reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
SC Code § 38-55-590 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 55 - Conduct Of Insurance Business|Section 38-55-590. Annual report by Director of Insurance Fraud Division in Office of Attorney General to General Assembly.

 The Director of the Insurance Fraud Division in the Office of the Attorney General shall annually report to the General Assembly regarding:  (A) the status of matters reported to the division, if not privileged information by law;  (B) the number of allegations or reports received;  (C) the number of matters referred to the State Law Enforcement Division for investigation;  (D) the outcome of all investigations and prosecutions under this article, if not privileged by law;  (E) the total amount of fines levied by the court and paid to or deposited by the division; and  (F) patterns and practices of fraudulent insurance transactions identified in the course of performing its duties. The director shall also periodically report this information to insurers transacting business in this State, health maintenance organizations transacting business in this State, and other persons, including the State of South Carolina, which provide benefits for health care in this State, whether these benefits are administered directly or through a third person.  HISTORY: 1994 Act No. 497, Part II, Section 31A.
SC Code § 38-55-710 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 55 - Conduct Of Insurance Business|Section 38-55-710. Definitions.

 As used in this article:  (1) "Delivered by electronic means" includes:  (a) delivery to an electronic mail address at which a party has consented to receive notices or documents; or  (b) placement on an electronic network or site accessible by means of the Internet, mobile application, computer, mobile device, tablet, or another electronic device, together with separate written notice of the placement that must be provided by electronic mail to the address at which the party has consented to receive notice or by another delivery method that has been consented to by the party.  (2) "Party" means a recipient of a notice or document required as part of an insurance transaction, including, but not limited to, an applicant, an insured, a policyholder, or an annuity contract holder.  HISTORY: 2017 Act No. 70 (H.3488), Section 1, eff January 1, 2018.
SC Code § 38-57-10 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-10. Declaration of purpose.

 The purpose of this chapter is to regulate trade practices in the business of insurance in accordance with the intent of Congress as expressed in the act of Congress of March 9, 1945, (Public Law 15, 79th Congress), by defining, or providing for the determination of, all the practices in this State which constitute unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices and by prohibiting the trade practices so defined or determined.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-10 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1151; 1962 Code Section 37-1151; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 3] recodified as Section 23-9-310 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-10 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1223; 1962 Code Section 37-1202; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-10 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-20 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-20. "Person" defined.

 When used in this chapter "person" means any individual, corporation, association, partnership, reciprocal exchange, interinsurer, Lloyd's insurer, fraternal benefit society, and any other legal entity engaged in the business of insurance, including agents, brokers, and adjusters.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-20 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1152; 1962 Code Section 37-1152] recodified as Section 23-9-320 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-20 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1201; 1962 Code Section 37-1201; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-20 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-30 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-30. Unfair methods and deceptive acts prohibited.

 No person may engage, in this State, in any trade practice which is defined in this chapter as, or determined pursuant to this chapter to be, an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-30 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1153; 1962 Code Section 37-1153] recodified as Section 23-9-330 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-30 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1204; 1962 Code Section 37-1203; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-30 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-40 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-40. Misrepresentation or false advertising of policies prohibited.

 No person may make, issue, circulate, or cause to be made, issued, or circulated any estimate, proposal, circular, or statement misrepresenting the terms of a policy issued or to be issued or the benefits or advantages represented thereby or the dividends or share of the surplus to be received thereon, or make a false or misleading statement as to the dividend or share of surplus previously paid on similar policies or make a misrepresentation as to the financial condition of an insurer or as to the legal reserve system upon which an insurer operates or use any name or title of a policy or class of policies misrepresenting the true nature thereof.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-40 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1154; 1962 Code Section 37-1154; 1978 Act No. 585, Section 4] recodified as Section 23-9-340 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-40 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1204; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-40 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-45 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-45. Use of state seal prohibited in advertising or promotion unless expressly approved; state endorsement disclaimer required on solicitation to state employees.

 (A) No insurance agency, insurer, or health maintenance organization may make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine, or other solicitation material, an advertisement, representation, or statement with respect to the business of insurance which utilizes the Seal of South Carolina or any symbol which contains, includes, or is derivative of the Seal of South Carolina without the approval of the State Budget and Control Board.  (B) An insurance agency, an insurer, or a health maintenance organization must include in a prominent manner in solicitation material it utilizes specifically directed at and distributed to state employees a statement that the insurance program or health maintenance program is not officially endorsed by the State unless the program officially has been endorsed by the Budget and Control Board.  HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 131, Section 1.  Code Commissioner's Note  At the direction of the Code Commissioner, reference in this section to the former Budget and Control Board has not been changed pursuant to the directive of the South Carolina Restructuring Act, 2014 Act No. 121, Section 5(D)(1), until further action by the General Assembly.
SC Code § 38-57-50 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-50. False information or advertising as to insurance business prohibited.

