LD 428
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LD 428 Title Page An Act to Modify the Bureau of Insurance Complaint Ratios and to Increase the A... Page 2 of 2
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LR 741
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
PART A

 
Sec. A-1. 24-A MRSA §216, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 314, §1,
is further amended to read:

 
2. All records of the bureau are subject to public
inspection, except as otherwise expressly provided by law as to
particular matters; and except that records, correspondence and
reports of investigation in connection with actual or claimed
violations of this Title or prosecution or disciplinary action
for those violations are confidential. The confidential nature
of any such record, correspondence or report may not limit or
affect use of the same by the superintendent in any such
prosecution or action. This subsection does not preclude
participation by the superintendent in the establishment of an
interstate complaint handling system that may involve the sharing
of information with insurance regulatory officials in other
jurisdictions and with the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners, as long as the names of the complainant and
insured remain confidential. This subsection does not preclude
the dissemination of aggregate ratios of substantiated consumer
complaints to the public by the superintendent. Only complaints
received in writing and on a form approved by the superintendent
are included in the calculation of the complaint ratio. A
complaint received by electronic means is considered a written
complaint. A substantiated consumer complaint includes any
matter in which the resolution results in a favorable outcome to
the consumer, including, but not limited to, the recovery of
premium refunds, additional amounts paid on claims or policy
reinstatements. A matter in which the actions of an insurer are
in violation of this Title is deemed a substantiated complaint.
The superintendent shall adopt rules necessary to define the
method for calculating complaint ratios. Rules adopted pursuant
to this subsection are major substantive routine technical rules
as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.

 
PART B

 
Sec. B-1. 24-A MRSA §12-A, sub-§1, as repealed and replaced by PL
1997, c. 634, Pt. B, §1, is amended to read:

 
1. Civil penalty. Civil penalties may be assessed against
any person who:

 
A. Violates any provision of this Title, Title 24 or any
other law enforced by the superintendent;


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