656. The natural person named on the organizational license shall meet the qualifications required for the type of license sought by the organization.

SEC. 5.

Section 1629 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1629.

“License year” as used in this code shall be determined for each entity as follows:

(a) Upon initial licensing, the license year starts on the date the license is issued.

(b) Subsequently, each license year starts the first day of the month following the month in which the initial license was issued.

(c) A license year ends the following calendar year on the last calendar day of the month in which the initial license was issued.

SEC. 6.

Section 1661 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1661.

Whenever an organization licensed as a life agent, accident and health or sickness agent, property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, personal lines broker-agent, or limited lines automobile insurance agent desires to change, remove, or add to the natural person or persons who are to transact insurance under authority of its license pursuant to Section 1656, it shall immediately file an application or notice on a form prescribed by the commissioner with the commissioner for an endorsement changing its license accordingly. The form shall be submitted by a means of electronic service approved by the commissioner. The commissioner shall require that the qualifying examination provided by this code be taken by any natural person named by the organization to exercise its agency or brokerage powers who would be required to take and pass the qualifying examination. That natural person or persons and the organization are in all other respects subject to the provisions of this chapter and the insurance laws.

SEC. 7.

Section 1666 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1666.

Upon the filing of an application for any license under this code, the commissioner may make an investigation and require the filing of supplementary documents, affidavits, and statements as may be necessary to obtain a full disclosure of information as will aid the commissioner in determining whether the prerequisites for the license have been met. If the applicant makes a showing satisfactory to the commissioner that the applicant meets all prerequisites, the commissioner, if the applicant is eligible, may issue a certificate of convenience, and upon the applicant meeting any applicable examination requirements may issue a permanent license.

SEC. 8.

Section 1668 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1668.

The commissioner may deny an application for a license issued under this code if any of the following are true:

(a) The applicant is not properly qualified to perform the duties of a person holding the license for which the applicant applied.

(b) The granting of the license will be against public interest.

(c) The applicant does not intend actively and in good faith to carry on as a business with the general public the transactions that would be permitted by the issuance of the license for which the applicant applied.

(d) The applicant is not of good business reputation.

(e) The applicant is lacking in integrity.

(f) The applicant has been refused a professional, occupational, or vocational license or had a professional, occupational, or vocational license suspended or revoked by a licensing authority for reasons that should preclude the granting of the license for which the applicant applied.

(g) The applicant seeks the license for the purpose of avoiding or preventing the operation or enforcement of the insurance laws of this state.

(h) The applicant has knowingly or willfully made a misstatement in an application to the commissioner for a license, or in a document filed in support of that application, or has made a false statement in testimony given under oath before the commissioner or another person acting in the commissioner’s stead.

(i) The applicant has previously engaged in a fraudulent practice or act or has conducted any business in a dishonest manner.

(j) The applicant has shown incompetency or untrustworthiness in the conduct of any business, or has by commission of a wrongful act or practice in the course of any business exposed the public or those dealing with the applicant to the danger of loss.

(k) The applicant has knowingly misrepresented the terms or effect of an insurance policy or contract.

(l) The applicant has failed to perform a duty expressly enjoined upon them by this code or has committed an act expressly forbidden by this code.

(m) The applicant has been convicted of any of the following:

(1) A felony.

(2) A misdemeanor specified by this code or other laws regulating insurance.

(3) A public offense having as one of its necessary elements a fraudulent act or an act of dishonesty in acceptance, custody, or payment of money or property.

(n) The applicant has aided or abetted a person in an act or omission that would constitute grounds for the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a license or certificate issued under this code to the person aided or abetted.

(o) The applicant has permitted a person in the applicant’s employ to violate this code.

(p) The applicant has violated a law relating to conduct of business that could lawfully be done only under authority conferred by that license.

(q) The applicant has submitted to the commissioner a false or fraudulent certificate pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 1749.5.

(r) The applicant has been found liable by clear and convincing evidence in a civil action involving allegations of elder or dependent abuse, oppression, fraud, malice, misappropriation or conversion of funds, misrepresentation, or breach of fiduciary duty.

A judgment, plea, or verdict of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section.

SEC. 9.

Section 1668.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1668.5.

(a) The commissioner may deny an application for a license issued under this code, and may suspend or revoke the permanent license of an organization licensed under this code as authorized by Section 1738, if the applicant or holder of the permanent license is an organization and a controlling person of the organization is any of the following:

(1) The controlling person has previously engaged in a fraudulent practice or act or has conducted any business in a dishonest manner.

(2) The controlling person has shown incompetency or untrustworthiness in the conduct of any business, or has by commission of a wrongful act or practice in the course of any business exposed the public or those dealing with the controlling person to the danger of loss.

(3) The controlling person has knowingly misrepresented the terms or effect of an insurance policy or contract.

(4) The controlling person has failed to perform a duty expressly enjoined upon them by a provision of this code or has committed an act expressly forbidden by a provision of this code.

(5) The controlling person has been convicted of any of the following:

(A) A felony.

(B) A misdemeanor specified by this code or other laws regulating insurance.

(C) A public offense having as one of its necessary elements a fraudulent act or an act of dishonesty in acceptance, custody, or payment of money or property.

A judgment, plea, or verdict of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere is deemed to be a conviction within the meaning of this section.

(6) The controlling person has aided or abetted a person in an act or omission that would constitute grounds for the suspension, revocation, or refusal of a license or certificate issued under this code to the person aided or abetted.

(7) The controlling person has permitted a person in the controlling person’s employ to violate this code.

(8) The controlling person has violated a law relating to conduct of business that could lawfully be done only under authority conferred by a license under this code.

(9) The controlling person has been found liable by clear and convincing evidence in a civil action involving allegations of elder or dependent abuse, oppression, fraud, malice, misappropriation or conversion of funds, misrepresentation, or breach of fiduciary duty.

(b) As used in this section, “controlling person” means a person who possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract other than a commercial contract for goods or nonmanagement services, or otherwise, including, but not limited to, power that is the result of an official position with or corporate office held by the person. Control shall be presumed to exist if a person, directly or indirectly, owns, controls, holds with the power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than 10 percent of the voting securities of the organization. This presumption may be rebutted by a showing that control does not exist in fact. The commissioner may, after furnishing all persons in interest notice and opportunity to be heard, determine that control exists in fact, notwithstanding the absence of a presumption to that effect.

SEC. 10.

Section 1670 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1670.

Unless otherwise provided, an applicant for any license under this code, within one year from the date of the receipt by the commissioner of the application, whether or not the filing is complete, or within one year from the date of the issuance to the applicant of a certificate of convenience, if any, whichever is the later date, neither fully qualifies for and receives that license on a permanent basis, nor is denied its issue, the application is automatically denied without prejudice to the filing of a new application for the license unless in a proceeding under a statement of issues the commissioner for good cause determines the denial should be set aside or stayed.

SEC. 11.

Section 1676 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1676.

(a) Except as set forth in Sections 1675 and 1679, the commissioner shall not issue a permanent license pursuant to this chapter to an applicant therefor unless the applicant has within the 12-month period next preceding the date of issue of the license taken and passed the qualifying examination for that license. The 12-month period shall be tolled during any review of the applicant’s background information by the commissioner for an alleged violation that would, if proven, result in the suspension, revocation, or denial of the application as prescribed in Section 1668. This section shall not apply to a person licensed as a property broker-agent or as a casualty broker-agent who applies for a license as a personal lines broker-agent.

(b) An application for both the life and accident and health or sickness license types shall meet the requirement in subdivision (a) by passing one examination covering subjects pertaining to both license types. These applicants shall pay the fee for a life agent, as specified in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 1751.

(c) An applicant for a life license pursuant to Section 1626 or a life license limited to the payment of funeral and burial expenses who is limited by the terms of a written agreement with an insurer that has filed on that life agent’s behalf a notice of appointment with the commissioner to transact only specific life insurance policies or annuities having an initial face amount of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) or less that are designated by the purchaser for the payment of funeral and burial expenses, shall not be required to take the full life agent examination to obtain a license. The applicant shall be required to take an examination developed to test their knowledge of topics relevant to the type of policies that they are restricted to sell.

SEC. 12.

Section 1686 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1686.

To be eligible for an estate certificate of convenience, a person shall be one of the following:

(a) The executor or administrator of the estate of a deceased property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, life agent, or accident and health or sickness agent.

(b) If no executor or administrator has been appointed, the surviving spouse or heir otherwise entitled to conduct the business of the deceased property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, life agent, or accident and health or sickness agent.

(c) The conservator of the estate of a property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, life agent, or accident and health or sickness agent.

SEC. 13.

Section 1712.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1712.5.

(a) The license of an organization licensed as a property broker-agent, casualty broker-agent, life agent, or accident and health or sickness agent shall become inoperative upon the removal or termination of the last natural person named thereon, pursuant to Section 1656.

(b) Unless the license is reactivated by the correction of all deficiencies including, if necessary, the adding of a natural person to transact insurance under the authority of the organization’s license pursuant to Section 1661, the license shall not be renewed.

SEC. 14.

Section 1728 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1728.

Every resident licensee under this code, unless otherwise provided, 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.

SEC. 15.

Section 1729 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1729.

Every licensee and every applicant for a license shall, within 30 days of learning of a change, 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.

