reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-207 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-207 - Conduct of Examinations

    (a)    (1)    The Commissioner shall conduct an examination of an insurer, health maintenance organization, or private review agent at:            (i)    the home office of a domestic insurer, foreign insurer, health maintenance organization, or private review agent;            (ii)    the United States branch office of an alien insurer, health maintenance organization, or private review agent; or            (iii)    a branch or agency office of the insurer, health maintenance organization, or private review agent.        (2)    The Commissioner shall conduct an examination of a person other than an insurer, health maintenance organization, or private review agent at:            (i)    the place of business of the person; or            (ii)    any place where records of the person are kept.    (b)    Each person that is examined and its officers, employees, agents, and representatives shall:        (1)    produce and make freely available to the Commissioner or an examiner the accounts, records, documents, files, information, assets, and matters that are in the possession or control of the person and relate to the subject of the examination; and        (2)    otherwise help the examination to the extent reasonably possible.    (c)    (1)    At the expense of the person being examined, the Commissioner may retain an actuary, accountant, or other expert, who is not otherwise a part of the staff of the Administration, if reasonably necessary to conduct an examination under this article.        (2)    The actuary, accountant, or other expert may rewrite, post, or balance the accounts of the person being examined.    (d)    (1)    If the Commissioner considers it necessary to value real estate involved in an examination, the Commissioner may request in writing that the person being examined appoint one or more competent appraisers, approved by the Commissioner, to appraise the real estate.        (2)    If the person does not appoint an appraiser within 10 days after the request was delivered to the person, the Commissioner may appoint an appraiser.        (3)    The appraisal shall be made promptly, and a copy of the appraisal report shall be provided to the Commissioner.        (4)    The person being examined shall pay the reasonable expense of the appraisal.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-208 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-208 - Expense of Examinations

    The expense incurred in an examination made under § 2–205 of this subtitle, § 2–206 of this subtitle for surplus lines brokers and insurance holding corporations, § 23–207 of this article for premium finance companies, § 15–10B–19 of this article for private review agents, § 15–10B–20 of this article, or § 14–610 of this article for discount medical plan organizations and discount drug plan organizations shall be paid by the person examined in the following manner:        (1)    the person examined shall pay to the Commissioner the travel expenses, a living expense allowance, and a per diem as compensation for examiners, actuaries, and typists:            (i)    to the extent incurred for the examination; and            (ii)    at reasonable rates set by the Commissioner;        (2)    the Commissioner may present a detailed account of expenses incurred to the person examined periodically during the examination or at the end of the examination, as the Commissioner considers proper; and        (3)    a person may not pay and an examiner may not accept any compensation for an examination in addition to the compensation under paragraph (1) of this section.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-210 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-210 - Hearings

    (a)    (1)    The Commissioner may hold hearings that the Commissioner considers necessary for any purpose under this article.        (2)    The Commissioner shall hold a hearing:            (i)    if required by any provision of this article; or            (ii)    except as otherwise provided in this article, on written demand by a person aggrieved by any act of, threatened act of, or failure to act by the Commissioner or by any report, regulation, or order of the Commissioner, except an order to hold a hearing or an order resulting from a hearing.    (b)    (1)    A demand for a hearing shall state the grounds for the relief to be demanded at the hearing.        (2)    Within 30 consecutive days after receiving a demand for a hearing, the Commissioner shall:            (i)    grant and, unless postponed by mutual consent of the parties, hold the hearing; or            (ii)    issue an order refusing the hearing.        (3)    If the Commissioner does not grant or refuse a hearing within the 30–day period, the hearing is deemed to have been refused.    (c)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a hearing held under this section shall be conducted in accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article (Administrative Procedure Act – Contested Cases).        (2)    A hearing held under this section is not subject to § 10–216 of the State Government Article.    (d)    The Commissioner may delegate to the Deputy Commissioner, an associate deputy commissioner, an associate commissioner, or one other Administration employee who is designated by the Commissioner and admitted to the practice of law in the State the responsibility for holding a hearing under this section or § 4–114 of this article.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-211 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-211 - Notice of Hearing

