reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AL Code § 27-25-4.2 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-4.2 - License; License Renewal; Name or Address Change.

Section 27-25-4.2License; license renewal; name or address change.  (a) Unless denied licensure pursuant to Section 27-25-4.5, a person who meets the requirements of Sections 27-25-4.1 and 27-25-4.3 shall be issued a title insurance agent license.  (b) A title insurance agent license must be initially renewed in accordance with a schedule prescribed by the commissioner and shall thereafter be subject to renewal on a biennial basis. A renewal shall be effected by submitting a renewal application, by paying the fee for renewal set forth in Section 27-25-4.7, and by meeting the requirements for renewal, including any applicable continuing education requirements, before the due date for renewal. A license expires if not renewed by the due date for renewal. (c) Within the first 30 days following the date a title insurance agent license expires, a reinstatement retroactive to the expiration date shall be effected by submitting a renewal application, by paying the renewal fee plus the late fee set forth in Section 27-25-4.7, and by meeting the other requirements for renewal including any applicable continuing education requirements.  (d) After the first 30 days following the date a title insurance agent license expires, but within 12 months after the expiration date, the license may be reinstated effective as of the reinstatement by submitting a renewal application, by paying a fee of double the renewal fee set forth in Section 27-25-4.7, and by meeting the other requirements for renewal including any applicable continuing education requirements.  (e) After a title insurance agent license has been expired for 12 months, the person shall reapply pursuant to Section 27-25-4.1 to become licensed.  (f) A title insurance agent who is unable to comply with license renewal procedures and requirements due to military service, long-term medical disability, or some other extenuating circumstance may request a waiver, a waiver of an examination requirement, fine, or other sanction imposed for failure to comply with renewal procedures. (g) The license shall contain the licensee's name, address, personal identification number, the date of issuance and expiration, and any other information the commissioner deems necessary.  (h) The title insurance agent shall inform the commissioner of a change in legal name or address within 30 days of the change in a manner prescribed by the commissioner. Failure to timely inform the commissioner of a change in legal name or address shall result in a penalty of fifty dollars ($50). If the penalty is not paid within 30 days after notice of the penalty assessment, the license shall be suspended until the penalty is paid. (Act 2012-397, p. 1078, §2.)
AL Code § 27-25-4.4 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-4.4 - Continuing Education.

Section 27-25-4.4Continuing education.  (a) An individual who holds a title insurance agent license shall satisfactorily complete a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education courses as may be approved by the commissioner, of which three hours shall be in ethics, reported to the commissioner on a biennial basis in conjunction with the license renewal cycle.  (b) This section shall not apply to licensees not licensed for one full year prior to the end of the applicable continuing education biennium. (c) Only continuing education courses and providers approved by the commissioner shall be used to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section. Continuing education providers and courses shall be subject to the same requirements and fees set forth in Chapter 8A. (d) The commissioner shall prescribe the number of hours of continuing education credit for each continuing education course approved. Continuing education courses submitted in accordance with a reciprocal agreement the commissioner enters with other states shall be approved according to the provisions of the reciprocal agreement. (e) If a continuing education course requires successful completion of a written examination, no continuing education credit shall be given to licensees who do not successfully complete the written examination. (f) An individual teaching any approved continuing education course shall qualify for the same number of hours of continuing education credit as would be granted to a licensee taking and satisfactorily completing the course. (Act 2012-397, p. 1078, §2.)
AL Code § 27-25-4.6 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-4.6 - Fingerprints.