SEC. 16.

Section 1729.2 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1729.2.

(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 or regarding conduct or activity for which a professional or occupational license was required but not possessed; an administrative or civil action filed by, or on behalf of, a government or regulatory agency alleging any unlawful conduct, activity, or omission; a judgment or order of restitution; a judgment or order assessing a fine or monetary penalty, excluding late fees; any applicant’s or 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 person, 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.

SEC. 17.

Section 1736.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1736.5.

(a) Every licensee and applicant shall promptly supply a complete written response 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 supply a complete response in writing to an inquiry from the commissioner.

(b) For purposes of this section, “promptly supply” 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.

(d) For purposes of this section, “complete” means the response addresses all issues raised in the inquiry and includes copies of any requested documentation and records.

SEC. 18.

Section 1738 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1738.

The commissioner may suspend or revoke any permanent license issued pursuant to this code on any of the grounds set forth in Article 6 hereof on which the commissioner may deny an application. When the word “applicant” is used in those grounds, the word shall for the application of this section be the words “the holder of a permanent license.” A suspension or revocation based upon a ground set forth in Section 1669 may be without notice or hearing. Suspension or revocation of any permanent license, except a restricted license, on a ground other than that set forth in Section 1669 shall be after notice and hearing conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the commissioner has all of the powers granted therein.

SEC. 19.

Section 1742 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1742.

Where a person who is or has been licensed under this code has been found by the commissioner to have violated any provision of this code which would justify the suspension or revocation of a license held, or where a person is applying for a license under this code and there exists grounds for the denial by the commissioner of his application, the commissioner may, after hearing, revoke the license held or deny the application for an unrestricted license, and in lieu thereof issue to such a person a restricted license. The commissioner may impose any reasonable conditions upon the acquisition of such restricted license or the conduct of the holder thereof. The holder of the restricted license has no property right therein and the commissioner may, with or without either hearing or cause, suspend or revoke a restricted license. If a hearing is held under this section, it shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5, Part 1, Division 3, Title 2 of the Government Code. The holder of a restricted license is subject to all the provisions of this code and such license shall be kept in force and renewed in the same manner, at the same time, and subject to the same conditions and fees as are applicable to an unrestricted license to act in the same capacity.

SEC. 20.

Section 1748.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1748.5.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions are applicable:

(1) “Production agency” means any person or organization licensed under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1621), Chapter 5A (commencing with Section 1759), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 1800), or Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 1831), or Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 15000) of Division 5.

(2) “Subject person” means any person who has participated or may participate in any manner in the business of a production agency, or any person licensed as a production agency.

(3) “Insurer” means any domestic insurer, and any insurer that is admitted to transact insurance in this state, provided that if a subject person of an insurer is not a resident of California, or operating out of a place of business within California, then the subject person shall be engaged in direct management, direction, or conduct of the business of insurance in California in order to come within the provisions of this section.

(b) If, after notice and a hearing, the commissioner finds all of the following, the commissioner may issue an order removing a subject person from the subject person’s office or employment with the production agency and prohibiting the subject person from participating in any manner in the conduct of the business of an insurer or production agency, except with the prior consent of the commissioner:

(1) (A) The subject person has engaged in misconduct with respect to the business of insurance that has caused financial or other injury to any person, or

(B) The subject person has engaged in fraud, or willful acts or omissions involving dishonesty that exposed a person to financial or other injury; and

(2) The subject person’s conduct or practice demonstrates unfitness to continue as a subject person.

(c) (1) If the commissioner gives written notice pursuant to subdivision (b) to a subject person, the commissioner shall immediately issue an order prohibiting the subject person from participating in any manner in the business of insurance, except with the prior consent of the commissioner, if the commissioner: (A) finds that failure to immediately issue the order threatens the financial solvency of an insurer or may reasonably be expected to cause irreparable injury to any person; (B) serves that subject person and the production agency with written notice of the suspension order; and (C) finds that all of the necessary factors are present which would permit the commissioner, after notice and a hearing, to issue an order pursuant to subdivision (b) removing a subject person from the subject person’s office or employment with the production agency and prohibiting the subject person from participating in any manner in the business of an insurer or production agency.

(2) Any suspension order issued pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall be effective until the date the commissioner dismisses the charges contained in the notice served under subdivision (b) or paragraph (1) of this subdivision, the effective date of an order issued by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (b), or a court issues a stay of the order pursuant to subdivision (d).

(d) Within 10 days after a subject person has been served with an order of suspension pursuant to subdivision (c), the person may apply to the superior court of the county in which the principal office of the production agency is located for a stay of the order pending completion of the proceedings pursuant to subdivision (b), and the court shall have jurisdiction to issue an order staying the suspension. Nothing in this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize the court to issue a stay order on an ex parte basis.

(e) (1) If the commissioner finds both of the following, the commissioner shall immediately issue an order suspending a subject person from the subject person’s office or employment with a production agency and prohibiting the subject person from participating in any manner in the conduct of the business of an insurer or production agency, except with the prior consent of the commissioner: (A) the subject person has been charged in an indictment issued by a grand jury, or in an information, complaint, or similar pleading issued by a United States Attorney, district attorney, or other governmental official or agency authorized to prosecute crimes, with a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and which involves as one of its necessary elements a fraudulent act or an act of dishonesty in the acceptance, custody, or payment of money or property; and (B) that a failure to immediately issue the order threatens the financial solvency of an insurer or may cause financial or other injury to any person.

In the event the criminal proceedings are terminated other than by judgment of conviction, an order issued pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subdivision shall be deemed rescinded as if it had not been issued.

(2) If the commissioner finds both of the following, the commissioner may immediately issue an order removing a subject person from the subject person’s office or employment with a production agency and prohibiting the subject person from participating in any manner in the business of an insurer or production agency, except with the prior consent of the commissioner: (A) the person has during the preceding five years been convicted of a crime that is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and has as one of its necessary elements a fraudulent act or an act of dishonesty in the accepting, custody, or payment of money or property; and (B) that a failure to immediately issue the order threatens the financial solvency of an insurer or may cause financial or other injury to any person.

(3) The fact that any subject person charged with a crime involving as one of its necessary elements a fraudulent act or any act of dishonesty in the acceptance, custody, or payment of money or property is not convicted of that crime shall not preclude the commissioner from issuing an order regarding the subject person pursuant to other provisions of this code.

(f) (1) Within 30 days after an order is issued pursuant to subdivision (c) or (e), the subject person to whom the order is issued may choose to do either of the following: (A) file with the commissioner an application for a hearing on the order. The commissioner shall, upon the written request of the subject person, extend the 30-day period by an additional 30 days provided the request is filed with the commissioner within 30 days after the order is issued. If the commissioner fails to commence the hearing within 15 business days after the application is filed, or within a longer period of time to which the subject person consents, the order shall be deemed rescinded as if it had not been issued. Within 30 days after the hearing, the commissioner shall affirm, modify, or rescind the order; otherwise, the order shall be deemed rescinded as if it had not been issued, or (B) petition for judicial review of the order pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure, where the court shall exercise its independent judgment on the evidence.

(2) The right of any subject person to whom an order is issued pursuant to subdivision (c) or (e) to petition for judicial review of the order shall not be affected by the failure of that subject person to apply to the commissioner for a hearing on the order as provided by this subdivision.

(g) (1) Any person to whom an order is issued pursuant to subdivision (b), (c), or (e) may apply to the commissioner to modify or rescind the order. The commissioner shall not grant the application unless the commissioner finds that it is reasonable to believe that the person will, if and when the person becomes a subject person, comply with all of the applicable provisions of this code and of any regulation or order issued thereunder.

(2) The right of any subject person to whom an order is issued pursuant to subdivision (b), (c), or (e) to petition for judicial review of the order shall not be affected by the failure of that subject person to apply to the commissioner pursuant to paragraph (1).

(h) (1) It is unlawful for any subject person or former subject person to whom an order is issued pursuant to subdivision (b), (c), or (e) to do any of the following as long as the order is in effect, except with the prior consent of the commissioner: (A) to serve or act as a subject person for any insurer or production agency; or (B) to directly or indirectly vote any shares or other securities of an insurer or production agency.

(2) If, after notice and a hearing, the commissioner finds that any subject person has violated paragraph (1) of this subdivision, the commissioner may order that subject person to pay to the commissioner a civil penalty, which may be recovered in a civil action, in an amount the commissioner may specify; provided however, that the amount of the civil penalty shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day for which the violation continues.

In determining the amount of civil penalty to be paid to the commissioner under this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider the financial resources and good faith of the subject person charged, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations by the person, and other factors as in the opinion of the commissioner may be relevant.

(3) If, after notice and a hearing, the commissioner finds that any production agency has knowingly aided and abetted a subject person in a violation of paragraph (1) of this subdivision, or subdivision (h) of Section 728, the commissioner may order that production agency to pay to the commissioner a civil penalty in an amount the commissioner may specify; provided however, that the amount of the civil penalty shall not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each violation or in the case of a continuing violation, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each day for which the violation continues, up to a maximum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Continuation of the subject person’s salary or other employee benefits pending final disposition shall not be considered aiding and abetting a subject person.

