2023 Delaware Code › Title 6 - Commerce and Trade › Chapter 24A. DEBT-MANAGEMENT SERVICES › § 2413A. Bond required.

§ 2413A. Bond required.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 2414A of this title, every licensed provider shall file with the Attorney General, in a form satisfactory to the Attorney General, an original corporate surety bond, with surety provided by a corporation authorized to transact business in this State, in the principal sum to be determined by the Attorney General, except that the bond amount shall not be less than $50,000. In determining the amount of the bond required for a licensed provider, the Attorney General shall consider, among other things:
(1) The dollar value of the licensed provider's Delaware business;
(2) The dollar value of all trusts accounts; and
(3) Such other and further criteria as the Attorney General may deem necessary and appropriate.
(b) No bond shall be accepted unless the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) The aggregate value of the bond shall be equal to or greater than the amount determined in accordance with subsection (a) of this section;
(2) The term of the bond shall be commensurate with the license period or continuous;
(3) The expiration date of the bond shall not be earlier than midnight of the date on which the license expires; and
(4) The bond shall run to the state for the benefit of the Attorney General and for the benefit of all consumers injured by any wrongful act, omission, default, fraud or misrepresentation by a licensed provider in the course of its activity as a licensed provider. Compensation under the bond shall be for amounts which represent actual losses and shall not be payable for claims made by business creditors, third-party service providers, agents or persons otherwise in the employ of the licensed provider. Surety claims shall be paid to the Attorney General, for the credit of the State Consumer Protection Fund created under § 2527 of this title, by the insurer not later than 90 days after receipt of a claim. Claims paid after 90 days shall be subject to daily interest at the legal rate. The aggregate liability of the surety on the bond, exclusive of any interest which accrues for payments made after 90 days, shall in no event exceed the amount of such bond.
(c) If the licensed provider changes its surety company or the bond is otherwise amended, the licensed provider shall immediately provide the Attorney General with the amended original copy of the surety bond. No cancellation of any existing bond by a surety shall be effective unless written notice of its intention to cancel is filed with the Attorney General at least 30 days before the date upon which cancellation shall take effect.
(d) The Attorney General may require potential claimants to provide such documentation and affirmations as the Attorney General may determine to be necessary and appropriate. In the event the Attorney General determines that multiple consumers have been injured by a licensed provider, the Attorney General shall cause a notice to be published for the purpose of identifying all relevant claims.
(e) When a surety company receives a claim against the bond of a licensed provider, it shall immediately notify the Attorney General and shall not pay any claim unless and until it receives notice to do so from the Attorney General.
(f) The Attorney General shall have a period of 2 calendar years after the effective date of cancellation or termination of the surety bond by the insurer to submit claims to the insurer.
75 Del. Laws, c. 430, §  1;