reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
FL Stat § 642.025 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.025 - Policy and Certificate Forms.

642.025 Policy and certificate forms.—(1) Legal expense insurance may be written as individual, group, blanket, or franchise insurance. Each contractual obligation for legal expense insurance shall be evidenced by a policy. Each person insured under a group policy shall be issued a certificate of coverage.(2) No policy or certificate of legal expense insurance may be issued in this state unless a copy of the form has been filed with and approved by the office pursuant to s. 627.410.(3) The office shall not approve any policy or certificate form which does not meet the following requirements:(a) Policies shall contain a list and description of the legal services to be supplied or the legal matters for which expenses are to be reimbursed and any limits on the amounts to be reimbursed.(b) Policies and certificates shall indicate the name of the insurer and the full address of its principal place of business.(c) Certificates issued under group policies shall contain a full statement of the benefits provided and exceptions thereto but may summarize the other terms of the master policy.(d) Policies providing for legal services to be supplied by a limited number of attorneys who have executed provider contracts with the insurer, whether the attorney in an individual case is to be selected by the insured or by the insurer, shall provide for alternative benefits if the insured is unable to find a participating attorney willing to perform the services or the attorney selected by the insurer is disqualified or otherwise unable to perform the services. The alternative benefit may consist of furnishing the services of an attorney selected and paid by the insurer or paying the fee of an attorney selected by the insured. The policy shall also provide a procedure that includes impartial review for settling disagreements concerning the grounds for demanding an alternative benefit.(e) No policy, except one issued by a mutual or reciprocal insurance company, may provide for assessments on policyholders or for reduction of benefits for the purpose of maintaining the insurer’s solvency.(f) Policies shall contain a statement that the subscriber has a right to file a complaint with The Florida Bar concerning attorney conduct pursuant to the plan.(g) Policies shall contain a statement that the individual beneficiary has the right to retain, at his or her own expense, except when the policy provides otherwise, any attorney authorized to practice law in this state.(4) The office may disapprove a policy or certificate form if it finds that the form:(a) Is unfair, unfairly discriminatory, misleading, or ambiguous or encourages misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the contract;(b) Provides coverage or benefits or contains other provisions that would endanger the solvency of the insurer; or(c) Is contrary to law.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 6, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 495, ch. 97-102; s. 1639, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.0261 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0261 - Net Worth Required of Applicants.

642.0261 Net worth required of applicants.—To receive authority to transact legal expense insurance, an applicant applying for a certificate of authority after October 1, 1993, must possess a net worth not less than the greater of:(1) Ten thousand dollars; or(2) Ten percent of the applicant’s total liabilities.History.—ss. 3, 7, ch. 93-147.
FL Stat § 642.0262 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0262 - Net Worth Required to Maintain Certificate of Authority.

642.0262 Net worth required to maintain certificate of authority.—To maintain a certificate of authority to transact legal expense insurance, a legal expense insurance corporation must maintain a net worth of not less than the greater of:(1) Ten thousand dollars; or(2) Ten percent of the insurer’s total liabilities.History.—ss. 4, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 83, ch. 2000-158.
FL Stat § 642.027 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.027 - Premium Rates.

642.027 Premium rates.—No policy of legal expense insurance may be issued in this state unless the premium rates for the insurance have been filed with and approved by the office. Premium rates shall be established and justified in accordance with generally accepted insurance principles, including, but not limited to, the experience or judgment of the insurer making the rate filing or actuarial computations. The office may disapprove rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Rates are not unfairly discriminatory because they are averaged broadly among persons insured under group, blanket, or franchise policies. The office may require the submission of any other information reasonably necessary in determining whether to approve or disapprove a filing made under this section or s. 642.025.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 20, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1640, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.029 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.029 - Contracts by Insurers.

642.029 Contracts by insurers.—(1) Contracts made between the insurer and participating attorneys, management contracts, or contracts with providers of other services covered by the legal expense insurance policy shall be filed with and approved by the office.(2) An insurer shall annually report to the office the number and geographical distribution of attorneys and providers of other services covered by the legal expense insurance policy with whom it maintains contractual relations and the nature of the relations. The office may require more frequent reports from an insurer or group of insurers.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 7, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1641, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.0301 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0301 - Filing, License, Statement, and Miscellaneous Fees.