In determining the amount of civil penalty to be paid to the commissioner under this paragraph, the commissioner shall consider the financial resources and good faith of the subject person charged, the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations by the person, and other factors as in the opinion of the commissioner may be relevant.

(i) Except as otherwise provided by this section, any hearing required by this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, subject to the following:

(1) At the option of the subject person, all hearings shall be a closed session and private, and the records of the hearings shall not be made public unless the hearing results in a final order adverse to the subject person.

(2) Where judicial review is sought by the subject person pursuant to Section 1085 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the court shall exercise its independent judgment upon the evidence.

(3) When a subject person to whom an order has been issued pursuant to subdivision (c) or (e) applies to the commissioner for a hearing pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), the Office of Administrative Hearings shall schedule the hearing on a priority basis at the earliest possible time and once the hearing is commenced, it shall not be continued for more than three business days without the consent of the subject person.

(4) If the Office of Administrative Hearings cannot schedule the commencement of a hearing within 15 business days as provided by paragraph (1) of subdivision (f), and the subject person does not waive the person’s right to a hearing commencing within 15 days, the hearings may be conducted by administrative law judges appointed by the commissioner; the hearing shall be completed within 45 days of commencement, unless additional time is requested by the subject person. If the hearing is not completed within the 45 days, the order shall be deemed rescinded as if it had not been issued. The scheduling of other hearings before the administrative law judge shall not be considered good cause for purposes of this paragraph.

(j) Nothing in this section is intended to or shall be construed to create a private cause of action against an offending subject person or insurer or production agency that aids and abets a subject person, based on the standards established by this section or the commissioner’s findings or orders pursuant to this section.

SEC. 21.

Section 1807.5 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1807.5.

Except as provided in Sections 1669, 1738, and 1748.5, the commissioner shall not deny, suspend, or revoke any license, issued under this article, without first granting a hearing, upon reasonable notice to the applicant or licensee, except that he may temporarily suspend a license for a period not exceeding 15 days pending the hearing. Where a hearing is held under this section the proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the commissioner shall have all the powers granted pursuant to that chapter.

SEC. 22.

Section 1821 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1821.

(a) A license shall not be refused by the commissioner without proceedings in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(b) Sections 1724.5, 1733, 1734, 1735 and Articles 6 (commencing with Section 1666) and 13 (commencing with Section 1737) of Chapter 5 apply to persons licensed under this chapter, and “insurance agent” or “licensee”, as used in those provisions, include persons licensed under this chapter.

(c) Subdivisions (a), (c), (e), (f), (g), and (h) of Section 1725.5 apply to persons licensed under this chapter, and “person” or “licensee,” as used in those provisions, include persons licensed under this chapter.

SEC. 23.

Section 1872.83 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

1872.83.

(a) The commissioner shall ensure that the Fraud Division aggressively pursues all reported incidents of probable workers’ compensation fraud, as defined in Sections 11760 and 11880, and in subdivision (a) of Section 1871.4, and in Section 549 of the Penal Code, and forwards to the appropriate disciplinary body the names, along with all supporting evidence, of any individuals licensed under the Business and Professions Code who are suspected of actively engaging in fraudulent activity. The Fraud Division shall forward to the Insurance Commissioner or the Director of Industrial Relations, as appropriate, the name, along with all supporting evidence, of any insurer, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 1877.1, suspected of actively engaging in the fraudulent denial of claims.

(b) To fund increased investigation and prosecution of workers’ compensation fraud, and of willful failure to secure payment of workers’ compensation, in violation of Section 3700.5 of the Labor Code, there shall be an annual assessment as follows:

(1) The aggregate amount of the assessment shall be determined by the Fraud Assessment Commission, which is hereby established. The commission shall be composed of seven members consisting of two representatives of organized labor, two representatives of self-insured employers, one representative of insured employers, one representative of workers’ compensation insurers, and the President of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, or their designee.

The Governor shall appoint members representing organized labor, self-insured employers, insured employers, and insurers. The term of office of members of the commission shall be four years, and a member shall hold office until the appointment of a successor. The President of the State Compensation Insurance Fund shall be an ex officio, voting member of the commission. Members of the commission shall receive one hundred dollars ($100) for each day of actual attendance at commission meetings and other official commission business, and shall also receive their actual and necessary traveling expenses incurred in the performance of commission duties. Payment of per diem and travel expenses shall be made from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Account in the Insurance Fund, established in paragraph (4), upon appropriation by the Legislature.

(2) In determining the aggregate amount of the assessment, the Fraud Assessment Commission shall consider the advice and recommendations of the Fraud Division and the commissioner.

(3) The aggregate amount of the assessment shall be collected by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to Section 62.5 of the Labor Code. The Fraud Assessment Commission shall annually advise the Director of Industrial Relations, not later than March 15, of the aggregate amount to be assessed for the next fiscal year.

(4) The amount collected, together with the fines collected for violations of the unlawful acts specified in Sections 1871.4, 11760, and 11880, Section 3700.5 of the Labor Code, and Section 549 of the Penal Code, shall be deposited in the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Account in the Insurance Fund, which is hereby created, and may be used, upon appropriation by the Legislature, only for enhanced investigation and prosecution of workers’ compensation fraud and of willful failure to secure payment of workers’ compensation as provided in this section.

(c) For each fiscal year, the total amount of revenues derived from the assessment pursuant to subdivision (b) shall, together with amounts collected pursuant to fines imposed for unlawful acts described in Sections 1871.4, 11760, and 11880, Section 3700.5 of the Labor Code, and Section 549 of the Penal Code, not be less than three million dollars ($3,000,000). Any funds appropriated by the Legislature pursuant to subdivision (b) that are not expended in the fiscal year for which they have been appropriated, and that have not been allocated under subdivision (f), may be applied to satisfy for the immediately following fiscal year the minimum total amount required by this subdivision or, subject to appropriation by the Legislature, may be used to augment funding in the immediately following fiscal year. The money shall not be transferred to the General Fund.

(d) After incidental expenses, at least 40 percent of the funds to be used for the purposes of this section shall be provided to the Fraud Division of the Department of Insurance for enhanced investigative efforts, and at least 40 percent of the funds shall be distributed to district attorneys, pursuant to a determination by the commissioner with the advice and consent of the division and the Fraud Assessment Commission, as to the most effective distribution of moneys for purposes of the investigation and prosecution of workers’ compensation fraud cases and cases relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation. Each district attorney seeking a portion of the funds shall submit to the commissioner an application setting forth in detail the proposed use of any funds provided. A district attorney receiving funds pursuant to this subdivision shall submit an annual report to the commissioner with respect to the success of their efforts. Upon receipt, the commissioner shall provide copies to the Fraud Division and the Fraud Assessment Commission of any application, annual report, or other documents with respect to the allocation of money pursuant to this subdivision. Both the application for moneys and the distribution of moneys shall be public documents. Information submitted to the commissioner pursuant to this section concerning criminal investigations, whether active or inactive, shall be confidential.

(e) If a district attorney is determined by the commissioner to be unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation fraud claims or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation, the commissioner shall discontinue distribution of funds allocated for that county and may redistribute those funds according to this subdivision.

(1) The commissioner shall promptly determine whether any other county could assert jurisdiction to prosecute the fraud claims or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation that would have been brought in the nonparticipating county, and, if so, the commissioner may award funds to conduct the prosecutions redirected pursuant to this subdivision. These funds may be in addition to any other fraud prosecution funds or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation prosecution otherwise awarded under this section. Any district attorney receiving funds pursuant to this subdivision shall first agree that the funds shall be used solely for investigating and prosecuting those cases of workers’ compensation fraud or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation that are redirected pursuant to this subdivision and submit an annual report to the commissioner with respect to the success of the district attorney’s efforts. The commissioner shall keep the Fraud Assessment Commission fully informed of all reallocations of funds under this paragraph.

(2) If the commissioner determines that no district attorney is willing or able to investigate and prosecute the workers’ compensation fraud claims or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation arising in the nonparticipating county, the commissioner, with the advice and consent of the Fraud Assessment Commission, may award to the Attorney General some or all of the funds previously awarded to the nonparticipating county. Before the commissioner may award any funds, the Attorney General shall submit to the commissioner an application setting forth in detail their proposed use of any funds provided and agreeing that any funds awarded shall be used solely for investigating and prosecuting those cases of workers’ compensation fraud or claims relating to the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation that are redirected pursuant to this subdivision. The Attorney General shall submit an annual report to the commissioner with respect to the success of the fraud prosecution efforts of their office.

(3) Neither the Attorney General nor any district attorney shall be required to relinquish control of any investigation or prosecution undertaken pursuant to this subdivision unless the commissioner determines that satisfactory progress is no longer being made on the case or the case has been abandoned.

(4) A county that has become a nonparticipating county due to the inability or unwillingness of its district attorney to investigate and prosecute workers’ compensation fraud or the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation shall not become eligible to receive funding under this section until it has submitted a new application that meets the requirements of subdivision (d) and the applicable regulations.

(f) If in any fiscal year the Fraud Division does not use all of the funds made available to it under subdivision (d), any remaining funds may be distributed to district attorneys pursuant to a determination by the commissioner in accordance with the same procedures set forth in subdivision (d).

(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations to implement this section in accordance with the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code). Included in the rules and regulations shall be the criteria for redistributing funds to district attorneys and the Attorney General. The adoption of the rules and regulations shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare.

