Section 26.1-33.4-02 - Licensing and bonding requirements1. A person, wherever located, may not act as a provider or broker with an owner or multiple owners who is a resident of this state without first having obtained a license from the commissioner. If there is more than one owner on a single policy and the owners are residents of different states, the life settlement contract must be governed by the law of the state in which the owner having the largest percentage ownership resides or, if the owners hold equal ownership, the state of residence of one owner agreed upon in writing by all owners.2. Application for a provider or broker license must be made to the commissioner by the applicant on a form prescribed by the commissioner, and the application must be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by the commissioner; provided, however, that the license and renewal fees for a provider license must be reasonable and that the license and renewal fees for a broker license may not exceed those established for an insurance producer, as such fees are otherwise provided for in this title.3. A life insurance producer who has been duly licensed as a resident insurance producer with a life line of authority in this state or the producer's home state for at least one year and is licensed as a nonresident producer in this state is deemed to meet the licensing requirements of this section and must be permitted to operate as a broker.4. Not later than thirty days from the first day of operating as a broker, the life insurance producer shall notify the commissioner that the broker is acting as a broker on a form prescribed by the commissioner, and shall pay any applicable fee to be determined by the commissioner. Notification must include an acknowledgement by the life insurance producer that the broker will operate as a broker in accordance with this chapter.5. The insurer that issued the policy that is the subject of a life settlement contract may not be responsible for any act or omission of a broker, provider, or purchaser arising out of or in connection with the life settlement transaction, unless the insurer receives compensation for the placement of a life settlement contract from the provider, purchaser, or broker in connection with the life settlement contract.6. An individual licensed as an attorney, certified public accountant, or financial planner accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency, who is retained to represent the owner, whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by the provider or purchaser, may negotiate life settlement contracts on behalf of the owner without having to obtain a license as a broker.7. Licenses may be renewed annually on or before April thirtieth upon payment of the periodic renewal fee. As specified in subsection 2, the renewal fee for a provider may not exceed a reasonable fee. Failure to pay the fee within the terms prescribed results in the automatic revocation of the license requiring periodic renewal. A license issued after January first is not required to renew until April thirtieth of the following calendar year. A license issued between May 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, is not required to be renewed until April 30, 2025.8. The term of provider license must be equal to that of a domestic stock life insurance company and the term of a broker license must be equal to that of an insurance producer license. Licenses requiring periodic renewal may be renewed on or before April thirtieth upon payment of the periodic renewal fee as specified in subsection 2. Failure to pay the fees before the expiration of the renewal date results in expiration of the license. A license issued after January first is not required to be renewed until April thirtieth of the following calendar year. A license issued between May 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, is not required to be renewed until April 30, 2025.9. The applicant shall provide such information as the commissioner may require on forms prepared by the commissioner. The commissioner, at any time, may require the applicant to fully disclose the identity of the applicant's stockholders (except stockholders owning fewer than ten percent of the shares of an applicant whose shares are publicly traded), partners, officers, and employees, and the commissioner may refuse to issue the license in the name of any person if not satisfied that any officer, employee, stockholder, or partner thereof who may materially influence the applicant's conduct meets the standards of this chapter.10. A license issued to a partnership, corporation, or other entity authorizes all members, officers, and designated employees to act as a licensee under the license, if those individuals are named in the application and any supplements to the application.11. Upon the filing of an application and the payment of the license fee, the commissioner shall make an investigation of each applicant and may issue a license if the commissioner finds that the applicant:a. If a provider, has provided a detailed plan of operation;b. Is competent and trustworthy and intends to transact the applicant's business in good faith;c. Has a good business reputation and has had experience, training, or education so as to be qualified in the business for which the license is applied;d. If the applicant is a legal entity, is formed or organized pursuant to the laws of this state, or is a foreign legal entity authorized to transact business in this state, or provides a certificate of good standing from the state of its domicile;e. Has provided to the commissioner an antifraud plan that meets the requirements of section 26.1-33.4-12 and includes:(1) A description of the procedures for detecting and investigating possible fraudulent acts and procedures for resolving material inconsistencies between medical records and insurance applications;(2) A description of the procedures for reporting fraudulent insurance acts to the commissioner;(3) A description of the plan for antifraud education and training of the applicant's underwriters and other personnel; and(4) A written description or chart outlining the arrangement of the antifraud personnel who are responsible for the investigation and reporting of possible fraudulent insurance acts and investigating unresolved material inconsistencies between medical records and insurance applications; andf. If a provider or broker, has demonstrated evidence of financial responsibility in a format prescribed by the commissioner through a surety bond executed and issued by an insurer authorized to issue surety bonds in this state or through a deposit of cash, certificates of deposit, or securities or any combination thereof in the amount of one hundred fifty thousand dollars. The commissioner shall accept, as evidence of financial responsibility under this subdivision, proof that financial instruments in accordance with the requirements in this subdivision have been filed with one or more states in which the applicant is licensed as a provider or broker. The commissioner may ask for evidence of financial responsibility at any time the commissioner determines necessary. Any surety bond issued pursuant to this subdivision must specifically authorize recovery by the commissioner on behalf of any person in this state which sustained damages as the result of erroneous acts, failure to act, conviction of fraud, or conviction of unfair practices by the provider or broker.12. The commissioner may not issue any license to any nonresident applicant unless a written designation of an agent for service of process is filed and maintained with the commissioner or unless the applicant has filed with the commissioner the applicant's written irrevocable consent that any action against the applicant may be commenced against the applicant by service of process on the commissioner.13. Each licensee shall file with the commissioner before March first of each year an annual statement containing such information as the commissioner by rule may prescribe.14. A provider may not use any person to perform the functions of a broker, as provided under this chapter, unless the person holds a current, valid license as a broker, and as provided in this section.15. A broker may not use any person to perform the functions of a provider as defined in this chapter unless such person holds a current, valid license as a provider and as provided in this section.16. A provider or broker shall provide to the commissioner new or revised information about officers, ten percent or more stockholders, partners, directors, members, or designated employees within thirty days of the change.17. An individual licensed as a broker shall complete on a biennial basis fifteen hours of training related to life settlements and life settlement transactions as required by the commissioner; provided, however, that a life insurance producer who is operating as a broker pursuant to this section is not subject to the requirements of this subsection. Any person failing to meet the requirements of this subsection shall be subject to the penalties imposed by the commissioner.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 282( SB 2055 ), § 8, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by S.L. 2023 , ch. 282( SB 2055 ), § 7, eff. 7/1/2023.