Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 33. INSURANCE AND INSURANCE COMPANIES

CHAPTER 17. INSURANCE PRODUCERS, ADJUSTERS, CONSULTANTS, AND ADMINISTRATORS

Part 10. Revocation, Suspension, and Penalties

Suspension, Revocation, Or Refusal Of License

33-17-1001. Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license. (1) The commissioner may suspend, revoke, refuse to renew, or refuse to issue a license under this chapter, may levy a civil penalty in accordance with 33-1-317, or may choose any combination of actions when a licensee or applicant for licensure has:

(a) engaged or is about to engage in an act or practice for which issuance of the license could have been refused;

(b) obtained or attempted to obtain a license through misrepresentation or fraud, including but not limited to providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information in the license application or in the continuing education affidavit;

(c) violated or failed to comply with a provision of this code or has violated a rule, subpoena, or order of the commissioner or of the commissioner of any other state;

(d) improperly withheld, misappropriated, or converted to the licensee's or applicant's own use money or property belonging to policyholders, insurers, beneficiaries, or others and received in conduct of business under the license;

(e) been convicted of a felony;

(f) in the conduct of the affairs under the license, used fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices or the licensee or applicant is incompetent, untrustworthy, financially irresponsible, or a source of injury and loss to the public;

(g) misrepresented the terms of an actual or proposed insurance contract or application for insurance;

(h) been found guilty of an unfair trade practice or fraud prohibited by Title 33, chapter 18;

(i) had a similar license denied, suspended, or revoked in any other state;

(j) forged another's name to an application for insurance or to any document related to an insurance transaction;

(k) cheated on an examination for a license;

(l) knowingly accepted insurance business from a person who is not licensed;

(m) failed to comply with a final administrative or court order imposing a child support obligation; or

(n) failed to pay state income tax determined to be delinquent or to comply with any final administrative or court order directing payment of state income tax.

(2) The license of a business entity may be suspended, revoked, refused, or denied if a reason listed in subsection (1) applies to an individual designated in the license to exercise its powers.

(3) The commissioner retains the authority to enforce the provisions of and impose any penalty or remedy authorized by the insurance code against any person who is under investigation for or charged with a violation of the insurance code even if the person's license or registration has been surrendered, suspended, revoked, refused, or denied or has lapsed.

History: En. Sec. 173, Ch. 286, L. 1959; R.C.M. 1947, 40-3329; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 395, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 409, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 537, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 164, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 622, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 45, Ch. 227, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 20, Ch. 427, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 14, Ch. 271, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 313, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 139, L. 2015.