(h) The department shall report to the Governor, the Legislature, to the committees of the Senate and Assembly having jurisdiction over insurance, and the Fraud Assessment Commission on the activities of the Fraud Division and district attorneys supported by the funds provided by this section in the annual report submitted pursuant to Section 12922.

The annual report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following information for the department and each district attorney’s office:

(1) All allocations, distributions, and expenditures of funds.

(2) The number of search warrants issued.

(3) The number of arrests and prosecutions, and the aggregate number of parties involved in each.

(4) The number of convictions and the names of all convicted fraud perpetrators.

(5) The estimated value of all assets frozen, penalties assessed, and restitutions made for each conviction.

(6) Any additional items necessary to fully inform the Fraud Assessment Commission and the Legislature of the fraud-fighting efforts financed through this section.

(i) In order to meet the requirements of subdivision (h), the department may submit a biannual information request to those district attorneys who have applied for and received funding through the annual assessment process under this section.

(j) Assessments levied or collected to fight workers’ compensation fraud and insurance fraud are not taxes. Those funds are entrusted to the state to fight fraud and the willful failure to secure the payment of workers’ compensation by funding state and local investigation and prosecution efforts. Accordingly, any funds resulting from assessments, fees, penalties, fines, restitution, or recovery of costs of investigation and prosecution deposited in the Insurance Fund shall not be deemed “unexpended” funds for any purpose and, if remaining in that account at the end of any fiscal year, shall be applied as provided in subdivision (f) and to offset or augment subsequent years’ program funding.

SEC. 24.

Section 10089.7 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

10089.7.

(a) The authority shall be governed by a three-member governing board consisting of the Governor, the Treasurer, and the Insurance Commissioner, each of whom may name designees to serve as board members in their place. The Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Rules shall serve as nonvoting, ex officio members of the board, and may name designees to serve in their place.

(b) The board shall be advised by an advisory panel whose members shall be appointed by the Governor, except as provided in this subdivision. The advisory panel shall consist of four members who represent insurance companies that are licensed to transact fire insurance in the state, two of whom shall be appointed by the commissioner, two licensed insurance agents, one of whom shall be appointed by the commissioner, and three members of the public not connected with the insurance industry, at least one of whom shall be a consumer representative. In addition, the Speaker of the Assembly, and the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Rules may each appoint one member of the public not connected with the insurance industry. Panel members shall serve for four-year terms, which may be staggered for administrative convenience, and panel members may be reappointed. The commissioner shall be a nonvoting, ex officio member of the panel and shall be entitled to attend all panel meetings, either in person or by representative.

(c) The board shall have the power to conduct the affairs of the authority and may perform all acts necessary or convenient in the exercise of that power. Without limitation, the board may: (1) employ may do all of the following:

(1) Employ or contract with officers and employees to administer the authority; (2) retain authority.

(2) Retain outside actuarial, geological, and other professionals; (3) enter professionals.

(3) Enter into other obligations relating to the operation of the authority; (4) invest authority.

(4) Invest the moneys in the California Earthquake Authority Fund; (5) obtain Fund.

(5) Obtain reinsurance and financing for the authority as authorized by this chapter; (6) contract chapter.

(6) Contract with participating insurers to service the policies of basic residential earthquake insurance issued by the authority; (7) issue authority.

(7) Issue bonds payable from and secured by a pledge of the authority of all or any part of the revenues of the authority to finance the activities authorized by this chapter and sell those bonds at public or private sale in the form and on those terms and conditions as the Treasurer shall approve; (8) pledge approve.

(8) Pledge all or any part of the revenues of the authority to secure bonds and any repayment or reimbursement obligations of the authority to any provider of insurance or a guarantee of liquidity or credit facility entered into to provide for the payment of debt service on any bond of the authority; (9) employ authority.

(9) Employ and compensate bond counsel, financial consultants, and other advisers determined necessary by the Treasurer in connection with the issuance and sale of any bonds; (10) issue bonds.

(10) Issue or obtain from any department or agency of the United States or of this state, or any private company, any insurance or guarantee of liquidity or credit facility determined to be appropriate by the Treasurer to provide for the payment of debt service on any bond of the authority; (11) engage authority.

(11) Engage the commissioner to collect revenues of the authority; (12) issue authority.

(12) Issue bonds to refund or purchase or otherwise acquire bonds on terms and conditions as the Treasurer shall approve; (13) exercise approve.

(13) Exercise the powers of the California Catastrophe Response Council created in Section 8899.70 of the Government Code until a majority of the council members are appointed; and (14) perform appointed.

(14) Retain independent qualified auditors in accordance with subdivision (d) of Section 10089.13.

(15) Perform all acts that relate to the function and purpose of the authority, whether or not specifically designated in this chapter.

(d) The authority shall reimburse board and panel members for their reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings and conducting the business of the authority.

(e) (1) There shall be a limited civil immunity, and no criminal liability in a private capacity, on account of any act performed or omitted or obligation entered into in an official capacity, when done or omitted in good faith and without intent to defraud, on the part of the board, the panel, or any member of either, or on the part of any officer, employee, or agent of the authority. This provision shall not eliminate or reduce the responsibility of the authority under the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

(2) In any claim against the authority based upon an earthquake policy issued by the authority, the authority shall be liable for any damages, including damages under Section 3294 of the Civil Code, for a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing by the authority or its agents.

(3) In any claim based upon an earthquake policy issued by the authority, the participating carrier shall be liable for any damages for a breach of a common law, regulatory, or statutory duty as if it were a contracting insurer. The authority shall indemnify the participating carrier from any liability resulting from the authority’s actions or directives. The board shall not indemnify a participating carrier for any loss resulting from failure to comply with directives of the authority or from violating statutory, regulatory, or common law governing claims handling practices.

(4) A licensed insurer, its officers, directors, employees, or agents, shall not have any antitrust civil or criminal liability under the Cartwright Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 16600) of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code) by reason of its activities conducted in compliance with this chapter. Further, the California Earthquake Authority shall be deemed a joint arrangement established by statute to ensure the availability of insurance pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1861.03.

(5) Subject to Section 10089.21, this chapter shall not be construed to limit any exercise of the commissioner’s power, including enforcement and disciplinary actions, or the imposition of fines and orders to ensure compliance with this chapter, the rules and guidelines of the authority, or any other law or rule applicable to the business of insurance.

(6) Except as provided in paragraph (3) and by any other provision of this chapter, liability on the part of, and a cause of action, shall not be permitted in law or equity against, any participating insurer for any earthquake loss to property for which the authority has issued a policy unless the loss is covered by an insurance policy issued by the participating insurer. A policy issued by the authority shall not be deemed to be a policy issued by a participating insurer.

(f) The Attorney General, in the Attorney General’s discretion, shall provide a representative of the Attorney General’s office to attend and act as antitrust counsel at all meetings of the panel. The Attorney General shall be compensated for legal service rendered in the manner specified in Section 11044 of the Government Code.

(g) The authority may sue or be sued and may employ or contract with that staff and those professionals the board deems necessary for its efficient administration.

(h) (1) The authority may contract for the services of a chief executive officer, a chief financial officer, a chief mitigation officer, and an operations manager, and may contract for the services of reinsurance intermediaries, financial market underwriters, modeling firms, a computer firm, an actuary, an insurance claims consultant, counsel, and private money managers. These contracts shall not be subject to otherwise applicable provisions of the Government Code and the Public Contract Code and, for those purposes, the authority shall not be considered a state agency or other public entity. Other employees of the authority shall be subject to civil service provisions. Section 19990 of the Government Code shall apply to employees of the authority who are subject to civil service provisions.

(2) When the authority hires multiple private money managers to manage the assets of the California Earthquake Authority Fund, other than the primary custodian of the securities, the authority shall consider small California-based firms who are qualified to manage the money in the fund. The purpose of this provision is to prevent the exclusion of small qualified investment firms solely because of their size.

(i) Members of the board and panel, and their designees, and the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief mitigation officer, and the operations manager of the authority shall be required to file financial disclosure statements with the Fair Political Practices Commission. The appointing authorities for members and designees of the board and panel shall, when making appointments, avoid appointing persons with conflicts of interest. Section 87406 of the Government Code, the Milton Marks Postgovernment Employment Restrictions Act of 1990, shall apply to the authority. Members of the board, the chief financial officer, the chief executive officer, the chief operations manager, the chief counsel, and any other person designated by the authority shall be deemed to be designated employees for the purpose of that act. In addition, no a member of the board, nor the chief financial officer, the chief executive officer, the chief operations manager, and the chief counsel, shall, counsel shall not, upon leaving the employment of the authority, seek, accept, or enter into employment or a consulting or other contractual arrangement for the period of one year with any employer or entity that entered into a participating agreement, or a reinsurance, bonding, letter of credit, or private capital markets contract with the authority during the time the employee was employed by the authority, which that member or employee had negotiated or approved, or participated in negotiating. A violation of these provisions shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 91000) of Title 9 of the Government Code.

(j) The board shall establish the duties of, and give direction to, the chief mitigation officer, to support and enhance the authority’s appropriate efforts to create and maintain all of the following:

(1) Program activities that mitigate against seismic risks, for the benefit of homeowners, other property owners, including landlords with smaller holdings, and the general public of the state.

