Illinois § 401.5

§ 401.5.

Investigation of insurance law violations. (a) If the Director of Insurance has cause to believe that a person has engaged in, or is engaging in, an act, activity, or practice that constitutes a business offense, misdemeanor, or felony violation of the Illinois Insurance Code or related insurance laws, he or she shall designate appropriate investigators or agents to investigate the violations. For purposes of carrying out investigations under this Section, the Department of Insurance is deemed a criminal justice agency under all federal and State laws and regulations, and as such shall have access to any information that concerns or relates to a violation of the Illinois Insurance Code or related insurance laws and that is available to criminal justice agencies. (b) The Director of Insurance may transmit or receive written or oral information relating to possible violations of the insurance laws of this State received by or from any other criminal justice agencies, whether federal, State, or local, if, in the opinion of the Director, the transmittal is appropriate and may further the effective prevention of criminal activities. (c) The Department of Insurance's papers, documents, reports, or evidence relevant to the subject of an investigation under this Section is not subject to public inspection for so long as the Department deems reasonably necessary to complete the investigation, to protect the person investigated from unwarranted injury, or to be in the public interest. Further, the papers, documents, reports, or evidence relevant to the subject of an investigation under this Section is not subject to subpoena until opened for public inspection by the Department, unless the Department consents, or until, after notice to the Department and a hearing, the court determines the Department would not be unnecessarily hindered by the subpoena. No officer, agent, or employee of the Department is subject to subpoena in civil actions by a court of this State to testify concerning a matter of which they have knowledge under a pending insurance fraud investigation by the Department. (d) No insurer, or employees or agents of an insurer, are subject to civil liability for libel or otherwise by virtue of furnishing information required by the insurance laws of this State or required by the Department of Insurance as a result of its investigation. No cause of action exists and no liability may be imposed, either civil or criminal, against the State, the Director, any officer, agent, or employee of the Department of Insurance, or individuals employed or retained by the Director, for an act or omission by them in the performance of a power or duty authorized by this Section, unless the act or omission was performed in bad faith and with intent to injure a particular person. (e) The powers vested in the Director by this Section are additional to other powers and remedies vested in the Director by law, and nothing in this Section shall be construed as requiring that the Director shall employ the powers conferred in this Section instead of or as a condition precedent to the exercise of any other power or remedy vested in the Director. The Director may establish systems and procedures for carrying out investigations under this Section as are necessary to avoid the impairment or compromise of his or her authority under this Section or any other law relating to the regulation of insurance. (Source: P.A. 89-234, eff. 1-1-96.)