reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-411 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-411 - Articles of Incorporation of Society

    (a)    The incorporators shall sign and acknowledge the articles of incorporation.    (b)    The articles of incorporation shall include:        (1)    the purpose for which the society is being formed and the manner in which its corporate powers are to be exercised;        (2)    the name of the society;        (3)    the name, address, and state of residence of each incorporator; and        (4)    the name, address, residence, and official title of each officer, trustee, director, and any other individual who will have general control of the management of the affairs and funds of the society for the first year and until the first election.    (c)    (1)    The powers set forth in the articles of incorporation may not exceed the powers granted to societies by this subtitle.        (2)    The purposes of a society may include any lawful social, intellectual, educational, charitable, benevolent, moral, fraternal, or religious activity.    (d)    The name of a society may not be misleadingly or confusingly similar to the name of any other society or insurer.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-412 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-412 - Filing Requirements

    (a)    The incorporators shall file with the Commissioner:        (1)    the articles of incorporation of the society;        (2)    certified copies of the society’s laws and rules;        (3)    copies of all proposed:            (i)    forms of certificates;            (ii)    applications for certificates; and            (iii)    circulars to be issued by the society; and        (4)    a bond conditioned on the return to applicants of advance premiums if the organization of the society is not completed within 1 year.    (b)    The Commissioner may require any additional information that the Commissioner considers necessary.    (c)    The bond required under subsection (a) of this section must:        (1)    be issued by a surety insurer approved by the Commissioner; and        (2)    be in the amount required by the Commissioner, but not less than $300,000 nor more than $1,500,000.    (d)    Each document filed shall be in the English language.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-413 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-413 - Minimum Capital

    (a)    Each society that applies on or after July 1, 1968, for an initial certificate of authority under this subtitle must have working capital of at least $125,000.    (b)    After issuance of its initial certificate of authority, a society described in subsection (a) of this section shall maintain unencumbered assets that exceed all liabilities by $100,000.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-414 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-414 - Preliminary Certificate of Authority

    If a society complies with this subtitle, the Commissioner shall:         (1)    certify, retain, and record the articles of incorporation of the society; and        (2)    provide the incorporators with a preliminary certificate of authority that authorizes the society to solicit members as provided in this subtitle.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-415 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-415 - Completing Organization of Society

    (a)    (1)    After receiving a preliminary certificate of authority from the Commissioner, a society may solicit members for the purposes of completing its organization.        (2)    Until the society complies with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section, the society may not:            (i)    incur any liability other than for the return of an advance premium;            (ii)    issue any certificate; or            (iii)    pay, allow, or offer or promise to pay or allow any death or disability benefit.    (b)    Each society shall:        (1)    secure bona fide applications for death benefits in an aggregate amount of at least $500,000 on at least 500 lives;        (2)    receive from each applicant evidence of insurability satisfactory to the society;        (3)    have on file certificates of examination or acceptable declarations of insurability approved by the society’s chief medical examiner;        (4)    collect from each applicant the amount of at least one regular monthly premium under the society’s table of rates as provided by the society’s laws, and issue to each applicant a receipt for the amount received;        (5)    collect premiums as provided in item (4) of this subsection in an aggregate amount of at least $150,000 and credit the premiums to the funds from which benefits are to be paid;        (6)    establish at least ten subordinate lodges or branches into which the applicants are admitted;        (7)    submit to the Commissioner, under the oath of the president, secretary, or an equivalent officer of the society, the name, address, date of admission, and amounts of benefits and premiums of each applicant, and the name and number of the subordinate branch of which the applicant is a member; and        (8)    submit to the Commissioner, under oath of the treasurer or an equivalent officer of the society, a statement that at least 500 applicants have paid the premiums required by items (4) and (5) of this subsection.    (c)    All advance premiums shall be held in trust during the period of organization and, if the society has not qualified for a certificate of authority within 1 year, the premiums shall be returned to the applicants.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-416 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-416 - Time for Completing Organization

