reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 27-25-37 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-37 - Penalties.

§ 27-25-37. Penalties.(a) Any person who willfully makes a false or fraudulent statement in or relating to an application for membership or for the purpose of obtaining money from or a benefit in any society, shall upon conviction be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment for not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one year, or both.(b) Any person who willfully makes a false or fraudulent statement in any verified report or declaration under oath required or authorized by this chapter, or of any material fact or thing contained in a sworn statement concerning the death or disability of an insured for the purpose of procuring payment of a benefit named in the certificate, shall be guilty of perjury and shall be subject to the penalties prescribed by law.(c) Any person who solicits membership for, or in any manner assists in procuring membership in, any society not licensed to do business in this state shall upon conviction be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than two hundred dollars ($200).(d) Any person guilty of a willful violation of, or neglect or refusal to comply with, the provisions of this chapter for which a penalty is not prescribed, shall upon conviction, be subject to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-39 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-39 - Reciprocal fees and charges.

§ 27-25-39. Reciprocal fees and charges.Whenever by the laws of any other state of the United States any fees, charges, taxes, deposits of money or of securities, or other obligations or prohibitions are imposed on fraternal benefit societies incorporated or organized under the laws of this state or on the agents or insurance producers of fraternal benefit societies, so long as those laws continue in force, the fees, charges, taxes, deposits, and obligations shall be imposed on the fraternal benefit societies doing business in this state which are incorporated or organized under the laws of the other state and on their agents or insurance producers.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-40 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-40 - Payments of commissions to other than agent or insurance producer forbidden.

§ 27-25-40. Payments of commissions to other than agent or insurance producer forbidden.No society doing business in this state shall pay any commission or other compensation to any person for any services in obtaining in this state any new contract of life, accident, or health insurance, or any new annuity contract, except to a licensed insurance agent or producer of the society and except an agent or insurance producer exempted from licensing by this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-41 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-41 - Payment of benefits other than insurance benefits.

§ 27-25-41. Payment of benefits other than insurance benefits.(a) A society may pay benefits, other than insurance benefits, to its members from any special account or fund maintained for that purpose; provided, that if the benefits are of a nature that they could constitute benefits within the class of insurance set forth in this chapter, a society making the payments may not:(1) Make any separate charge for the payments;(2) Issue any certificate, policy, or other document promising the payments;(3) Provide in its constitution, laws, or any other document that the payments may be received by the member as a matter of right; or(4) Advertise the payments as insurance or as payments to which the member has any right.(b) The society shall maintain a separate accounting of all disbursements made under this section and report them in its annual statement.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-42 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-42 - Severability.

§ 27-25-42. Severability.If any provision of this chapter or the application of a provision to any circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter or the application of the provision to other circumstances shall not be affected by that invalidity.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-43 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-43 - Short title.

§ 27-25-43. Short title.This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Fraternal Code".History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-25-44 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code|Section 27-25-44 - Fraternal benefit society assessment.

§ 27-25-44. Fraternal benefit society assessment.(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, each domestic fraternal benefit society shall be charged an assessment to partially support the activities of the division of insurance in the department of business regulation.(b) Each society's assessment shall be determined in accordance with the following ratio: (1) by dividing the society's total direct premiums, including annuities, less policyholder dividends by total direct premiums, including annuities, less policyholder dividends of all domestic insurance companies plus the total direct premiums of domestic companies licensed or regulated pursuant to chapters 19, 20, 20.1, 20.2, 20.3, 25, and 41 of this title, and chapter 62 of title 42, and then by (2) multiplying the resulting ratio times two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).(c) The minimum assessment charged shall be the greater of the sum determined by subsection (b) of this section or one thousand dollars ($1,000).History of Section.P.L. 1990, ch. 65, art. 29, § 7; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 58.
RI Gen L § 27-26-1 - 27-26-18 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-26 - Funds, Reports, Examination and Dissolution of Fraternal Benefit Societies|Section 27-26-1 - 27-26-18 - Repealed.