642.0301 Filing, license, statement, and miscellaneous fees.—(1) Every legal expense insurance corporation must pay to the office the following fees:(a) Certificate of authority of legal expense insurance corporation. Filing application for original certificate of authority, including all accompanying documents, filing fee..........$250(b) Annual license fee for legal expense insurance corporations..........$300(c) Statements of legal expense insurance corporation:1. Annual statement..........$1002. Quarterly statement..........$25(2) For any service not described in subsection (1), the fee is that prescribed in s. 624.501.History.—ss. 5, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1642, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.032 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.032 - Provisions of General Insurance Law Applicable to Legal Expense Insurance Corporations.

642.032 Provisions of general insurance law applicable to legal expense insurance corporations.—The following provisions of the Florida Insurance Code shall apply to legal expense insurance corporations, to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the provisions of ss. 642.011-642.049:(1) Chapter 624, administration and general provisions.(2) Chapter 625, accounting, investments, and deposits.(3) Chapter 626, part IX, unfair insurance trade practices.(4) Chapter 627, part I, rates and rating organizations, and part II, the insurance contract.(5) Section 628.4615, specialty insurers; acquisition of controlling stock, ownership interest, assets, or control; merger or consolidation.(6) Chapter 631, insurer insolvency; guaranty of payment.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 8, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 15, ch. 86-250; s. 10, ch. 90-248; s. 131, ch. 91-108; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 8, ch. 2001-64.
FL Stat § 642.0331 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0331 - Grounds for Suspension or Revocation of Certificate.

642.0331 Grounds for suspension or revocation of certificate.—(1) The certificate of authority of an insurer, whether issued pursuant to this chapter or the insurance code, may be revoked or suspended, or the office may refuse to renew a certificate of authority, if the office determines that the insurer:(a) Has violated any lawful rule or order of the commission or office or any provision of this chapter.(b) Is in an unsound financial condition which would render its further transaction of business in this state hazardous or injurious to its policyholders, its certificateholders, or the public.(c) Is using such methods or practices in the conduct of its business so as to render its further transaction of business in this state hazardous or injurious to its policyholders, its certificateholders, or the public.(d) Has refused to be examined or to produce its accounts, records, or files for examination, or if any of its officers have refused to give information with respect to its affairs or have refused to perform any other legal obligation as to such examination, when required by the office.(e) Has failed to pay any final judgment rendered against it in this state within 60 days after the judgment became final.(f) Without just cause has refused to pay proper claims or perform services arising under its policies or contracts; without just cause has compelled policyholders or certificateholders to accept less than the amount due them; or has employed attorneys, or has brought suit against the association, to secure full payment or settlement of such claims.(g) Is affiliated with, and under the same general management or interlocking directorate or ownership as, another insurer which transacts business in this state without having a certificate of authority.(2) The office may, pursuant to s. 120.60, in its discretion and without advance notice or hearing thereon, immediately suspend the certificate of any insurer, whether such certificate was issued pursuant to this chapter or the insurance code, if it finds that one or more of the following circumstances exist:(a) The insurer is insolvent or impaired.(b) The deposit required by s. 642.023 is not being maintained.(c) Proceedings for receivership, conservatorship, or rehabilitation or other delinquency proceedings regarding the insurer have been commenced in any state.(d) The financial condition or business practices of the insurer otherwise pose an imminent threat to the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of this state.History.—ss. 9, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1643, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.0334 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0334 - Order; Notice of Suspension or Revocation of Certificate; Effect; Publication.

642.0334 Order; notice of suspension or revocation of certificate; effect; publication.—(1) Suspension or revocation of a certificate of authority of an insurer shall be by order of the office mailed to the corporation by registered or certified mail. The office also shall promptly give notice of such suspension or revocation to the sales representatives in this state of the corporation who are of record in the office of the office. The insurer shall not solicit or write any new contracts in this state during the period of any such suspension or revocation.(2) In its discretion, the office may cause notice of the revocation or suspension to be published in one or more newspapers of general circulation published in this state.History.—ss. 10, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1644, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.0336 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0336 - Duration of Suspension; Obligations During Suspension; Reinstatement.