(2) Collaboration with academic institutions, nonprofit entities, and commercial business entities in joint efforts to conduct mitigation-related research and educational activities, and conduct program activities to mitigate against seismic risk.

(3) Programs to provide financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, credits, rebates, or other financial incentives to further efforts to mitigate against seismic risk, including, but not limited to, structural and contents retrofitting of residential structures.

(4) Collaborations and joint programs with subdivisions and programs of local, state, and federal governments and with other national programs that may further California’s disaster preparedness, protection, and mitigation goals.

(5) Other programs, support efforts, and activities deemed appropriate by the board to further the authority’s appropriate mitigation and mitigation-related goals.

(k) The authority may accept grants and gifts of property, real or personal, tangible and intangible, and services for the Earthquake Loss Mitigation Fund, established pursuant to Section 10089.37, or the related residential retrofit program from federal, state, and local government sources and private sources.

(l) The Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code) applies to meetings of the board and the panel.

SEC. 25.

Section 10089.13 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

10089.13.

(a) (1) One year following its commencement of operations, and annually thereafter by each August 1, the authority shall report to the Legislature and the commissioner on program operations in a format prescribed by the commissioner. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, the include all of the following:

(A) The financial condition of the authority, a authority.

(B) A description of all rates and rating plans approved for use in the authority, an authority.

(C) An evaluation of the functioning of the authority in light of its stated purpose of making residential property insurance and residential earthquake insurance more available. The report shall also include an

(D) An analysis of the growth by market share of residential property insurance of participating insurers compared to nonparticipating insurers, any adverse consequences on the various insurance distribution systems resulting from the operation of the authority or alterations in the growth of the residential property insurance market share between participating insurers and nonparticipating insurers, any adverse consequences of the various insurance distribution systems resulting from the operation of the authority or alterations in the growth of homeowners’ insurance market share between participating insurers and nonparticipating insurers, and an analysis of any recommended program changes to permit the authority to better fulfill its stated purpose. In making this determination the board shall be mindful of the competitive nature of the market and how any decision can negatively impact insurers who are currently competing in the marketplace. The

(2) The report shall be posted on the authority’s official Internet Web site. internet website.

(b) The annual report shall include full information describing the following matters relating to the authority’s condition and affairs:

(1) The property or assets held by the authority, including the amount of cash on hand and deposited in banks to its credit, the amount of cash in the hands of servicing insurance companies, the amount of any stocks or bonds owned by the authority, specifying the amount, number of shares, and the par and market value of each kind of stock or bond, and all other assets, specifying each.

(2) The liabilities of the authority, including the amount of losses due and unpaid, the amount of claims for losses resisted by the authority and the amount of losses in the process of adjustment or in suspense, including all reported and supposed losses, the amount of revenue bonds or other debt financing issues under Section 10089.29 or Section 10089.50, and all other liabilities.

(3) Income of the authority during the preceding year, specifying premiums received, interest money received, and income from all other sources, specifying the source.

(4) Expenditures of the authority during the preceding year, specifying the amount of losses paid, the amount of expenses paid by category, and the amount of all other payments and expenditures.

(5) The costs and scope of all reinsurance and capital market contracts entered into by the authority under Section 10089.10.

(c) As part of the annual report, the authority shall make a separate, summary report on the financial capacity of the authority to pay claims made against the authority. Copies of this report shall also be made available to the public. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, include all of the following information, valued as of 30 days prior to before the date of the report:

(1) The available capital of the authority.

(2) The liabilities of the authority.

(3) The amount of all assessments previously made and the amount of assessments that may be made in the future under Section 10089.23.

(4) The amount of the reinsurance under contract and actually available to the authority.

(5) The amount of all revenue bonds or other debt financing previously issued or contracted for and the amount of all revenue bonds or other debt financing that may be issued or contracted for in the future under Section 10089.29.

(6) The amount of surcharges previously assessed against policyholders and the amount of surcharges that are currently outstanding against policyholders under Section 10089.29.

(7) The amount of capital committed and actually available by contract from private capital markets that is available to pay claims against the authority.

(8) The amount of all assessments previously made and the amount of all assessments that may be made in the future under Section 10089.30.

(9) The amount of all assessments previously made and the amount of all assessments that may be made in the future under Section 10089.31.

(d)In verification of

(d) To verify the matters set forth in the annual report provided for in subdivision (a), the Department of Finance shall approve authority shall select and retain independent qualified auditors selected by the commissioner auditors, whose selection shall be subject to the approval of the commissioner, to examine the books and accounts relating to all matters concerning the financial and program operations of the authority. The commissioner authority shall file a certified report of the examination with the commissioner, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chairpersons of the Senate and Assembly Insurance Committees, and the Chairperson Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Assembly Judiciary Committees within 10 days of its receipt. Copies of this report shall also be made available to the public. The expense of examining the books and accounts of the authority shall be paid out of the operating funds of the authority.

(e) The authority shall, within 120 days following a seismic event that results in the payment of claims by the authority, and within one year of a major seismic event that results in the payment of claims by the authority, submit to the President pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Chairpersons of the Senate and Assembly Insurance Committees, the Chairperson Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, and Assembly Judiciary Committees, and the commissioner a concise written report of program operations related to that seismic event. The reports shall include, but not be limited to, progress on payment of claims, claims payments made and anticipated, and the functioning of the authority in response to the seismic event. Copies of this report shall also be made available to the public.

SEC. 24.SEC. 26.

Section 10163.2 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

10163.2.

(a) This section shall apply to all policies issued on or after the operative date of this section as defined herein. Except as provided in subdivision (g), the adjusted premiums for any policy shall be calculated on an annual basis and shall be such uniform percentage of the respective premiums specified in the policy for each policy year, excluding amounts payable as extra premiums to cover impairments or special hazards and also excluding any uniform annual contract charge or policy fee specified in the policy in a statement of the method to be used in calculating the cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, that the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of all adjusted premiums shall be equal to the sum of (1) the then present value of the future guaranteed benefits provided for by the policy; (2) 1 percent of either the amount of insurance, if the insurance is uniform in amount, or the average amount of insurance at the beginning of each of the first 10 policy years; and (3) 125 percent of the nonforfeiture net level premium as hereinafter defined. Provided, however, that in applying the percentage specified in (3) no nonforfeiture net level premium shall be deemed to exceed 4 percent of either the amount of insurance, if the insurance is uniform in amount, or the average amount of insurance at the beginning of each of the first 10 policy years. The date of issue of a policy for the purpose of this section shall be the date as of which the rated age of the insured is determined.

(b) The nonforfeiture net level premium shall be equal to the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of the guaranteed benefits provided for by the policy, divided by the present value, at the date of issue of the policy, of an annuity of 1 one dollar ($1) per annum payable on the date of issue of the policy and on each anniversary of such policy on which a premium falls due.

(c) In the case of policies that cause on a basis guaranteed in the policy, unscheduled changes in benefits or premiums, or that provide an option for changes in benefits or premiums other than a change to a new policy, the adjusted premiums and present values shall initially be calculated on the assumption that future benefits and premiums do not change from those stipulated at the date of issue of the policy. At the time of any such change in the benefits or premiums, the future adjusted premiums, nonforfeiture net level premiums, and present values shall be recalculated on the assumption that future benefits and premiums do not change from those stipulated by the policy immediately after the change.

(d) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (g), the recalculated future adjusted premiums for any such policy shall be such uniform percentage of the respective future premiums specified in the policy for each policy year, excluding amounts payable as extra premiums to cover impairments and special hazards, and also excluding any uniform annual contract charge or policy fee specified in the policy in a statement of the method to be used in calculating the cash surrender values and paid-up nonforfeiture benefits, that the present value, at the time of change to the newly defined benefits or premiums, of all such future adjusted premiums shall be equal to the excess of (1) the sum of (A) the then present value of the then future guaranteed benefits provided for by the policy and (B) the additional expense allowance, if any, over (2) the then cash surrender value, if any, or present value of any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit under the policy.

(e) The additional expense allowance, at the time of the change to the newly defined benefits or premiums, shall be the sum of (1) 1 percent of the excess, if positive, of the average amount of insurance at the beginning of each of the first 10 policy years subsequent to the change over the average amount of insurance prior to the change at the beginning of each of the first 10 policy years subsequent to the time of the most recent previous change, or, if there has been no previous change, the date of issue of the policy; and (2) 125 percent of the increase, if positive, in the nonforfeiture net level premium.

(f) The recalculated nonforfeiture net level premium shall be equal to the result obtained by dividing (1) by (2) where:

(1) It equals the sum of:

(A) The nonforfeiture net level premium applicable prior to the change times the present value of an annuity of 1 one dollar ($1) per annum payable on each anniversary of the policy on or subsequent to the date of the change on which a premium would have fallen due had the change not occurred, and

(B) The present value of the increase in future guaranteed benefits provided for by the policy, and

(2) It equals the present value of an annuity of 1 one dollar ($1) per annum payable on each anniversary of the policy on or subsequent to the date of change on which a premium falls due.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary, in the case of a policy issued on a substandard basis that provides reduced graded amounts of insurance so that, in each policy year, such policy has the same tabular mortality cost as an otherwise similar policy issued on the standard basis that provides higher uniform amounts of insurance, adjusted premiums and present values for such substandard policy may be calculated as if it were issued to provide such higher uniform amounts of insurance on the standard basis.