    (a)    (1)    At least 10 days before a hearing, the Commissioner shall give notice of the hearing:            (i)    to each person specified in the provision of this article under which the hearing is held; or            (ii)    if the provision under which the hearing is held does not specify the persons to be notified, to each person directly affected by the hearing.        (2)    If not all persons entitled to notice of the hearing are known, the Commissioner may perfect notice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the State at least 10 days before the hearing.    (b)    The notice of the hearing shall state:        (1)    the time and place of the hearing; and        (2)    the matters to be considered at the hearing.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-212 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-212 - Stay of Order or Proposed Action

    (a)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a demand for a hearing stays an order of the Commissioner pending the hearing and an order resulting from it if the Commissioner receives the demand:            (i)    before the effective date of the order; or            (ii)    within 10 days after the order is served.        (2)    Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to an action taken or proposed under an order:            (i)    resulting from a hearing;            (ii)    resulting from a final decision of the Insurance Commissioner on a complaint in an emergency case under § 15-10A-04 of this article; or            (iii)    based on impairment of assets or unsound financial condition of an insurer.    (b)    If the Commissioner does not grant a written request for a stay, the aggrieved person may apply to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City for a stay of the proposed action of the Commissioner.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-213 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-213 - Hearing Procedure

    (a)    (1)    Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, all hearings shall be open to the public in accordance with § 8–505 of the State Government Article.        (2)    A hearing held by the Commissioner that relates to a filing under Title 11 of this article is not required to be open to the public.        (3)    A hearing held by the Commissioner to determine whether an insurer is being operated in a hazardous manner that could result in its impairment is not required to be open to the public if:            (i)    the insurer requests that the hearing not be a public hearing; and            (ii)    the Commissioner determines that it is not in the interest of the public to hold a public hearing.        (4)    A hearing held by the Commissioner to evaluate the financial condition of an insurer under the risk based capital standards set out in Title 4, Subtitle 3 of this article is not required to be open to the public.    (b)    (1)    The Commissioner shall allow any party to a hearing to:            (i)    appear in person;            (ii)    be represented:                1.    by counsel; or                2.    in the case of an insurer, by a designee of the insurer who:                A.    is employed by the insurer in claims, underwriting, or as otherwise provided by the Commissioner; and                B.    has been given the authority by the insurer to resolve all issues involved in the hearing;            (iii)    be present while evidence is given;            (iv)    have a reasonable opportunity to inspect all documentary evidence and to examine witnesses; and            (v)    present evidence.        (2)    On request of a party, the Commissioner shall issue subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses or production of evidence on behalf of the party.    (c)    The Commissioner shall allow any person that was not an original party to a hearing to become a party by intervention if:        (1)    the intervention is timely; and        (2)    the financial interests of the person will be directly and immediately affected by an order of the Commissioner resulting from the hearing.    (d)    Formal rules of pleading or evidence need not be observed at a hearing.    (e)    (1)    On timely written request by a party to a hearing, the Commissioner shall have a full stenographic record of the proceedings made by a competent reporter at the expense of that party.        (2)    If the stenographic record is transcribed, a copy shall be given on request to any other party to the hearing at the expense of that party.        (3)    If the stenographic record is not made or transcribed, the Commissioner shall prepare an adequate record of the evidence and proceedings.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-214 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 2 - Enforcement|Section 2-214 - Order Resulting From Hearing

    (a)    In holding a hearing under this subtitle the Commissioner sits in a quasi-judicial capacity.    (b)    (1)    Within 30 days after a hearing or any rehearing or reargument of matters involved in the hearing, the Commissioner shall issue an order that covers matters involved in the hearing and in any rehearing or reargument.        (2)    The Commissioner shall serve a copy of the order on the same persons that were served notice of the hearing.    (c)    The order shall contain:        (1)    a concise statement of the facts found by the Commissioner;        (2)    the Commissioner’s conclusions from the facts; and        (3)    the information required by § 2-204(b) of this subtitle.    (d)    The order may:        (1)    affirm, modify, or nullify an action already taken; or        (2)    constitute the taking of new action within the scope of the notice of the hearing.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-301 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-301 - "Program" Defined