    (a)    Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, unless a society receives a certificate of authority as provided in § 8-417 of this subtitle, the preliminary certificate of authority of the society, its articles of incorporation, and each action taken under the authority of the preliminary certificate of authority are void 1 year after the preliminary certificate of authority is issued.    (b)    For good cause shown, the Commissioner may extend the preliminary certificate of authority for an additional period not exceeding 1 year.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-417 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-417 - Certificate of Authority

    (a)    Before the Commissioner issues a certificate of authority, the Commissioner may make any examination and require any additional information that the Commissioner considers necessary.    (b)    On presentation of satisfactory evidence that the society has complied with this subtitle, the Commissioner shall issue to the society a certificate of authority that authorizes the society to transact business under this subtitle.    (c)    The certificate of authority is prima facie evidence that the society existed on the date of the certificate of authority.    (d)    The Commissioner shall record the certificate of authority in the office of the Commissioner.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-418 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-418 - Constitution and Laws; General Powers

    (a)    A society may adopt and amend laws to:        (1)    govern the society;        (2)    admit society members;        (3)    manage society affairs; and        (4)    fix and readjust the rates of society members.    (b)    (1)    The laws of the society may provide that subordinate lodges or branches and their officers and members may not waive any provisions of the laws of the society.        (2)    A provision adopted in accordance with this subsection is binding on the society and each member and beneficiary of a member.    (c)    Except as prohibited by this subtitle, a society has any other power necessary and incidental to accomplish the purposes for which it is established.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-419 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-419 - Amendments to Laws

    (a)    A society may amend the society’s laws, in accordance with the provisions of those laws, by:        (1)    action of its supreme legislative or governing body at a regular or special meeting of the body; or        (2)    referendum.    (b)    (1)    An amendment by referendum may be approved in accordance with the laws of a society, by the vote of:            (i)    the society’s voting members;            (ii)    the delegates or representatives of the society’s voting members; or            (iii)    the society’s local lodges or branches.        (2)    An amendment may not be adopted by referendum unless, within 6 months after it is submitted for adoption, a majority of all the voting members of the society have consented to the amendment.    (c)    (1)    An amendment to the laws of a society may not take effect unless the Commissioner approves.        (2)    The Commissioner shall approve an amendment if the Commissioner finds that the amendment was adopted properly and is not inconsistent with the laws of the State or the society.        (3)    The Commissioner’s approval or disapproval shall be in writing and mailed to the secretary or equivalent officer of the society at the society’s principal office.        (4)    The Commissioner shall include in a notice of disapproval a statement of the reasons for the disapproval.        (5)    Unless disapproved by the Commissioner, an amendment is deemed approved 60 days after it is filed with the Commissioner.    (d)    (1)    Within 90 days after approval by the Commissioner, each amendment or a synopsis of it shall be mailed by the society to each member of the society or published in full in the official publication of the society.        (2)    The affidavit of an individual authorized by the society to mail an amendment or synopsis, stating that the amendment or synopsis was addressed properly and mailed, is prima facie evidence that the amendment or synopsis was provided to the addressee.    (e)    A printed copy of the laws as amended, certified by the secretary or equivalent officer of the society, is prima facie evidence of the amendment.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-421 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-421 - Membership

    (a)    (1)    A society may admit to membership an individual who:            (i)    is older than 14 1/2 years old; and            (ii)    gives the society evidence of insurability acceptable to the society.        (2)    A minor who is admitted to the society is:            (i)    bound by the terms of the application and certificate and by the laws and rules of the society; and            (ii)    entitled to the rights and privileges of membership as though the individual were an adult at the time of application.    (b)    A society also may admit general or social members who do not have a voice or vote in the management of the society’s insurance affairs.    (c)    The members of a grand, supreme, or subordinate lodge or branch of a society are not personally liable for payment of a benefit provided by the society.    (d)    A society shall specify in its laws or rules the rights and privileges of each membership class.    (e)    Membership rights in a society are personal to the member and not assignable.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-422 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-422 - Office; Meetings; Minutes