(h) All adjusted premiums and present values referred to in this article shall for all policies of ordinary insurance be calculated on the basis of (1) the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table or (2) at the election of the company for any one or more specified plans of life insurance, the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table with Ten-Year Select Mortality Factors; shall for all policies of industrial insurance be calculated on the basis of the Commissioners 1961 Standard Industrial Mortality Table; and shall for all policies issued in a particular calendar year be calculated on the basis of a rate of interest not exceeding the nonforfeiture interest rate as defined in this section for policies issued in that calendar year. Provided, however, that:

(1) At the option of the company, calculations for all policies issued in a particular calendar year may be made on the basis of a rate of interest not exceeding the nonforfeiture interest rate, as defined in this section, for policies issued in the immediately preceding calendar year.

(2) Under any paid-up nonforfeiture benefit, including any paid-up dividend additions, any cash surrender value available, whether or not required by Section 10160, shall be calculated on the basis of the mortality table and rate of interest used in determining the amount of such paid-up nonforfeiture benefit and paid-up dividend additions, if any.

(3) A company may calculate the amount of any guaranteed paid-up nonforfeiture benefit including any paid-up additions under the policy on the basis of an interest rate no lower than that specified in the policy for calculating cash surrender values.

(4) In calculating the present value of any paid-up term insurance with accompanying pure endowment, if any, offered as a nonforfeiture benefit, the rates of mortality assumed may be not more than those shown in the Commissioners 1980 Extended Term Insurance Table for policies of ordinary insurance and not more than the Commissioners 1961 Industrial Extended Term Insurance Table for policies of industrial insurance.

(5) For insurance issued on a substandard basis, the calculation of any such adjusted premiums and present values may be based on appropriate modifications of the aforementioned tables.

(6) (A) For policies issued prior to the operative date of the valuation manual, any Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality tables, adopted after 1980 by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), or its successor, that are approved by regulation promulgated or bulletin issued by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard may be substituted for the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table with or without Ten-Year Select Mortality Factors or for the Commissioners 1980 Extended Term Insurance Table.

(B) For policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the valuation manual shall provide the Commissioners Standard mortality table for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard that may be substituted for the Commissioners 1980 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table with or without Ten-Year Select Mortality Factors or for the Commissioners 1980 Extended Term Insurance Table. If the commissioner approves by regulation any Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality table adopted by the NAIC for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard for policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual then that minimum nonforfeiture standard supersedes the minimum nonforfeiture standard provided by the valuation manual.

(7) (A) For policies issued prior to the operative date of the valuation manual, any Commissioners Standard Industrial mortality tables, adopted after 1980 by the NAIC, or its successor, that are approved by regulation promulgated or bulletin issued by the commissioner for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard may be substituted for the Commissioners 1961 Standard Industrial Mortality Table or the Commissioners 1961 Industrial Extended Term Insurance Table.

(B) For policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the valuation manual shall provide the Commissioners Standard mortality table for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard that may be substituted for the Commissioners 1961 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table or the Commissioners 1961 Industrial Extended Term Insurance Table. If the commissioner approves by regulation any Commissioners Standard Ordinary mortality table adopted by the NAIC for use in determining the minimum nonforfeiture standard for policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual then that minimum nonforfeiture standard supersedes the minimum nonforfeiture standard provided by the valuation manual.

(i) The nonforfeiture interest rate.

(1) For policies issued prior to the operative date of the valuation manual, the nonforfeiture interest rate per annum for any policy issued in a particular calendar year shall be equal to 125 percent of the calendar year statutory valuation interest rate for the policy as defined in the Standard Valuation Law, rounded to the nearer one-fourth of 1 percent, provided, however, that the nonforfeiture interest rate shall not be less than 4 percent.

(2) For policies issued on or after the operative date of the valuation manual, the nonforfeiture interest rate per annum for any policy issued in a particular calendar year shall be provided by the valuation manual.

(j) Notwithstanding any other provision in this code to the contrary, any refiling of nonforfeiture values or their methods of computation for any previously approved policy form that involves only a change in the interest rate or mortality table used to compute nonforfeiture values shall not require refiling of any other provisions of that policy form.

(k) After the effective date of this section, any company may file with the commissioner a written notice of its election to comply with this section after a specified date before January 1, 1989, which shall be the operative date of this section for such company. If a company makes no such election, the operative date of this section for such company shall be January 1, 1989.

SEC. 25.SEC. 27.

Section 10168.25 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

10168.25.

(a) This section shall apply to contracts issued on and after January 1, 2006, and may be applied by a company, on a contract-form-by-contract-form basis, to any contract issued on or after January 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2006.

(b) The minimum values as specified in Sections 10168.3, 10168.4, 10168.5, 10168.6, and 10168.8 of any paid-up annuity, cash surrender, or death benefits available under an annuity contract shall be based upon minimum nonforfeiture amounts as defined in this section.

(c) (1) The minimum nonforfeiture amount at any time at or prior to the commencement of any annuity payments shall be equal to an accumulation up to that time, at the rates of interest indicated in subdivision (d), of the net considerations (as hereafter defined) paid prior to that time, decreased by the sum of all of the following:

(A) Any prior withdrawals from or partial surrenders of the contract, accumulated at the rates of interest indicated in subdivision (d).

(B) An annual contract charge of fifty dollars ($50), accumulated at the rates of interest indicated in subdivision (d).

(C) Any state premium tax paid by the company for the contract, accumulated at the rates of interest indicated in subdivision (d). However, the minimum nonforfeiture amount may not be decreased by this amount if the premium tax is subsequently credited back to the company.

(D) The amount of any indebtedness to the company on the contract, including interest due and accrued.

(2) The net considerations for a given contract year used to define the minimum nonforfeiture amount shall be an amount equal to 87.5 percent of the gross considerations credited to the contract during that contract year.

(d) The interest rate used in determining minimum nonforfeiture amounts shall be an annual rate of interest determined as the lesser of 3 percent per annum and the following, which shall be specified in the contract if the interest rate will be reset:

(1) The five-year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate reported by the Federal Reserve as of a date, or averaged over a period, rounded to the nearest one-twentieth of 1 percent, specified in the contract no longer than 15 months prior to the contract issue date or redetermination date under paragraph (2), reduced by 125 basis points, where, for contracts issued before January 1, 2022, the resulting rate is not less than 1 percent or 100 basis points, and, for contracts issued on or after January 1, 2022, the resulting rate is not less than 0.15 percent or 15 basis points.

(2) The interest rate shall apply for an initial period and may be redetermined for additional periods. The redetermination date, basis, and period, if any, shall be stated in the contract. The basis is the date, or average over a specified period, that produces the value of the five-year Constant Maturity Treasury Rate to be used at each redetermination date.

(e) During the period or term that a contract provides substantive participation in an equity indexed benefit, it may increase the reduction described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) by up to an additional 100 basis points to reflect the value of the equity index benefit. The present value at the contract issue date, and at each redetermination date thereafter, of the additional reduction shall not exceed the market value of the benefit. The commissioner may require a demonstration that the present value of the additional reduction does not exceed the market value of the benefit. Lacking a demonstration that is acceptable to the commissioner, the commissioner may disallow or limit the additional reduction.

(f) The commissioner may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of subdivision (e) and to provide for further adjustments to the calculation of minimum nonforfeiture amounts for contracts that provide substantive participation in an equity index benefit and for other contracts with respect to which the commissioner determines adjustments are justified.

SEC. 26.SEC. 28.

Section 11623 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

11623.

(a) (1) To assist the commissioner in carrying out the purposes of this article, an advisory committee composed of 15 members is created. The commissioner shall administer and operate the plan as authorized by law. The commissioner shall consult with the advisory committee on a regular basis on policy matters affecting the operation of the plan.

(2) Eight members representing subscribing insurers shall be elected annually by subscribing insurers. The commissioner shall appoint the noninsurer members. The term of the noninsurer members shall be for two years. Staggered terms shall be established by drawing lots so that a simple majority of the members shall initially serve a two-year term and the remainder shall initially serve a one-year term. Four members shall represent the public. Two members shall represent producers. The remaining member is the commissioner or his or her designee.

(3) Each insurer representative serving shall be either (A) a salaried employee or officer of the named insurer or (B) a salaried employee or officer of another insurer from a group of insurance companies under the same management as the named insurer. A salaried employee or officer of the holding company of the named insurer may also be designated as the representative. At least two insurer representatives shall be employed by insurers having their principal headquarters located in California. At least two insurer representatives shall represent companies who have average annual automobile liability premiums in California below one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in the prior three years. At least one insurer representative shall represent an insurer with average annual automobile liability premiums in California exceeding one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in the prior three years. At least one insurer representative shall represent an insurer with average annual automobile liability premiums in California exceeding seven hundred million dollars ($700,000,000) in the prior three years.

(4) Public members shall be paid two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per meeting and shall be reimbursed all reasonable expenses incurred.

(5) The commissioner shall remove members for nonattendance. Unless satisfactory excuse is made in writing to the commissioner in a timely manner, nonattendance shall mean the failure to appear at more than two regularly scheduled meetings in a 12-month period. Should the member who is removed represent a company or agency, another representative from the company or agency may not be appointed for a period of not less than two years.