§ 27-26-1 — 27-26-18. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 27-27-1 - 27-27-7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-27 - Agents for Fraternal Benefit Societies|Section 27-27-1 - 27-27-7 - Repealed.

§ 27-27-1 — 27-27-7. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 27-28-1 - 27-28-24 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-28 - Insurance and Benefits by Fraternal Benefit Societies|Section 27-28-1 - 27-28-24 - Repealed.

§ 27-28-1 — 27-28-24. Repealed.
RI Gen L § 27-29-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-1 - Declaration of purpose.

§ 27-29-1. 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 15 U.S.C. § 1011 et seq., by defining, or providing for the determination of, all trade 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. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to create or imply a private cause of action for a violation of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 53, § 1; P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 24; P.L. 2011, ch. 363, § 4.
RI Gen L § 27-29-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-3 - Prohibited trade practices.

§ 27-29-3. Prohibited trade practices.No person shall 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 of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 53, § 3.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.1 - Cancellation of insurance prohibited.

§ 27-29-4.1. Cancellation of insurance prohibited.No insurance company authorized to do business in this state shall cancel or refuse to issue any type of insurance coverage for an owner occupied dwelling or personal property of every nature and description solely because of the area in which the property is situated.History of Section.P.L. 1972, ch. 28, § 1.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.2 - Penalty.

§ 27-29-4.2. Penalty.For each violation of § 27-29-4.1, the offending insurance company shall be fined a sum of five hundred dollars ($500) by the department of business regulation.History of Section.P.L. 1972, ch. 28, § 1.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.3 - Refusal to issue policy due to nonoccupancy.

§ 27-29-4.3. Refusal to issue policy due to nonoccupancy.No insurance company authorized to do business in this state shall refuse to issue or charge an increased premium for a standard fire insurance policy for an occupied dwelling solely because of the fact that the building has formerly been unoccupied or vacant.History of Section.P.L. 1978, ch. 331, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.5 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.5 - Penalty.

§ 27-29-4.5. Penalty.An insurer's failure to comply with any requirement of § 27-29-4.4, or any rule or regulation promulgated by the department of business regulation shall result in a fine in a sum of up to five thousand dollars ($5,000).History of Section.P.L. 2006, ch. 173, § 1.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.6 - Reimbursement fee.

§ 27-29-4.6. Reimbursement fee.The director of the department of business regulation may assess an insurer for reimbursement of the department's actual expenses for the investigation and hearing of significant auto body shop matters relating to insurers. In addition, an assessment may be sought in the event that an insurer does not prevail after a final judicial appeal.History of Section.P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 33, § 3.
RI Gen L § 27-29-4.7 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-4.7 - Additional unfair methods of competition.

§ 27-29-4.7. Additional unfair methods of competition.(a) In addition to those listed in § 27-29-4 the following are also defined as unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance:(1) Twisting. Knowingly making any misleading representations or incomplete or fraudulent comparisons or fraudulent material omissions of or with respect to any insurance policies or insurers for the purpose of inducing, or tending to induce, any person to lapse, forfeit, surrender, terminate, retain, pledge, assign, borrow on, or convert any insurance policy or to take out a policy of insurance in another insurer.(2) Churning. The practice whereby policy values in an existing life insurance policy or annuity contract, including, but not limited to, cash, loan values, or dividend values, and in any riders to that policy or contract, are directly or indirectly used to purchase another insurance policy or annuity contract with that same insurer for the purpose of earning additional premiums, fees, commissions, or other compensation:(i) Without an objectively reasonable basis for believing that the replacement or extraction will result in an actual and demonstrable benefit to the policyholder; or(ii) In a fashion that is fraudulent, deceptive, or otherwise misleading or that involves a deceptive omission; or(iii) When the applicant is not informed that the policy values, including cash values, dividends, and other assets of the existing policy or contract will be reduced, forfeited, or used in the purchase of the replacing or additional policy or contract, if this is the case; or(iv) Without informing the applicant that the replacing or additional policy or contract will not be a paid-up policy or that additional premiums will be due or that a new contestable period will apply and explaining the impact of these differences, if this is the case.(b) Each insurer shall comply with paragraphs (iii) and (iv) herein by disclosing to the applicant at the time of the offer if, how, and the extent to which the policy or contract values (including cash value, dividends, and other assets) of a previously issued policy or contract will be used to purchase a replacing or additional policy or contract with the same insurer. The disclosure must include the premium, the death benefit of the proposed replacing or additional policy, and the date on which the policy values of the existing policy or contract will be insufficient to pay the premiums of the replacing or additional policy or contract.(c) Each insurer shall adopt written procedures sufficient to reasonably avoid twisting and churning of policies or contracts that it has issued, and failure to adopt written procedures sufficient to reasonably avoid twisting and churning shall be an unfair method of competition and an unfair or deceptive act or practice.History of Section.P.L. 2012, ch. 296, § 2; P.L. 2012, ch. 326, § 2.
RI Gen L § 27-29-6 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-6 - Cease and desist orders and modifications of those orders.