Section 27-25-4.6Fingerprints. (a) In order to make a determination of title insurance agent license eligibility, the commissioner may require fingerprints of initial applicants for a title insurance agent license, and the fingerprints and the fee required to perform the criminal history record checks shall be submitted to the Alabama Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for state and national criminal history record checks.  (b) The commissioner shall require a criminal history record check on each initial applicant for title insurance agent license pursuant to this section. The commissioner shall require each applicant to submit a full set of fingerprints, including a scanned file from a hard copy fingerprint, to allow the commissioner to obtain and receive national criminal history records from the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division. (c) The commissioner may contract for the collection, transmission, and resubmission of fingerprints required pursuant to this section, and the fee for collecting, transmitting, and retaining fingerprints shall be payable directly to the contractor by the applicant. The commissioner may agree to a reasonable fingerprinting fee to be charged by the contractor, and both the contractor's fee and the fee required to perform the criminal history check shall be collected from the applicant by the contractor. (d) The criminal history record information may be submitted to the commissioner instead of the Alabama Department of Public Safety.  (e) The commissioner shall treat and maintain an applicant's fingerprints and any criminal history record information obtained pursuant to this section as confidential and shall apply security measures consistent with the Criminal Justice Information Services Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation standards for the electronic storage of fingerprints and necessary identifying information and limit the use of records solely to the purposes authorized in this section. The fingerprints and any criminal history record information shall not be subject to subpoena, other than one issued in a criminal action or investigation, and shall be confidential. (f) The commissioner, by regulation, may provide for the delayed enforcement of this section for up to 24 months from April 8, 2014, to allow for delayed implementation. (Act 2012-397, p. 1078, §2; Act 2014-296, p. 1072, §1.)
AL Code § 27-25-4.7 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-4.7 - Fees.

Section 27-25-4.7Fees. (a) The Commissioner of Insurance shall collect in advance the following fees:  (1) Title insurance agent licenses:  a. Individuals:  1. Application fee (for filing of initial application for license) ..............................$20 2. License fee (for issuance of original license and each biennial renewal) .....................$40 b. Business entities:  1. Application fee (for filing of initial application for license) .............................$20 2. License fee (for original license and each biennial renewal) ................................$100 c. Examination fee, an amount set by the commissioner not to exceed........................$100 d. Late renewal fee, to be paid by each title insurance agent failing to make a timely renewal of license.............$50 (2) Title insurance agent appointment fee:  a. Filing notice of appointment ...........................................$30 b. Annual continuation of appointment ................................$10 (3) Prelicensing course provider fee (for filing initial application for authority and annual renewal) an amount set by the commissioner not to exceed ........$100 (b) The fees specified in subsection (a) shall be deposited in the State Treasury and credited to the Insurance Department Fund.  (Act 2012-397, p. 1078, §2.)
AL Code § 27-25-4.8 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-4.8 - Implementation.

Section 27-25-4.8Implementation. (a) The commissioner, by rule pursuant to Chapter 2, may provide for the implementation of the requirements of this chapter. (b) Each title insurance agent certificate of authority in force prior to January 1, 2013, shall be issued a replacement title insurance agent license and appointment upon payment of the annual fee in the amount set forth in Section 27-25-4 prior to January 1, 2013. A replacement title insurance agent shall be authorized to continue to issue title insurance policies in the same manner as permitted in Section 27-25-4 prior to January 1, 2013. (c) A replacement title insurance agent license issued in accordance with subsection (b) shall be valid for six months, during which time the person shall satisfy the requirements for a title insurance agent license pursuant to Sections 27-25-4.1 and 27-25-4.3 or the replacement license shall thereupon expire and be canceled. The appointment issued in accordance with subsection (b) shall be transferred to the title insurance agent license when the license is issued. (d) The commissioner may stagger the renewal periods of title insurance agents over the first two calendar years following January 1, 2013. Certain licensees may be required to renew for one year at half of the biennial fee and continuing education requirements otherwise required under this chapter. (e) The commissioner may provide for the delayed enforcement of Section 27-25-4.3, regarding examinations, Section 27-25-4.4, regarding continuing education, and Section 27-25-4.6, regarding fingerprinting, for up to 24 months following January 1, 2013, to allow for implementation. (f) If the enforcement of the examination requirement of Section 27-25-4.3 is delayed as authorized in subsection (e), the commissioner may issue a temporary title insurance agent license to an applicant who is otherwise qualified except as to the prelicensing course and examination requirements of Section 27-25-4.3. A temporary license may be renewed once in accordance with the renewal schedule established by the commissioner as provided in subsection (d). A temporary license shall not be valid for a period of time exceeding three months following implementation of the examination requirement. (Act 2012-397, p. 1078, §2.)
AL Code § 27-25-5 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-5 - Duties of Title Insurer, Etc.

Section 27-25-5Duties of title insurer, etc. No preliminary report, commitment, binder, policy, or contract of title insurance shall be issued until and unless the title insurer or the person or agent issuing the title insurance policy on behalf of the title insurer has performed any of the following: (1) Caused to be conducted a search or examination of the title as defined in this chapter. (2) Obtained an abstract of title. (3) Obtained an opinion of title. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §5.)
AL Code § 27-25-6 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-6 - Companies to File Rates.