(6) The advisory committee with the approval of the commissioner shall appoint a manager to carry out the purposes of this article, employ sufficient personnel to provide services necessary to the operation of the plan, and contract for the provision of statistical and actuarial services.

(7) The cost of the plan, including any personnel and contracting costs, shall be fairly apportioned among the subscribing insurers to whom assignments may be made. The costs associated shall be directly attributable to the management of the plan and directly related to its programs. In consultation with the advisory committee, the commissioner shall develop, issue, and adopt regulations to carry out the purposes of this article.

(b) Notwithstanding this act, which changes the status of the governing committee to that of an advisory committee, the committee shall have the right to retain counsel of its choice pursuant to a selection process adopted by the committee and the right and necessary standing to bring and defend actions in judicial and administrative proceedings related to the plan in the name of the plan, with all powers attendant thereto including the right to retain consultants, counsel, and expert witnesses of its choice.

SEC. 27.SEC. 29.

Section 11797 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

11797.

(a) The board of directors shall cause all moneys in the State Compensation Insurance Fund that are in excess of current requirements to be invested and reinvested, from time to time, in the same manner as provided for private insurance carriers pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 1170) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 1190) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 1, but excluding Sections 1191, 1191.1, 1191.5, 1192.2, 1192.4, 1192.6, 1192.7, 1192.95, 1192.10, 1194.7, 1194.8, 1194.81, 1194.82, 1194.85, 1198, and 1199, and excluding Section 1192.9, except as provided in subdivision (d). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may invest or reinvest an aggregated maximum of 20 percent of moneys that are in excess of the admitted assets over the liabilities and required reserves in the investments allowed pursuant to Sections 1191, 1192.4, 1192.6, 1192.10, 1194.7, and 1198.

(b) (1) (A) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may purchase general obligation bonds or other evidence of indebtedness issued by the state, including, but not limited to, warrants issued pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code or notes issued pursuant to Part 5 (commencing with Section 17300) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code, in any amount and to enter into purchase contracts with the state for this purpose.

(B) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may purchase Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds, as defined in Section 26054 of the Public Resources Code.

(2) The bonds or other evidence of indebtedness specified in paragraph (1), upon delivery to the State Compensation Insurance Fund, shall, for all purposes, be valid and binding obligations of the issuer thereof, be validly issued and outstanding in accordance with their stated terms, and not be deemed to be owned by or on behalf of the issuer thereof.

(c) Notwithstanding any other law, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may invest in the discretionary investments authorized pursuant to Section 1210, but those investments shall not exceed the lesser of 2.5 percent of its admitted assets or 10 percent of moneys that are in excess of the admitted assets over the liabilities and required reserves.

(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or any other law, the State Compensation Insurance Fund may invest in money market mutual funds that comply with Section 1192.9, but shall not invest in a money market mutual fund that holds any assets in foreign investments, as defined in Section 1240. Investments in money market mutual funds made by the State Compensation Insurance Fund shall not exceed the lesser of 2.5 percent of its admitted assets or 10 percent of moneys that are in excess of the admitted assets over the liabilities and required reserves. The commissioner shall retain all remedies available, including the remedies in subdivision (d) of Section 1192.9, to enforce compliance by the State Compensation Insurance Fund with the money market mutual fund investment authority granted by this subdivision.

(e) The board of directors officers of the State Compensation Insurance Fund shall provide an annual and quarterly investment report to the Department of Insurance on investments made pursuant to this section, as specified by the department.

SEC. 28.SEC. 30.

Section 12928.7 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

12928.7.

(a) The commissioner may order a respondent to provide restitution for a loss arising from the respondent’s conduct. If the facts and equity permit, with a restitution order, the commissioner may issue an order of rescission enforceable on any person subject to the commissioner’s jurisdiction.

(b) A restitution order under this section shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) The respondent shall be subject to the commissioner’s jurisdiction.

(2) The restitution order shall be ancillary to another proceeding authorized by this code in which the commissioner does both of the following:

(A) Determines the respondent violated this code or the standards of conduct applicable to persons acting in the capacity the respondent was acting in or purporting to act in when the loss occurred.

(B) Issues an order imposing a cease and desist order, an order for a monetary penalty, or another sanction with respect to the respondent’s conduct.

(3) The restitution order shall cite the factual basis for the restitution order.

(4) The restitution order shall state the persons, or classes of persons, who suffered a loss.

(5) The restitution order shall state the amount to be paid or property to be returned as restitution.

(c) A rescission or restitution order shall be subject to judicial review in the same manner and at the same time as the order to which it is ancillary.

(d) A rescission or restitution order may be judicially enforced in an action brought by the commissioner, the Attorney General, a district attorney, a city attorney, or any person owed restitution pursuant to the order. In that action, the court may award attorney’s fees and court costs to a prevailing plaintiff.

(e) This section does not apply to an insurer authorized to transact business in this state or to a placement of insurance with an insurer that was in compliance with Section 1765.1 or 1765.2 at the time of the placement. This section does not apply to a person with respect to acts within the scope of a license issued under Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 1621), Chapter 5A (commencing with Section 1759), or Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 1760) of Part 2 if the person holds that license at the time of those acts.

(f) The commissioner may order a respondent who is ordered to provide restitution pursuant to this section to reimburse the commissioner for the commissioner’s costs of implementing and enforcing this section, including attorney’s fees. The commissioner shall not credit any funds received from a respondent towards payment of a monetary penalty until restitution has been tendered to all persons to whom restitution is owed, or to the commissioner on their behalf, as required by a restitution order.

(g) This section does not limit or restrict actions, remedies, or procedures otherwise available to the commissioner, the department, or any person pursuant to an administrative or civil action to enforce any law. It is not a defense in an administrative or civil action that the commissioner did not order a person to pay restitution.

(h) This section does not expand, limit, or otherwise affect the commissioner’s authority to seek or to have sought restitution, refunds, or penalties against insurers, except as expressly provided.

(i) As used in this section, “restitution” means the full amount that will compensate each person for their direct and indirect financial and nonfinancial losses proximately caused by the respondent’s violations.

(j) Money received by the commissioner for distribution to persons as restitution pursuant to this section or Section 12928.6 or 12976 shall be deposited into the Insurance Fund.

SEC. 29.SEC. 31.

Section 15027 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

15027.

(a) A licensee shall not, directly or indirectly, act within this state as a public insurance adjuster without having first entered into a contract, in writing, on a form approved by the insurance commissioner and executed in duplicate by the public adjuster and the insured or a duly authorized representative. One original contract shall be kept on file by the licensee, available at all times for inspection, without notice, by the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative, and one original contract shall be given to the insured.

(b) The written contract between the licensee and the insured shall contain each of the following:

(1) Title of “Public Adjuster Contract.”

(2) The name, business name, license number, email address, telephone number, and California business address of the licensee.

(3) The name and address of the insured.

(4) A description of the loss and its location, if applicable.

(5) The name of the insurer and the policy number, if known.

(6) The full salary, fee, commission, or other consideration the licensee is to receive for services under the contract.

(7) A public adjuster’s fee, commission, or other valuable consideration shall not cause the insured to receive less than any amount paid to the insured by the insurer prior to the date of the written contract between the insured and the public adjuster.

(8) A description of the services to be provided to the insured.

(9) Signatures of the licensee and the insured.

(10) The date the contract was signed by the licensee and the date the contract was signed by the insured.

(11) The following statement: “As a public adjuster, I am required by the California Insurance Code to post a surety bond in the sum of $20,000 to cover certain kinds of claims made by you, the insured. If you have any questions concerning the surety bond, you may contact the California Department of Insurance Licensing Hotline at 1-800-967-9331 or www.insurance.ca.gov.”

(12) A statement of the compensation to the licensee, including the percentage and base to which the percentage applies.

(13) A statement that the insured has the right to cancel the contract within three business days of signing it and being provided the signed contract.

(c) A contract covered by this section shall not contain a contract term that does any of the following:

(1) Allows the licensee’s fee to be collected when money is due from an insurer, but not paid, or allows a licensee to collect the entire fee from the first payment issued by an insurer, rather than as a percentage of each payment issued by an insurer.

(2) Requires the insured to authorize an insurer to issue a payment only in the name of the licensee.

(3) Imposes late fees or collection costs on the insured.

(d) A licensee shall not solicit or attempt to solicit a client for employment during a loss-producing occurrence. A loss-producing occurrence continues to exist when any of the following conditions exist at the property that is subject to solicitation:

(1) Any of the circumstances that caused the loss are present at the property where the solicitation would otherwise take place.

(2) Emergency responders are present at the property where the solicitation would otherwise take place.

(3) An evacuation order is still in effect at the property where the solicitation would otherwise take place.

(e) A licensee or any other person or entity offering, for a fee, service regulated by this chapter shall not solicit a policyholder for employment or initiate any contact with a policyholder between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m., unless requested by the policyholder.