642.0336 Duration of suspension; obligations during suspension; reinstatement.—(1) Suspension of an insurer’s certificate of authority shall be for such period, not to exceed 1 year, as is fixed in the order of suspension, unless such suspension or the order upon which the suspension is based is modified, rescinded, or reversed.(2) During the period of suspension, the insurer shall file its annual statement and pay fees as required under this chapter as if the certificate of authority had continued in full force.(3) Upon expiration of the period of suspension, if within such period the certificate of authority has not otherwise terminated, the certificate of authority shall automatically be reinstated, unless the causes of the suspension have not been removed or the insurer is otherwise not in compliance with the requirements of this chapter.(4) Upon reinstatement of an insurer’s certificate of authority following suspension, the authority of the sales representatives in this state to represent the insurer shall be reinstated.History.—ss. 11, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147.
FL Stat § 642.0338 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.0338 - Administrative Fine in Lieu of Suspension or Revocation.

642.0338 Administrative fine in lieu of suspension or revocation.—(1) If the office finds that one or more grounds exist for the revocation or suspension of a certificate of authority issued under this chapter, the office may, in lieu of such suspension or revocation, impose a fine upon the insurer.(2) With respect to any nonwillful violation, such fine shall not exceed $1,000 per violation. In no event shall such fine exceed an aggregate amount of $5,000 for all nonwillful violations arising out of the same action. When an insurer discovers a nonwillful violation, the insurer shall correct the violation and, if restitution is due, make restitution to all affected persons. Such restitution shall include interest at 12 percent per year from either the date of the violation or the date of inception of the affected person’s policy, at the insurer’s option. The restitution may be a credit against future premiums due provided that the interest on the restitution will accumulate until the premiums are due. If the amount of restitution due to any person is $50 or more and the insurer wishes to credit it against future premiums, the insurer shall notify such person that it wishes to do so but that the person may receive a check instead of a credit. If the credit is on a policy which is not renewed, the insurer shall pay the restitution to the person to whom it is due.(3) With respect to any knowing and willful violation of an order or rule of the office or commission or a provision of this chapter, the office may impose a fine upon the insurer in an amount not to exceed $5,000 for each such violation. In no event shall such fine exceed an aggregate amount of $25,000 for all knowing and willful violations arising out of the same action. In addition to such fines, such insurer shall make restitution when due in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2).(4) The failure of an insurer to make restitution when due as required under this section constitutes a willful violation of this chapter. However, if an insurer in good faith is uncertain as to whether any restitution is due or as to the amount of such restitution, it shall promptly notify the office of the circumstances, and the failure to make restitution pending a determination thereof will not constitute a violation of this chapter.History.—ss. 12, 21, ch. 83-278; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 1645, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.034 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.034 - License and Appointment Required.

642.034 License and appointment required.—No person may solicit, negotiate, sell, or execute legal expense insurance contracts on behalf of an insurer in this state unless such person is licensed and appointed as a sales representative or is licensed and appointed under the insurance code as a general lines agent. No person licensed and appointed as a legal expense insurance sales representative may solicit, negotiate, sell, or execute any other contract of insurance unless such person is duly licensed and appointed to do so under the provisions of chapter 626.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 13, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 177, ch. 91-108; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 97, ch. 2003-1; s. 72, ch. 2003-267; s. 63, ch. 2003-281.
FL Stat § 642.036 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.036 - Sales Representatives to Be Licensed and Appointed.

642.036 Sales representatives to be licensed and appointed.—Sales representatives of legal expense insurers shall be licensed, appointed, renewed, continued, reinstated, or terminated as prescribed in chapter 626 for insurance representatives in general, and shall pay the license and appointment fees prescribed in s. 624.501. No employee or sales representative of an insurer may directly or indirectly solicit or negotiate insurance contracts, or hold herself or himself out in any manner to be an insurance agent, unless so qualified, licensed, and appointed therefor under the insurance code.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 14, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 21, ch. 85-208; s. 178, ch. 91-108; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 496, ch. 97-102; s. 79, ch. 98-199; s. 98, ch. 2003-1; s. 73, ch. 2003-267; s. 64, ch. 2003-281.
FL Stat § 642.038 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.038 - Reporting and Accounting for Funds.