 No person may make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or place before the public or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public, in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, in the form of a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio station, television, or in any other way, an advertisement, announcement, or statement containing an assertion, representation, or statement with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of his insurance business which is untrue, deceptive, or misleading.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-50 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1155; 1962 Code Section 37-1155; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 5] recodified as Section 23-9-350 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-50 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1205; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-50 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-60 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-60. Fraudulently inducing insured to change, alter, or retain insurance prohibited.

 No person may make a false, misleading, fraudulent, or incomplete representation or comparison of insurance policies or insurers for the purpose of inducing or intending to induce any person to lapse, forfeit, surrender, terminate, retain, or convert an insurance policy or to take out a policy in another insurer.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-60 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1156; 1962 Code Section 37-1156; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 6] recodified as Section 23-9-360 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-60 [1962 Code Section 37-1206; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-60 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-70 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-70. Misrepresentations in adjustment of claims prohibited.

 No person may, in connection with adjusting any claim, loss, or damage under a contract or policy of insurance, misrepresent to an insured, or any other person having an interest in the proceeds payable under the contract or policy the terms, coverage or effect of the contract or policy, for the purpose and with the intent of effecting settlement of the claim, loss, or damage under the contract or policy on less favorable terms than those provided in and contemplated by the contract or policy.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-70 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1157; 1962 Code Section 37-1157] recodified as Section 23-9-370 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-70 [1962 Code Section 37-1207; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-70 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-80 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-80. False financial statements prohibited.

 (1) No person may file with any supervisory or other public official, or make, publish, disseminate, circulate, or deliver to any person, or place before the public, or cause, directly or indirectly, to be made, published, disseminated, circulated, or delivered to any person or placed before the public, any false statement of financial condition of an insurer with intent to deceive.  (2) No person may make a false entry in a book, report, or statement of an insurer with intent to deceive an agent or examiner lawfully appointed to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs or any public official to whom the insurer is required by law to report or who has authority by law to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs or, with like intent, wilfully omit to make a true entry of any material fact pertaining to the business of the insurer in any book, report, or statement of the insurer.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-80 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1158; 1962 Code Section 37-1158; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 7] recodified as Section 23-9-380 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-80 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1208; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-80 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-90 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-90. Defamation prohibited.

 No person may make, publish, circulate, or disseminate, directly or indirectly, or aid, abet, or encourage the making, publishing, circulating, or disseminating of any oral or written statement or any pamphlet, circular, article, or literature which is false or maliciously critical of or derogatory to the financial condition of an insurer or of an organization proposing to become an insurer and which is calculated to injure any person engaged or proposing to engage in the business of insurance.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-90 [1962 Code Section 37-1158.1; 1964 (53) 2057; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 8] recodified as Section 23-9-390 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-90 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1209; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-90 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-100 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-100. Boycotts, intimidation, and coercion prohibited.

 No person may enter into an agreement to commit, or by any concerted action commit, any act of boycott, coercion, or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in unreasonable restraint of, or monopoly in, the business of insurance.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-100 [1962 Code Section 37-1158.2; 1964 (53) 2057; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 9] recodified as Section 23-9-400 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-100 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1210; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-100 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-110 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-110. Coercion of business by sellers or lenders prohibited.

 (1) No lender, vendor, or person engaged in selling real or personal property or the financing thereof or the lending of money on the security thereof, and no trustee, agent, officer, or other employee of any such person, may require, as a condition precedent, concurrent, or subsequent to the sale or financing the purchase of such property or to lending money upon the security of a mortgage thereon or as a condition precedent, concurrent, or subsequent for the renewal or extension of the loan or mortgage, that the purchaser or borrower negotiate a policy of insurance or renewal thereof covering the property through a particular insurer or agent.  (2) This section does not prevent a mortgagee, real or chattel, of the right to designate reasonable financial requirements of the insurer and adequacy of the terms and provisions of the coverage with respect to the property pledged or mortgaged. A requirement that the insurer providing coverage be a particular type of insurer is not considered a reasonable financial requirement, if the insurer issues nonassessable policies and otherwise meets reasonable financial requirements.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-110 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1159; 1962 Code Section 37-1159; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 10] recodified as Section 38-7-70 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-110 [1962 Code Section 37-1211; 1964 (53) 2293; 1969 (56) 214, 760] recodified as Section 38-57-110 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-120 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-120. Unfair discrimination in life insurance, annuities, and disability insurance prohibited.

 (1) No person may make or permit any unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and equal expectation of life in the rates charged for any contract of life insurance or of life annuity or in the dividends or other benefits payable thereon or in any other of the terms and conditions of the contract.  (2) No person may make or permit any unfair discrimination between individuals of the same class and of essentially the same hazard in the amount of premium, policy fees, or rates charged for any policy or contract of disability insurance or in the benefits payable thereunder or in any of the terms or conditions of the contract or in any other manner.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-120 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1160; 1962 Code Section 37-1160; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 11] recodified as Section 38-7-40 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-120 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1212; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-120 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1.
SC Code § 38-57-130 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-130. Misrepresentations, special inducements, and rebates prohibited on all insurance contracts.

