§1554. License denial, nonrenewal, or revocation

            A. The commissioner may place on probation, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue, renew, or reinstate an insurance producer license, or may levy a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars for each violation occurring, up to ten thousand dollars aggregate for all violations in a calendar year per applicant or licensee, or any combination of actions, for any one or more of the following causes:

            (1) The failure to comply with any prerequisite of state or federal law or regulations for the issuance of such license.

            (2) Providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially false information, or omission of material information, in the license or renewal application.

            (3) The failure to account for or remit any premiums, monies, or properties belonging to another which come into the possession of the applicant in the course of doing insurance business, or improperly withholding, misappropriating, converting, or failing to timely remit any premiums, monies, or properties received in the course of doing insurance business, whether such premiums, monies, or properties belonging to policyholders, insurers, beneficiaries, claimants, or others.

            (4) Using fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices or misrepresentation, or demonstrating incompetence, untrustworthiness, or financial irresponsibility in the conduct of business such as might endanger the public.

            (5) Misrepresenting the terms of an actual or proposed insurance contract, binder, rider, plan, or application for insurance, including all forms or documents that are attached, or will be attached, to an actual or proposed insurance contract, binder, rider, plan, or application for insurance.

            (6) Having admitted or been found to have committed any insurance unfair trade practice under R.S. 22:1961 et seq. or fraud under R.S. 22:1964 et seq.

            (7) The conviction or nolo contendere plea to any felony, participation in a pretrial diversion program pursuant to a felony charge, suspension and deferral of sentence and probation pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893, or conviction of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or public corruption.

            (8) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license through misrepresentation or fraud, or improperly using notes or any other reference material to complete an examination for an insurance license, or otherwise cheating or attempting to cheat on an examination for an insurance license of any kind.

            (9) The adjudication of bankruptcy with debts related to the receipt or transmittal of insurance premiums or other funds to an insurer or insured in any fiduciary capacity of the applicant, or issuance to the Department of Insurance of an insufficient fund or no-fund check.

            (10) Forging another's name to an application for insurance or to any document related to an insurance transaction.

            (11) Knowingly accepting insurance business from a person who is not licensed as a producer.

            (12) The procurement of a license for the purpose of writing controlled business, as prohibited in this Subpart.

            (13) Having an insurance producer license, or its equivalent, denied, suspended, or revoked in this or any other state, province, district, or territory.

            (14) The violation of any insurance laws of the United States, this state or any state, province, district, or territory, or violating any lawful rule, regulation, subpoena, or order of the commissioner of insurance or of the insurance officials of another state.

            (15) The refusal to submit physical evidence of identity or the conviction of a felony, in accordance with R.S. 22:1922(B) and (C).

            (16) The failure to comply with an administrative or court order imposing a child support obligation.

            (17) The failure to pay state income taxes or comply with any administrative or court order directing payment of state income taxes.

            (18)(a) A producer, without the consent of or a waiver from the commissioner, has employed or has allowed to associate with his business, in any manner, any person engaged in the business of insurance who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of this state or any other state or territory, the District of Columbia, the United States, or any foreign country.

            (b) A person requesting consent or waiver pursuant to this Paragraph shall do so in writing to the commissioner who may grant or deny consent or a waiver in his discretion.

            (c) As used in this Section, business of insurance means the writing of insurance or the reinsuring of risks by an insurance producer or insurer, including all acts necessary or incidental to such writing or reinsuring, and the activities of persons who act as, or are, officers, directors, agents, or employees of producers or insurers, or who are other persons authorized to act on behalf of such persons.

            (19) The conviction of a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1033 and 1034, without written consent from the commissioner of insurance pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1033, or any successor statute regulating crimes by or affecting persons engaged in the business of insurance whose activities affect interstate commerce.

            (20) If the producer is a business entity, refusal to remove or discharge any person registered pursuant to R.S. 22:1546(B) who has been convicted or pleaded nolo contendere to any felony, participated in a pretrial diversion program pursuant to a felony charge, suspension and deferral of sentence, and probation pursuant to Code of Criminal Procedure Article 893, or been convicted of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or public corruption.