642.038 Reporting and accounting for funds.—(1) All funds belonging to an insurer or other person received by a sales representative in transactions under his or her license and appointment shall be trust funds so received by such representative in a fiduciary capacity; and the representative, in the applicable regular course of business, shall account for and pay the same to the insurer or other person entitled thereto.(2) Any sales representative who, not being entitled thereto, diverts or appropriates such funds or any portion thereof to his or her own use commits theft as provided in s. 812.014.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 15, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 179, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 92-79; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 497, ch. 97-102; s. 104, ch. 2019-167.
FL Stat § 642.041 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.041 - Grounds for Compulsory Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of License or Appointment of Contracting Sales Representatives.

642.041 Grounds for compulsory refusal, suspension, or revocation of license or appointment of contracting sales representatives.—The department shall, pursuant to the insurance code, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any sales representative or the license or appointment of any general lines agent if it finds that, as to the sales representative or general lines agent, any one or more of the following applicable grounds exist:(1) Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining or attempting to obtain a license or appointment.(2) The license or appointment is willfully used, or to be used, to circumvent any of the requirements or prohibitions of ss. 642.011-642.049.(3) Willful misrepresentation of any legal expense contract or willful deception with regard to any such contract, performed either in person or by any form of dissemination of information or advertising.(4) In the adjustment of claims, material misrepresentation to a contract holder or other interested party of the terms and coverage of a contract, with the intent and for the purpose of settling such claim on less favorable terms than those provided in and contemplated by the contract.(5) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of legal expense insurance.(6) Demonstrated lack of adequate knowledge and technical competence to engage in the transactions authorized by the license or appointment.(7) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or appointment.(8) Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful withholding of moneys belonging to an insurer or other person and received in the conduct of business under the license or appointment.(9) Unlawfully rebating, or attempting to unlawfully rebate, or unlawfully dividing, or offering to divide, his or her commission with another.(10) Willful failure to comply with, or willful violation of, any proper order or rule of the office, commission, or department or willful violation of any provision of ss. 642.011-642.049.(11) Being found guilty of, or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United States of America or any state thereof or under the law of any other country which involves moral turpitude, without regard to whether a judgment of conviction has been entered.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 16, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 55, ch. 88-166; s. 180, ch. 91-108; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 498, ch. 97-102; s. 71, ch. 2002-206; s. 1646, ch. 2003-261.
FL Stat § 642.043 (2021)
2021 Florida Statutes|Title XXXVII - Insurance|Chapter 642 - Legal Expense Insurance|642.043 - Grounds for Discretionary Refusal, Suspension, or Revocation of License or Appointment of Sales Representatives.

642.043 Grounds for discretionary refusal, suspension, or revocation of license or appointment of sales representatives.—The department may, in its discretion, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew or continue the license or appointment of any sales representative if it finds that, as to the representative, any one or more of the following applicable grounds exist under circumstances for which such denial, suspension, revocation, or refusal is not mandatory under s. 642.041:(1) Any cause for which granting of the license or appointment could have been refused had it been known to the department at the time of application.(2) Violation of any provision of ss. 642.011-642.049, or of any other law applicable to the business of legal expense insurance in the course of dealings under the license or appointment.(3) Violation of any lawful order or rule of the office, commission, or department.(4) Failure or refusal to pay over, upon demand, to any insurer he or she represents, or has represented, any money which belongs to the insurer.(5) In the conduct of business under the license or appointment, having engaged in unfair methods of competition or in unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as such methods, acts, or practices are defined under part IX of chapter 626, or having otherwise shown himself or herself to be a source of injury or loss to the public or detrimental to the public interest.(6) Having been found guilty of, or having pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the law of the United States of America or any state thereof or under the law of any other country, whether or not a judgment of conviction has been entered.History.—s. 1, ch. 79-103; s. 2, ch. 81-318; ss. 17, 20, 21, ch. 83-278; s. 55, ch. 87-226; s. 56, ch. 88-166; s. 181, ch. 91-108; ss. 6, 7, ch. 93-147; s. 499, ch. 97-102; s. 9, ch. 2001-64; s. 1647, ch. 2003-261.