    In this subtitle, “Program” means the Consumer Education and Advocacy Program.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-302 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-302 - Program Established; Use of Consumer Affairs Unit

    (a)    There is a Consumer Education and Advocacy Program.    (b)    The Commissioner may use the Consumer Affairs Unit of the Administration to carry out the Program.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-303 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-303 - Purposes of Program

    The purposes of the Program include:         (1)    providing information and helping consumers with the procedures for filing a complaint with the Commissioner against any person regulated by this article;        (2)    on request, giving information about an insurer to the extent that the information lawfully is disclosable; and        (3)    developing an information and assistance system to provide information about and to help consumers with:            (i)    personal insurance coverages, including health insurance and life insurance coverages;            (ii)    underwriting practices;            (iii)    general rating concepts;            (iv)    claim procedures of insurers; and            (v)    any other relevant services.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-303.1 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-303.1 - Duties of the Administration

    (a)    The Administration shall serve as the single point of entry for consumers to access any and all information regarding health insurance and the delivery of health care as it relates to health insurance, including information prepared or collected by:        (1)    the Maryland Department of Health;        (2)    the Maryland Health Care Commission;        (3)    the Health Services Cost Review Commission;        (4)    the Department of Aging; and        (5)    the Health Education and Advocacy Unit of the Attorney General’s office.    (b)    (1)    The Administration, in cooperation with the entities listed in subsection (a) of this section and any other person it deems appropriate, shall promote the availability of the information.        (2)    The Maryland Health Care Commission shall assist the Administration in presenting the information in a format that is easily understandable for consumers.    (c)    Implementation of this section by the Administration shall be funded through the Health Care Regulatory Fund established under § 2–112.3 of this title.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-303.2 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-303.2 - Comparison Guide of Medical Professional Liability Insurance Premiums

    (a)    The Administration shall prepare annually a comparison guide of medical professional liability insurance premiums.    (b)    The comparison guide shall:        (1)    list each insurer authorized to provide medical professional liability insurance in the State;        (2)    include, for each specialty and territory, the base premium charged by an insurer for physicians with policy limits of $1,000,000 and $3,000,000; and        (3)    include the base premium charged by an insurer for a:            (i)    hospital;            (ii)    medical day care center;            (iii)    hospice care program;            (iv)    assisted living program; and            (v)    freestanding ambulatory care facility as defined in § 19–3B–01 of the Health – General Article.    (c)    The Administration shall publish the comparison guide required under subsection (a) of this section on its Web site and in printed form.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-304 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-304 - Staff

    (a)    To carry out the Program, the Commissioner may employ a staff in accordance with the State budget.    (b)    The Commissioner may designate a member of the staff of the Program to represent the interests of consumers in any Administration proceeding that is open to the public, including:        (1)    an informational hearing; and        (2)    a hearing or review of insurance rates or forms.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-305 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 3 - Consumer Education and Advocacy Program|Section 2-305 - Regulations; Evaluation of Program

    (a)    The Commissioner may adopt regulations to carry out the Program.    (b)    Each year, the Commissioner shall evaluate the Program.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-401 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-401 - Definitions

    (a)    In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.    (b)    “Fraud Division” means the Insurance Fraud Division in the Administration.    (c)    “Insurance fraud” means:        (1)    a violation of Title 27, Subtitle 4 of this article;        (2)    theft, as set out in §§ 7–101 through 7–104 of the Criminal Law Article:            (i)    from a person regulated under this article; or            (ii)    by a person regulated under this article or an officer, director, agent, or employee of a person regulated under this article;        (3)    a violation of § 9–1106 of the Labor and Employment Article; or        (4)    any other fraudulent activity that is committed by or against a person regulated under this article and is a violation of:            (i)    Title 1, Subtitle 3 of the Agriculture Article;            (ii)    Title 19, Subtitle 2 or Subtitle 3 of the Business Regulation Article;            (iii)    Title 14, Subtitle 29, § 11–810, or § 14–1317 of the Commercial Law Article;            (iv)    the Criminal Law Article other than Title 8, Subtitle 2, Part II or § 10–614;            (v)    Title 12, Subtitle 9 of the Financial Institutions Article;            (vi)    § 14–127 of the Real Property Article;            (vii)    § 6–301 of the Alcoholic Beverages Article;            (viii)    § 109 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Caroline County;            (ix)    § 4–103 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Carroll County; or            (x)    § 8A–1 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Talbot County.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-402 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-402 - Fraud Division Established