    (a)    The principal office of a domestic society shall be located in the State.    (b)    Meetings of the supreme legislative or governing body of a society may be held in any state, district, province, or territory where the society has at least five subordinate branches.    (c)    The minutes of the proceedings of the supreme legislative or governing body and of the board of directors or equivalent body of a society shall be in English.    (d)    A society may provide in its laws or rules for grievance or complaint procedures for members.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-423 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part II - Formation, Organization, and Authority to Do Business|Section 8-423 - Term and Renewal of Certificate of Authority

    (a)    A certificate of authority of a society expires on the first June 30 after its effective date unless it is renewed as provided in this section.    (b)    At least 1 month before a certificate of authority expires, the Commissioner shall mail to the holder of the certificate of authority, at the last known address of the holder:        (1)    a renewal application form; and        (2)    a notice that states:            (i)    the date on which the current certificate of authority expires;            (ii)    the date by which the Commissioner must receive the renewal application for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the certificate of authority expires; and            (iii)    the amount of the renewal fee.    (c)    Before a certificate of authority expires, the holder of the certificate of authority may renew it for an additional 1-year term, if the holder:        (1)    otherwise is entitled to a certificate of authority;        (2)    files with the Commissioner a renewal application on the form that the Commissioner provides; and        (3)    pays to the Commissioner the fee for renewal of certificates of authority of insurers required by § 2-112 of this article.    (d)    (1)    The Commissioner shall renew the certificate of authority of each holder who meets the requirements of this subtitle.        (2)    If a certificate holder pays the applicable renewal fee before the certificate of authority expires, the certificate of authority remains in effect until the Commissioner renews or refuses to renew the certificate of authority.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-427 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-427 - Benefits in General

    (a)    A society authorized to do insurance business in the State may provide for the payment of:        (1)    life insurance benefits;        (2)    annuity benefits;        (3)    health insurance benefits;        (4)    monument or tombstone benefits to the memory of a deceased member of the society; and        (5)    such other benefits as authorized for life insurers and which are not inconsistent with this subtitle.    (b)    (1)    A society shall specify in its laws those persons who may receive benefits through the society.        (2)    (i)    For all coverages, the member shall be the applicant or the insured.            (ii)    If the member is the applicant, there shall be a bona fide familial or other dependent relationship between the member and the insured or beneficiary.        (3)    (i)    Every society, by its laws, may limit the scope of beneficiaries only to the extent required by federal law governing fraternal benefit societies.            (ii)    The society may specify the terms and conditions on which benefits certificates may be assigned.    (c)    A society may not provide benefits through group insurance coverages.    (d)    A member who applies for additional benefits more than 6 months after becoming a benefit member shall provide additional evidence of insurability acceptable to the society.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-428 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-428 - Benefits on Lives of Children

    (a)    In this section, “eligible children” means children under the minimum age for adult membership but not more than 18 years old at the time of application.    (b)    A society may provide for benefits on the lives of eligible children:        (1)    in accordance with § 8-427 of this subtitle;        (2)    in accordance with the laws or rules of the society; and        (3)    on application of an adult.    (c)    (1)    A society may organize and operate branches for eligible children.        (2)    A society may not require eligible children to be members of or be initiated in a local lodge.        (3)    Eligible children may not participate in the management of the society.    (d)    (1)    On obtaining the minimum age for adult beneficial membership under the laws of the society, eligible children insured under certificates issued under this section shall be transferred to and become members of the adult branch of the society if the children otherwise meet the eligibility requirements of the society.        (2)    If a child fails to meet the adult eligibility requirements of the society, the transfer is effective only as to the child’s insurance account.    (e)    A society may provide for:        (1)    the designation and changing of designation of beneficiaries in certificates;        (2)    the regulation of certificates; and        (3)    all rights, obligations, and liabilities incident to the certificates.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-429 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-429 - Nonforfeiture Benefits, Cash Surrender Values, Certificate Loans, and Other Options