Section 27-25-6Companies to file rates. (a) Every title insurer shall file with the commissioner its schedule of premium rates and every modification of any premium rate that it proposes to use in this state. The premium rates shall not be subject to rebate and the rebate of premiums to the insured are expressly prohibited. If a reissue premium rate is filed by an insurer, an insured may receive reissue credit only when the insured physically produces the prior title insurance policy, including schedules associated therewith, issued by a title insurer licensed to be engaged in the business of title insurance in this state. A title insurer that has not filed its premium rates pursuant to the provisions hereof shall not engage in the business of title insurance until such time as its premium rates are filed. No person, title insurer, agency, or agent shall charge any premium rate for any policy or contract of title insurance except in accordance with the filed premium rates which are in effect for the title insurer as provided in this section. (b) Every premium rate filing by a title insurer shall state the effective date thereof and shall indicate the character and extent of the coverage contemplated. The commissioner shall determine the form, manner, and detail of premium rate filings required in this section. No premium rate filing shall provide for the negotiation or bidding of the rate to be charged for a policy insuring an interest in real property in this state. (c) Before the expiration of 60 days after the receipt of a premium rate filing by a title insurer, the commissioner shall determine the fairness and justness of all such filings and shall also notify the title insurer of any disapproval of the premium rate filing. (d) Any premium rate filed may be used or charged after the expiration of 60 days from the date of filing in the office of the commissioner, unless the commissioner has issued notice of the commissioner's prior written disapproval thereto within the time period. (e) A notice of written disapproval by the commissioner shall set forth the reasons therefor and shall state that a hearing will be granted within 30 days after request in writing by the title insurer. The commissioner or his or her designee shall have the power to administer oaths, to require the appearance of and examine any person under oath, and to require the production of books, records, or papers relevant to the inquiry upon the commissioner's or the designee's own initiative or upon the request of any interested insurer. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §6.)
AL Code § 27-25-7 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-7 - Notice of Availability of Owner's Title Insurance.

Section 27-25-7Notice of availability of owner's title insurance. (a) In connection with any transaction involving the purchase or sale of a fee simple or possessory interest in real property in this state, the title insurer shall obtain or cause its agent to obtain, at or before the closing of settlement and disbursement of any funds, a statement in writing from the purchaser acknowledging that the purchaser has received a notice that owner's title insurance may be available to the purchaser in accordance with the underwriting guidelines of the title insurer and that the purchaser does or does not desire to purchase owner's insurance coverage. The written notice of availability of owner's title insurance shall contain all of the following: (1) The address or legal description of the property. (2) A disclosure that owner's title insurance may be available in accordance with the underwriting guidelines of the title insurer and the premium therefor. (3) A space to indicate the desire of the purchaser to either acquire or decline owner's title insurance. (4) The date the notice is executed by the purchaser. (5) The signature of the purchaser or purchasers. (b) In the event that the notice required in this section is not obtained from the purchaser at or before the closing of settlement and disbursement of any funds, the omission may be cured by the title agent or title insurer at any time subsequent to the closing of settlement but prior to actual or constructive notice of a claim or possible claim against the title of the real estate which was the subject of the settlement by sending a certified letter, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the purchaser, which includes the notification required in this section. (c) The notification provided by this section shall not be required in any of the following transactions: (1) A judicial or nonjudicial foreclosure. (2) A sale pursuant to a decree of any court. (3) A tax sale. (4) A transfer evidenced by a deed upon which a recording or deed tax is not payable as provided by law. (5) Any transaction in which the purchaser has elected to obtain owner's title insurance or wherein the seller has elected or is required by contract to provide owner's title insurance to the purchaser. (6) Any transaction that conveys a security interest in property of an existing owner. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §7.)
AL Code § 27-25-8 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-8 - Rules and Regulations.

Section 27-25-8Rules and regulations. The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this chapter in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §8.)
AL Code § 27-25-9 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-9 - Violations; Enforcement of Chapter; Penalties.

