Rhode Island § 27-35-9 - Insurance Holding Company Systems

§ 27-35-9. Sanctions.

(a) Any insurer failing, without just cause, to file any registration statement as required in this chapter shall be required, after notice and hearing, to pay a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each day’s delay, to be recovered by the commissioner, and the penalty so recovered shall be paid into the general revenue fund of this state. The maximum penalty under this section is that determined pursuant to § 42-14-16. The commissioner may reduce the penalty if the insurer demonstrates to the commissioner that the imposition of the penalty would constitute a financial hardship to the insurer.

(b) Every director or officer of an insurance holding company system who knowingly violates, participates in, or assents to, or who knowingly shall permit any of the officers or agents of the insurer to engage in transactions or make investments which have not been properly reported or submitted as required by this chapter or which violate this chapter shall pay, in their individual capacity, a civil forfeiture determined pursuant to § 42-14-16, after notice and hearing. In determining the amount of the civil forfeiture, the commissioner shall take into account the appropriateness of the forfeiture with respect to the gravity of the violation, the history of previous violations, and such other matters as justice may require.

(c) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any insurer subject to this act or any director, officer, employee, or agent of the insurer has engaged in any transaction or entered into a contract which is subject to § 27-35-4 of this chapter and which would not have been approved had approval been requested, the commissioner may order the insurer to immediately cease and desist any further activity under the transaction or contract. After notice and hearing the commissioner may also order the insurer to void any contracts and restore the status quo if that action is in the best interest of the policyholders, creditors, or the public.

(d) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any insurer or any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof has committed a willful violation of this chapter, that insurer or any director, officer, employee, or agent thereof shall be in violation of chapter 54 of this title.

(e) Whenever it appears to the commissioner that any person has committed a violation of § 27-35-2 of this chapter and which prevents the full understanding of the enterprise risk to the insurer by affiliates or by the insurance holding company system, the violation may serve as an independent basis for disapproving dividends or distributions and for placing the insurer under an order of supervision in accordance with chapter 14.1 of this title.