    (a)    For certificates issued before January 1, 1998, the value of every paid-up nonforfeiture benefit and the amount of any cash surrender value, loan or other option granted shall comply with the provisions of law applicable on December 31, 1997.    (b)    (1)    Each paid-up nonforfeiture benefit and the amount of any cash surrender value, loan, or other option granted under a certificate may not be less than the corresponding amount ascertained under the laws of the State that apply to life insurers issuing policies containing like insurance benefits based on the same tables.        (2)    This subsection applies to certificates issued on or after January 1, 1998, for which reserves are computed on:            (i)    the Commissioners 1941 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table;            (ii)    the Commissioners 1941 Standard Industrial Table;            (iii)    the Commissioners 1958 Standard Ordinary Mortality Table;            (iv)    the Commissioners 1980 Standard Mortality Table; or            (v)    any more recent table authorized for use under § 5-304(b) of this article.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-430 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-430 - Beneficiaries; Funeral Benefits; Payment of Benefits to Personal Representative

    (a)    (1)    A member of a society may change the beneficiary in a certificate at any time in accordance with the laws or rules of the society.        (2)    By its laws or rules, a society:            (i)    may limit the scope of beneficiaries; and            (ii)    shall provide that a beneficiary may not have or get a vested interest in the proceeds of a certificate until the certificate becomes due and payable under the insurance contract.    (b)    (1)    A society may provide for the payment of funeral benefits, not exceeding $5,000, to the extent of that part of any payment under a certificate that reasonably appears to be due to a person equitably entitled to reimbursement of expenses incurred by the burial of a member.        (2)    (i)    Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, if at the death of a member there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the insurance benefits are payable, the society shall pay to the personal representative of the deceased member the insurance benefits under the certificate, less any funeral benefits paid under paragraph (1) of this subsection.            (ii)    If the owner of the certificate is other than the insured, the proceeds shall be payable to that owner.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-431 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-431 - Benefits Exempt From Attachment or Execution

    Benefits to be paid by a society are not subject to attachment, garnishment, or other process and may not be seized, appropriated, or applied by any process or operation of law to pay a debt or liability of a member, beneficiary, or other person with a right to the benefit, whether before or after payment.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  8-432 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 8 - Entities That Act as Insurers|Subtitle 4 - Fraternal Benefit Societies|Part III - Benefits|Section 8-432 - Benefit Certificates -- Issuance; Statements as Representations; Amendments to Laws; Certified Copies as Evidence

    (a)    (1)    Each society authorized to do business in the State shall issue to each member entitled to benefits a certificate that specifies the amount of benefits provided under the certificate.        (2)    The certificate, any rider or endorsement attached to the certificate, the laws of the society, the application for membership, any declaration of insurability signed by the applicant, and all amendments to each of these documents constitute the agreement between the society and the member as of the date of issuance of the certificate.        (3)    The certificate shall state that the documents listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection constitute the agreement between the society and the member as of the date of issuance of the certificate.        (4)    A copy of the application for membership and of any declaration of insurability shall be endorsed on or attached to the certificate.    (b)    (1)    Each statement purporting to be made by an applicant for insurance is a representation and not a warranty.        (2)    A waiver of this subsection is void.    (c)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an amendment to the laws made after the date of issuance of the certificate:            (i)    binds the member and each beneficiary; and            (ii)    governs the agreement between the society and the member as though the amendments were made before and were in force on the date that the member applied for membership.        (2)    An amendment does not destroy or diminish the benefits that the society contracted to give the member or owner as of the date of issuance of the certificate.    (d)    A copy of a document listed in this section, certified by the secretary or equivalent officer of the society, is evidence of the terms and conditions of the document.