(f) A licensee shall not use any form of contract other than that approved by the commissioner and that contains each of the following:

(1) A provision allowing the client to cancel the contract by written notice sent or delivered by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof of mailing, to the licensee by midnight of the third business day after the day on which the client signs a contract that complies with this section and is provided a copy of that signed contract. Each copy of the contract shall contain a completed form, captioned “Notice of Cancellation,” that shall be placed at the end of the contract and be separated from the remainder of the contract by a printed line. Nothing shall be printed on the reverse side of the notice form. The notice form shall be completed by the licensee, and shall contain in type of at least 10-point the following statement written in the same language, e.g., Spanish, as used in the contract:

Notice of Cancellation

You may cancel this contract within three business days from the above date that you signed the contract and you were provided with a copy of that signed contract, except that, as it pertains to a disaster as defined in Section 15001, your right to cancel is five calendar days without any penalty or obligation to pay your public adjuster, other than for reimbursement of moneys paid by your public adjuster for out-of-pocket emergency expenses for you or on your behalf. If your public adjuster seeks reimbursement from you for out-of-pocket emergency expenses, your public adjuster shall provide you with an itemized statement of those emergency expenses advanced to you or on your behalf if the cancellation is made within the first three business days after the contract was signed by you and you were provided a copy of the signed contract. Nothing in this contract permits your public adjuster to recover any costs, except for out-of-pocket emergency expenses advanced to you.

If you cancel, any money or other consideration paid by you will be returned within five business days following the receipt of your cancellation notice, and any security interest arising out of the transaction will be canceled.

To cancel this contract, mail or deliver by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof of mailing, a signed and dated copy of this cancellation notice, or any other written notice, or send an email to:

(2) The statement “WE REPRESENT THE INSURED ONLY” prominently displayed in at least 10-point type.

(3) A provision disclosing the percentage of the insured’s claim, or other fee, that the licensee will charge for his or her services. The licensee shall obtain the initials of the insured next to this provision.

(4) A conspicuous statement in at least 10-point type in immediate proximity to the space reserved for the client’s signature, as follows: “You may cancel this contract at any time before midnight of the third business day after the date of this contract. See the notice of cancellation form at the end of this contract for an explanation of this right.”

(g) A licensee shall not knowingly make any false report to his or her employer or divulge to any other person, except as he or she may be required by law to do so, any information acquired by him or her except at the direction of the employer or a client for whom the information is obtained.

(h) A licensee shall not use a badge in connection with the official activities of the licensee’s business.

(i) A licensee shall not permit an employee or agent in his or her own name to advertise, engage clients, furnish reports, or present bills to clients, or in any manner whatever to conduct business for which a license is required under this chapter.

(j) Pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (c) of Section 15006, the commissioner shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter and prosecute violations thereunder committed by unlicensed persons or entities that hold themselves out or act as public insurance adjusters.

(k) For purposes of this section, “business day” shall have the same meaning given to that term in subdivision (e) of Section 1689.5 of the Civil Code, as in effect on the operative date of this statute.

(l) The contract and the notice of cancellation set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f) shall be written in the same language, e.g., Spanish, as principally used in the negotiation of the contract.

(m) Within five business days after a contract has been canceled, the licensee shall tender to the client any payments made by the client and any note or other evidence of indebtedness, including an itemized statement of all amounts tendered to the client.

(n) The licensee is not entitled to compensation for services performed prior to cancellation, other than for reimbursement of moneys paid by the licensee for out-of-pocket emergency expenses for the client or on behalf of the client. If the licensee seeks reimbursement from the client for out-of-pocket emergency expenses, and if the cancellation is made within the first three business days after the contract was initiated, the licensee shall provide the client with an itemized statement of those emergency expenses advanced to the client or on behalf of the client by the licensee. Nothing in this subdivision shall permit the licensee to recover any costs, except for out-of-pocket emergency expenses advanced to the client. Any security interest shall be canceled upon cancellation of the contract.

(o) Notice of cancellation given by the client need not take the particular form specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (f). Notice of cancellation, however expressed, is effective if it indicates the intention of the client not to be bound by the contract.

(p) Cancellation occurs when the client gives written notice of cancellation by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof of mailing, to the licensee at the address specified in the contract.

(q) Notice of cancellation, if given by mail, is effective when sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof of mailing, properly addressed with postage prepaid.

(r) Until the licensee has complied with this section, the client may cancel the contract.

(s) The contracts shall be executed in duplicate. The licensee shall retain one original contract, and shall provide the insured with an original contract.

(t) The licensee shall provide the client with an original contract and notice of cancellation at the time the client signs the contract.

(u) Any confession of judgment or waiver of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed contrary to public policy and shall be void and unenforceable.

(v) Prior to the signing of the contract, the licensee shall provide the insured with a separate printed disclosure document in the following form that bears the name and license number of the licensee:

“DISCLOSURE

There are three types of insurance adjusters that could be involved in the processing of your insurance claim. The definitions of the three types are as follows:

(1) Public adjusters means the insurance adjusters who do not work for your insurance company. They work for you, the insured, to assist in the preparation, presentation, and settlement of your claim. You hire them by signing a contract and agreeing to pay them a fee or commission based on a percentage of the settlement, or other method of compensation. Public adjusters are required to be licensed, bonded, and tested by the State of California to represent your interest only.

(2) Company adjusters means the insurance adjusters who are employees of your insurance company. They represent your insurance company and are paid by your insurance company. They will not charge you a fee and are not individually licensed or tested by the State of California.

(3) Independent adjusters means the insurance adjusters who are hired on a contract basis by your insurance company to represent the company in the settlement of the claim. They are paid by your insurance company. They will not charge you a fee.

You have the right, but are not required, to use the services of a public adjuster in the preparation and handling of your insurance claim.

Public adjusters cannot solicit your business while the loss is underway, or between the hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.

Your “Public Adjuster Contract,” with a public adjuster representing you, should clearly indicate the amount of the fee you will be paying to your public adjuster. Your contract, with this fee percentage, should be acknowledged by your initials on the “Public Adjuster Contract.” The salary, fee, commission, or other consideration is to be paid by you (the insured), not the insurance company (insurer).

You have the right to cancel the contract with your public adjuster, without any penalty or obligation, within three business days from the date the contract is signed. If the contract was established from a catastrophic disaster as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 15001, the insured has the right to cancel within five calendar days.

If you cancel the contract with your public adjuster, any money or other consideration paid by you will be returned within five business days following the receipt of your cancellation notice, and any security interest arising out of the transaction will be canceled.

To cancel the contract with your public adjuster, mail or deliver by certified mail, return receipt requested, or other form of mailing that provides proof of mailing, a signed and dated copy of the cancellation notice, or any other written notice, or send a telegram to the public adjuster at the address in the contract.

You have the right to, and may, communicate with your insurance company at any time if you feel the need during the claims process.

If you have any concerns or questions, the officers at the California Department of Insurance Consumer Hotline are there to help you. Please contact them at 1-800-927-HELP (4357) or www.insurance.ca.gov.”

(w) No later than three business days after the cancellation has expired, the public adjuster shall notify the insurer, its adjuster, or its attorney, that he or she has entered into a written contract with the insured.

(x) If the licensee misrepresents or conceals a material fact from the insured prior to execution of the contract, the insured is entitled to rescind the contract without time limit.

(y) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if a property loss is included in an area that is subject to a catastrophic disaster, as defined in Section 15001, the insured shall have the right to cancel a contract with a public adjuster within five calendar days of signing it and being provided a copy of the signed contract.

SEC. 30.SEC. 32.

Section 15028.7 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

15028.7.

(a) A public adjuster who receives, accepts, or holds any funds on behalf of an insured towards the settlement of a claim for loss or damage shall deposit the funds in a non-interest-bearing escrow or trust account in a financial institution that is insured by an agency of the federal government in the adjuster’s home state or the state where the loss occurred.

(b) All funds held in an escrow or trust account shall be the property of the insured and shall be held pursuant to a written contract signed by the insured and the public adjuster.

(c) A public adjuster who receives any fiduciary funds shall, within 15 calendar days of receipt, deposit the funds in the escrow account and provide a written statement to the insured showing the amount of funds received and deposited in that account. If the fiduciary funds relate to a claim for loss or damage in an area that is or was subject to a catastrophic disaster, as defined in Section 15001, or a state of emergency or a local emergency, as those terms are defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code, the fiduciary funds shall be deposited in the escrow or trust account within seven calendar days of receipt.

(d) A public adjuster who, after reasonable diligence, is unable to obtain the endorsements of all payees designated on any bank draft representing fiduciary funds, or who receives a written statement from the insured indicating that he or she does not wish to establish an escrow or trust account, shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.

(e) The endorsement by a payee designated on any bank draft representing fiduciary funds shall not be construed as a waiver of any potential right of the payee to dispute the public adjuster’s entitlement to those funds or any portion thereof.

(f) (1) A public adjuster shall, within 30 calendar days of receipt, remit to the insured any funds received towards the settlement of a claim for loss or damage.

(2) If the funds towards a settlement from a claim for loss or damage relate in an area that is or was subject to a catastrophic disaster, as defined in Section 15001, or a state of emergency or a local emergency, as those terms are defined in Section 8558 of the Government Code, the funds shall be remitted to the insured within 15 calendar days of receipt.

SEC. 31.SEC. 33.

Section 15029 of the Insurance Code is amended to read:

15029.

A person shall not concurrently hold a license or registration or engage in business regulated by this chapter and the provisions of Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 14000).

SEC. 32.SEC. 34.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.