§ 27-29-6. Cease and desist orders and modifications of those orders.(a) If after a hearing the insurance commissioner shall determine that the method of competition or the act or practice in question is unfair and that the person complained of has engaged in a method of competition, act, or practice in violation of this chapter, the commissioner shall reduce his or her findings to writing and shall issue and cause to be served upon the person charged with the violation an order requiring the person to cease and desist from engaging in the method of competition, act, or practice. The commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion order: (1) payment of a monetary penalty of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation, but not to exceed an aggregate penalty of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), unless the violation was committed flagrantly in a conscious disregard of this chapter, in which case the penalty shall not be more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation not to exceed an aggregate penalty of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000); or (2) suspension or revocation of the insurer's license if the insurer knew or reasonably should have known that it was in violation of this chapter.(b) Until the expiration of the time allowed under § 27-29-7(a) for filing a petition for review, if no petition has been duly filed within that time, the insurance commissioner may at any time upon the notice and in the manner the commissioner shall deem proper, modify or set aside in whole or in part any order issued by the commissioner under this section.(c) After the expiration of the time allowed for filing a petition for review, if no petition has been duly filed within that time, the insurance commissioner may at any time, after notice and opportunity for hearing, reopen and alter, modify or set aside, in whole or in part, any order issued by the commissioner under this section whenever in his or her opinion conditions of fact or of law have changed as to require that action or if the public interest shall require.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 53, § 6; P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 24.
RI Gen L § 27-29-9 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-9 - Penalty.

§ 27-29-9. Penalty.(a) Any person who violates a cease and desist order of the insurance commissioner under § 27-29-6 after it has become final, and while the order is in effect, shall, upon proof of the violation to the satisfaction of the court, forfeit and pay to the state a sum not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), which may be recovered in a civil action, except that, if the violation is found to be willful, the amount of the penalty shall be a sum not to exceed two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).(b) Any person who violates a cease and desist order of the insurance commissioner under § 27-29-6 after it has become final, and while the order is in effect, may after notice and hearing and upon order of the commissioner, be subject at the discretion of the commissioner to suspension or revocation of the insurer's license.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 53, § 9; P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 24.
RI Gen L § 27-29-10 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-10 - Provisions of chapter additional to existing law.

§ 27-29-10. Provisions of chapter additional to existing law.The powers vested in the insurance commissioner by this chapter shall be additional to any other powers to enforce any penalties, fines, or forfeitures authorized by law with respect to the methods, acts, and practices declared to be unfair or deceptive.History of Section.P.L. 1958, ch. 53, § 10.
RI Gen L § 27-29-11 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-11 - Immunity from prosecution.