    There is an Insurance Fraud Division in the Administration.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-403 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-403 - Associate Commissioner of Fraud Division

    (a)    The head of the Fraud Division is an Associate Commissioner of Insurance.    (b)    (1)    The Associate Commissioner of the Fraud Division shall be appointed by the Commissioner with the approval of the Governor.        (2)    The Associate Commissioner is an employee of the Administration.        (3)    The Associate Commissioner reports directly to and is under the direct supervision of the Commissioner.    (c)    The Associate Commissioner of the Fraud Division is unclassified and is entitled to annual compensation as provided in the State budget.    (d)    The Associate Commissioner of the Fraud Division is responsible for the operation of the Fraud Division and the exercise of all authority granted to the Fraud Division under this article.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-404 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-404 - State Police to Work With Fraud Division

    The Commissioner shall request the Secretary of State Police to assign one or more State Police officers to work in coordination with the Fraud Division.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-405 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-405 - General Powers and Duties of Fraud Division

    The Fraud Division:        (1)    has the authority to investigate each person suspected of engaging in insurance fraud;        (2)    if appropriate after an investigation:            (i)    shall refer suspected cases of insurance fraud to the Office of the Attorney General or appropriate local State’s Attorney to prosecute the person criminally for insurance fraud;            (ii)    shall notify the appropriate professional licensing board or disciplinary body of evidence of insurance fraud that involves professionals;            (iii)    shall notify the appropriate professional licensing board of evidence of gross overutilization of health care services;            (iv)    shall notify the Workers’ Compensation Commission of suspected cases of insurance fraud referred to the Office of the Attorney General or appropriate local State’s Attorney under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph that involve the payment of compensation, fees, or expenses under the Workers’ Compensation Law; and            (v)    shall assist local and State law enforcement agencies in the prosecution of automobile theft;        (3)    shall compile and abstract information that includes the number of confirmed acts of insurance fraud and the type of acts of insurance fraud;        (4)    in exercising its authority under this subtitle, shall cooperate with the Department of State Police, Office of the Attorney General, local State’s Attorney in the jurisdiction in which the alleged acts of insurance fraud took place, and appropriate federal and local law enforcement authorities;        (5)    shall operate or provide for a toll–free insurance fraud hot line to receive and record information about alleged acts of insurance fraud;        (6)    in cooperation with the Office of the Attorney General and Department of State Police, shall conduct public outreach and awareness programs on the costs of insurance fraud to the public; and        (7)    shall investigate allegations of civil fraud and, if appropriate after investigation, impose administrative penalties and order restitution in accordance with § 27–408 of this article.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-406 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-406 - Civil and Criminal Actions

    (a)    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a criminal prosecution for engaging in insurance fraud may be brought in any county in the State in which:        (1)    an element of the insurance fraud was committed;        (2)    the purported insured loss occurred;        (3)    the insurance policy in question provides coverage;        (4)    the insurer or an agent of the insurer received a false or misleading statement or document;        (5)    the defendant or respondent resides; or        (6)    money or other benefit was received as a result of the insurance fraud.    (b)    For a civil fraud violation, the Commissioner may impose administrative penalties and order restitution under § 27–408(c) of this article when one or more of the occurrences listed in subsection (a) of this section takes place in the State.    (c)    If insurance fraud is determined to have occurred in any of the locations listed in subsection (a) of this section, a criminal or civil fraud action for all related violations may be joined in the same action.
MD. Insurance Code Ann. §  2-408 (2021)
2021 Maryland Statutes|Insurance|Title 2 - Maryland Insurance Administration|Subtitle 4 - Insurance Fraud Division|Section 2-408 - Report by Attorney General

    The Office of the Attorney General shall report to the Fraud Division on each case not prosecuted and the reasons why the case was not prosecuted.