Section 27-25-9Violations; enforcement of chapter; penalties. (a) Each individual transaction which is in violation of this chapter or which does not otherwise conform to the requirements of this chapter shall be considered a violation. (b) This chapter shall be enforceable only by the commissioner and does not create any private cause of action or other private legal recourse. (c) The commissioner may, in his or her discretion and upon good cause shown, revoke the certificate of authority of a title agent, revoke the license issued to a title insurer, or impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation of this chapter or of any rule or regulation promulgated under this chapter. No title insurer shall pay, directly or indirectly, any portion of a fine imposed on any agent of the title insurer. In addition, the commissioner may impose a fine in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation upon a finding that an agent or an insurer willfully or intentionally deviated from the filed rates for that insurer. Any fine collected by the commissioner shall be deposited into the State General Fund. (d) If, from any examination of a title insurer, the commissioner finds that a title insurer is violating any of the provisions of Section 34-3-7, the commissioner shall so certify his or her findings in writing to the Attorney General, and the Attorney General shall forthwith bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Alabama to permanently enjoin the commission of such acts by the title insurer. If the title insurer violates any of the provisions of such an injunction, the Attorney General shall forthwith bring an action in such a court to revoke the corporate charter of the title insurer, if a domestic entity, or the license to conduct business in this state of the title insurer, if a foreign or alien entity. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §9.)
AL Code § 27-25-10 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 25 - Title Insurance.|Section 27-25-10 - Construction of Chapter.

Section 27-25-10Construction of chapter. This chapter shall not be interpreted or construed as regulating or attempting to regulate the practice of law. (Act 2001-496, p. 866, §11.)
AL Code § 27-27-1 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 27 - Organization and Corporate Procedures of Stock and Mutual Insurers.|Section 27-27-1 - Definitions.

Section 27-27-1Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: (1) STOCK INSURER. An incorporated insurer with capital divided into shares and owned by its stockholders. (2) DOMESTIC MUTUAL INSURER. An incorporated insurer without capital stock and the governing body of which is elected as provided in this chapter. (Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §§496, 497.)
AL Code § 27-27-2 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 27 - Organization and Corporate Procedures of Stock and Mutual Insurers.|Section 27-27-2 - Applicability of Chapter.

Section 27-27-2Applicability of chapter. This chapter shall apply only to domestic stock insurers and domestic mutual insurers; except, that: (1) Sections 27-27-4 through 27-27-14, relative to sale of securities or other financing of insurers or insurance operations, and subsection (b) of Section 27-27-24 shall also apply as to foreign and alien insurers; and (2) This chapter shall be applicable as to mutual aid associations as stated in Chapter 30 of this title and as to fraternal benefit societies as stated in Chapters 34 and 35 of this title. (Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §495.)
AL Code § 27-27-3 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 27 - Organization and Corporate Procedures of Stock and Mutual Insurers.|Section 27-27-3 - Power of Domestic Insurers to Indemnify Directors, Etc.

Section 27-27-3Power of domestic insurers to indemnify directors, etc. Without limiting the powers and authorities of domestic insurers, as provided in Section 27-27-61, a domestic insurer shall have the power and is hereby authorized to indemnify any director, officer, or employee, or former director, officer, or employee of the corporation, or any person who may have served at its request as a director or officer of another corporation in which it owns shares of capital stock or of which it is a creditor against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense of any action or proceeding, civil or criminal, in which he is made a party by reason of being, or having been, such director or officer, except in relation to matters as to which he shall be adjudged in such action or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of duty to the corporation and to make any other indemnification that shall be authorized by the articles of incorporation or by any bylaw or resolution adopted by the shareholders after notice or as may be authorized under any other statute of this state dealing with the right of a corporation to indemnify officers, directors, and employees or to purchase insurance for such indemnification. (Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §499.)
AL Code § 27-27-4 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 27 - Insurance.|Chapter 27 - Organization and Corporate Procedures of Stock and Mutual Insurers.|Section 27-27-4 - Solicitation Permit - Requirement.

Section 27-27-4Solicitation permit - Requirement. (a) No person forming, or proposing to form, in this state or secure funds in this state for the financing of an insurer, or insurance holding corporation or stock corporation to finance an insurer or corporation to be attorney-in-fact for a reciprocal insurer or a syndicate, association, firm, partnership, or organization for any such purposes, whether domestic or foreign, shall advertise or solicit or receive any funds, subscription, or membership on account thereof in this state except as authorized by a currently effective solicitation permit issued by the commissioner, in addition to complying with other applicable provisions of the law. (b) Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (c) Any insurer violating this section, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, shall be forever barred from being authorized to transact insurance in this state. (Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §500.)