§ 27-29-11. Immunity from prosecution.If any person shall ask to be excused from attending and testifying or from producing any books, papers, records, correspondence or other documents at any hearing on the ground that the testimony or evidence required may tend to incriminate or subject the person to a penalty or forfeiture, and shall notwithstanding be directed to give the testimony or produce the evidence, the person shall nonetheless comply with the direction, but shall not after this be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning on which the person may testify or produce evidence, and no testimony given or evidence produced shall be received against the person upon any criminal action, investigation, or proceeding. However, no person testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed while testifying and the testimony or evidence given or produced shall be admissible against the person upon any criminal action, investigation, or proceeding concerning that perjury, nor shall the person be exempt from the refusal, revocation, or suspension of any license, permission, or authority conferred, or to be conferred, pursuant to the insurance law of this state. Any person may execute, acknowledge, and file in the office of the commissioner a statement expressly waiving this immunity or privilege in respect to any transaction, matter, or thing specified in the statement and thereupon the testimony of the person or the evidence in relation to the transaction, matter, or thing may be received or produced before any judge or justice, court, tribunal, grand jury, or otherwise, and if received or produced the person shall not be entitled to any immunity or privilege on account of any testimony the person may give or evidence produced.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 25; G.L. 1956, § 27-29-12; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 59.
RI Gen L § 27-29-12 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-12 - Regulations.

§ 27-29-12. Regulations.The commissioner of insurance may adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the implementation and administration of this chapter.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 180, § 25; G.L. 1956, § 27-29-13.
RI Gen L § 27-29-13 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-13 - Payment of premium - Cancellation.

§ 27-29-13. Payment of premium — Cancellation.Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 40 of this title, private passenger motor vehicle insurance policyholders on either six (6) month or twelve (12) month policies shall have the option of paying any policy premiums in installment payments; provided that for a twelve (12) month policy the insurer may require a payment of fifteen percent (15%) of the annual premium at time of issuance with the balance to be paid thereafter in nine (9) subsequent and equal monthly installments thereafter for a six (6) month policy, the insurer may require a payment of thirty-five percent (35%) of the premium at time of issuance with the balance to be paid in three (3) subsequent and equal monthly installments thereafter. The insurer may levy a service charge of up to five dollars ($5.00) per installment period against those policyholders who choose the installment option. An insurer may levy and collect a maximum fee or charge of ten dollars ($10.00) for any late payment of premium by a policyholder. A late fee may not be imposed unless payment is received more than five (5) business days following the date payment is due. Policyholders shall be entitled to receive no less than thirty (30) days notice before a cancellation of an automobile insurance policy for any reason except nonpayment of premium, in which instance policyholders shall be entitled to receive no less than ten (10) days notice.History of Section.P.L. 1994, ch. 115, § 1; P.L. 1994, ch. 261, § 1; G.L. 1956, § 27-29-14; P.L. 2003, ch. 315, § 1; P.L. 2003, ch. 334, § 1.
RI Gen L § 27-29-13.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-13.1 - Late payment of premium.

§ 27-29-13.1. Late payment of premium.An insurer may levy and collect a maximum fee or charge of ten dollars ($10.00) for any late payment of premium by a policyholder for any property, casualty, fire and marine or liability policy of insurance. A late fee may not be imposed unless payment is received more than five (5) business days following the date payment is due.History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 79, § 1.
RI Gen L § 27-29-13.2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 27 - Insurance|Chapter 27-29 - Unfair Competition and Practices|Section 27-29-13.2 - Cancellation provisions for return of unearned premium.

§ 27-29-13.2. Cancellation provisions for return of unearned premium.Every insurance policy issued and approved for use in Rhode Island shall provide clear language on the method of calculation of the unearned premium portion, if any, to be returned to the insured if the policy is cancelled. Insurance policies shall not state "refer to manuals" to determine the amount of unearned premium to be returned. For all cancellations, the actual percentage retained by the insurer shall be discernible in the policy cancellation provisions. If a policy is canceled using a short-rate table, the insurer shall provide the short-rate table within the cancellation provisions of the insurance policy so that an insured can make an informed decision when cancelling a policy midterm. If a policy premium is fully earned or minimum earned on issuance of the policy, the quote and policy provisions shall clearly state that fact. Insurers shall not impose cancellation fees when insurance policies are cancelled using short-rate tables.History of Section.P.L. 2005, ch. 69, § 1; P.L. 2005, ch. 79, § 1; P.L. 2009, ch. 303, § 6; P.L. 2009, ch. 304, § 6; P.L. 2016, ch. 376, § 5; P.L. 2016, ch. 392, § 5.