§1654. Grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation of license

            A. The commissioner shall suspend or revoke the license of an administrator, deny the application for a license, or, in lieu thereof, impose a fine for each separate violation not to exceed five thousand dollars per violation or twenty-five thousand dollars in the aggregate if the commissioner finds that the administrator:

            (1) Is using methods or practices in the conduct of its business that render its further transaction of business in this state hazardous or injurious to insured persons or the public.

            (2) Has failed to pay any judgment rendered against it in this state within sixty days after the judgment has become final.

            B. The commissioner may suspend or revoke the license of an administrator, deny the application for a license, or, in lieu thereof, impose a fine not to exceed five thousand dollars per violation or twenty-five thousand dollars in the aggregate, if the commissioner finds that the administrator:

            (1) Has violated any lawful rule or order of the commissioner or any provision of the insurance laws of this state.

            (2) Has refused to be examined or to produce its accounts, records, and files for examination or if any of its officers has refused to give information with respect to its affairs or has refused to perform any other legal obligations as to such examination, when required by the commissioner.

            (3) Has, without just cause, refused to pay proper claims or perform services arising under its contracts or has, without just cause, caused covered individuals to accept less than the amount due them or caused covered individuals to employ attorneys or bring suit against the administrator to secure full payment or settlement of such claims.

            (4) Is affiliated with or under the same general management or interlocking directorate or ownership as another administrator or insurer which unlawfully transacts business in this state without having a certificate of authority.

            (5) At any time fails to meet any qualification for which issuance of the license could have been refused had such failure then existed and been known to the commissioner.

            (6) Has been convicted of, or has entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony without regard to whether adjudication was withheld.

            (7) Is under suspension or revocation in another state.

            (8) Has provided incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially false information or omitted material information in the license application or annual report.

            C. The commissioner may, in his discretion and without advance notice or hearing thereon, immediately suspend the certificate of any administrator if the commissioner finds that either of the following circumstances exist:

            (1) A proceeding for receivership, conservatorship, rehabilitation, or other delinquency proceeding regarding the administrator has been commenced in any state.

            (2) The financial condition or business practices of the administrator otherwise pose an imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of this state.

            Acts 1993, No. 144, §1; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 71, §1, eff. May 10, 1996; Redesignated from R.S. 22:3044 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2011, No. 94, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2018, No. 101, §1; Acts 2022, No. 320, §1.