 (1) No person may make, issue, circulate, or cause to be made, issued, or circulated any estimate, illustration, circular statement misrepresenting the terms of any policy issued or to be issued, the benefits or advantages promised thereby, or the dividends or share of the surplus to be received thereon.  (2) No person may make any false or misleading statement as to the dividends or share of surplus previously paid on similar policies.  (3) No person may pay, allow, or give or offer to pay, allow, or give, directly or indirectly, as inducement to the purchase or the renewal of an insurance contract, any rebate of premiums payable on the contract, any special favor or advantage in any benefits payable thereon, or any valuable consideration or inducement that is not specified in the contract.  (4) Nothing in this section may be construed to:  (a) permit an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice; or  (b) prohibit an insurer from offering or giving an insured, for free or at a discounted price, services or other offerings that directly and reasonably relate to the loss control of the risks covered under the policy.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-130 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1161; 1962 Code Section 37-1161; 1978 Act No. 585 Section 13] recodified as Section 38-7-80 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-130 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1213; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-130 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 2019 Act No. 6 (S.360), Section 8.A, eff July 1, 2019.  Effect of Amendment  2019 Act No. 6, Section 8.A, added (4), clarifying that certain practices are prohibited.
SC Code § 38-57-140 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-140. Discrimination and rebating permitted in life insurance, annuities, and disability insurance.

 Nothing in Sections 38-57-120 and 38-57-130 may be construed as including within the definition of discrimination or rebates any of the following practices:  (1) In the case of any contract of life insurance, life annuity, or disability insurance, paying bonuses to policyholders or otherwise abating their premiums in whole or in part out of surplus accumulated from nonparticipating insurance. However, these bonuses or abatement of premiums must be fair and equitable to policyholders and for the best interests of the insurer and its policyholders.  (2) In the case of life insurance and disability policies issued on the debit plan, making allowance to policyholders who have continuously for a specified period made premium payments directly to an office of the insurer in an amount which fairly represents the saving in collection expense.  (3) Readjustment of the rate of premium for a group insurance policy based on the loss or expense experience thereunder, at the end of the first or any subsequent policy year of insurance thereunder, which may be made retroactive only for the policy year.  (4) Issuing life or disability insurance policies on a salary savings, bank draft, preauthorized check, or payroll deduction plan or other similar plan at a reduced rate reasonably related to the savings made by the use of the plan.  (5) Nothing in this section may be construed to:  (a) permit an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice; or  (b) prohibit an insurer from offering or giving an insured, for free or at a discounted price, services or other offerings that directly and reasonably relate to the loss control of the risks covered under the policy.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-140 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1162; 1962 Code Section 37-1162] recodified as Section 38-7-80 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-140 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1203; 1962 Code Section 37-1214; 1964 (53) 2293] recodified as Section 38-57-140 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 2019 Act No. 6 (S.360), Section 8.B, eff July 1, 2019.  Effect of Amendment  2019 Act No. 6, Section 8.B, added (5), clarifying that certain practices are prohibited.
SC Code § 38-57-150 (2021)
2021 South Carolina Code of Laws|Title 38 - Insurance|Chapter 57 - Trade Practices|Section 38-57-150. Inducements prohibited; exception.

 (1) No policy or annuity contract may provide for, and no person may engage in any of the following, as an inducement to the purchaser or in connection with or as reference to the policy or annuity contract, directly or indirectly:  (a) Paying, allowing, giving, or offering any paid employment or contract for services of any kind.  (b) Giving, selling, or purchasing or offering or agreeing to give, sell, purchase, allow, or provide for any agreement promising returns and profits, or any stock, bonds, or other securities, including trading stamps or other properties or present or contingent interest therein of any insurer or other corporation, association, partnership, or person, or any dividends or profits accrued thereon.  (c) Giving, allowing, arranging for, or offering any advisory board contract, or similar contract, promising returns and profits.  (2) Subsection (1) does not prohibit a licensed agent who is registered under Chapter 1, Title 35 from offering to sell shares of or interests in mutual funds in connection with or as reference to a policy or annuity contract if the agent, at the time of the offer, gives the prospective buyer a written prospectus which has been filed with and approved by the director or his designee and the Securities Commissioner.  (3) Nothing in this section may be construed to:  (a) permit an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice; or  (b) prohibit an insurer from offering or giving an insured, for free or at a discounted price, services or other offerings that directly and reasonably relate to the loss control of the risks covered under the policy.  HISTORY: Former 1976 Code Section 38-57-150 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1163; 1962 Code Section 37-1163; 1978 Act No. 585, Section 13] has no comparable provisions in 1987 Act No. 155; Former 1976 Code Section 38-55-150 [1947 (45) 322; 1952 Code Section 37-1202; 1962 Code Section 37-1215; 1964 (53) 2293; 1968 (55) 2500] recodified as Section 38-57-150 by 1987 Act No. 155, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 710; 2019 Act No. 6 (S.360), Section 8.C, eff July 1, 2019.  Effect of Amendment  2019 Act No. 6, Section 8.C, added (3), clarifying that certain practices are prohibited.