            (21) If the producer is a business entity, refusal to remove or discharge any person registered pursuant to R.S. 22:1546(B) who has had an insurance producer license revoked or suspended or is found to have violated any provision of this Code.

            B. If the commissioner denies any application for a license in accordance and compliance with R.S. 49:977.3, the commissioner shall notify the applicant and advise the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial. An aggrieved party affected by the commissioner's decision, act, or order may demand a hearing in accordance with Chapter 12 of this Title, R.S. 22:2191 et seq.

            C. In the event the commissioner suspends or revokes a license, or refuses the renewal or reinstatement of a license, or levies a fine, with or without suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license, the commissioner, in accordance and compliance with R.S. 49:977.3, shall notify the licensee in writing of the determination. Any such suspension or revocation of a license, or refusal to renew or reinstate a license, shall include all lines of insurance for which the licensee was authorized. An aggrieved party affected by the commissioner's decision, act, or order may demand a hearing in accordance with Chapter 12 of this Title, R.S. 22:2191 et seq.

            D. The license of a business entity may be suspended or revoked, or renewal or reinstatement thereof may be refused, or a fine may be levied, with or without a suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew a license, if the commissioner finds, in accordance and compliance with R.S. 49:977.3, that an individual licensee's violation was known or should have been known by one or more of the partners, officers, or managers acting on behalf of the business entity and the violation was not reported to the Department of Insurance and no corrective action was undertaken timely. Any such suspension or revocation of a license, or refusal to renew or reinstate a license, shall include all lines of insurance for which the licensee was authorized.

            E.(1) No licensee whose license has been revoked pursuant to this Section shall file another application for a license within one year from the effective date of the revocation, or the date of final court order or decree affirming the revocation. The commissioner may deny the subsequent application unless the applicant shows good cause why the revocation of the previous license should not be deemed a prohibition to the issuance of a new license.

            (2) Any license which has been reissued following revocation shall be revoked for a period not to exceed five years upon a second violation by the licensee of any of the provisions of this Section. No licensee whose license has been revoked under this Subsection shall be entitled to file another application for a license within the revocation period. A subsequent application, when filed, may be refused by the commissioner of insurance unless the applicant shows good cause why the revocation of his license should not be deemed a prohibition to the issuance of a new license.

            F. The commissioner of insurance shall promptly notify all appointing insurers, where applicable, with copies of such notification sent to the licensee, regarding any suspension, revocation, or termination of license by the commissioner.

            G. Upon suspension, revocation, or termination of the license of a resident of this state, the commissioner shall notify the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the proper insurance official of each state for whom the commissioner has executed a certificate as provided for herein.

            H. If the commissioner revokes or suspends any nonresident's license through a proceeding under this Subpart, he shall promptly notify the appropriate insurance official of the licensee's place of residency of such action and of the particulars thereof.

            I. The commissioner of insurance shall retain the authority to enforce the provisions of, and impose any penalty or remedy authorized by, this Subpart against any person who is under investigation for or charged with a violation of this Subpart, even if the person's license has been surrendered or has lapsed by operation of law.

            J. Without in any way limiting or affecting any other civil or criminal remedies or consequences, any person who intentionally withholds or intentionally fails to timely remit premium payments, or who knowingly converts to his own use or benefit any premiums, monies, or other property belonging to any person or entity who applies for insurance through him, or policyholder, beneficiary, or any other claimant under or relating to any insurance policy, shall be guilty of the crime of theft under R.S. 14:67 if he had the intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of the premiums, monies, or other property, or the crime of unauthorized use of a movable under R.S. 14:68 if he had no intent to permanently deprive the rightful owner of said premiums, monies, or other property.

            Acts 2001, No. 158, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2002; Acts 2003, No. 293, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 22:1142 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 317, §1; Acts 2011, No. 94, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2012; Acts 2014, No. 70, §1; Acts 2016, No. 315, §1, eff. June 2, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 72, §1, eff. May 10, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 299, §1.

NOTE: Former R.S. 22:1554 redesignated as R.S. 22:2114 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.