HB1954eng 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1954 Engrossed LRB100 04579 SMS 14585 b

AN ACT concerning regulation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Insurance Code is amended by changing Sections 143.14 and 143.17 as follows:

(215 ILCS 5/143.14) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.14)

Sec. 143.14. Notice of cancellation.

(a) No notice of cancellation of any policy of insurance, to which Section 143.11 applies, shall be effective unless mailed by the company to the named insured and the mortgage or lien holder, at the last mailing address known by the company. The company shall maintain proof of mailing of such notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U. S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. Notification of the cancellation A copy of all such notices shall also be sent to the insured's broker if known, or the agent of record, if known, and to the mortgagee or lien holder listed on the policy at the last mailing address known to the company. For purposes of this Section, the mortgage or lien holder, insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record may opt to accept notification electronically.

(b) Whenever a financed insurance contract is cancelled, the insurer shall return whatever gross unearned premiums are due under the insurance contract or contracts not to exceed the unpaid balance due the premium finance company directly to the premium finance company effecting the cancellation for the account of the named insured. The return premium must be mailed to the premium finance company within 60 days. The request for the unearned premium by the premium finance company shall be in the manner of a monthly account, current accounting by producer, policy number, unpaid balance and name of insured for each cancelled amount. In the event the insurance contract or contracts are subject to audit, the insurer shall retain the right to withhold the return of the portion of premium that can be identified to the contract or contracts until the audit is completed. Within 30 days of the completion of the audit, if a premium retained by the insurer after crediting the earned premium would result in a surplus, the insurer shall return the surplus directly to the premium finance company. If the audit should result in an additional premium due the insurer, the obligation for the collection of this premium shall fall upon the insurer and not affect any other contract or contracts currently being financed by the premium finance company for the named insured.

(c) Whenever a premium finance agreement contains a power of attorney enabling the premium finance company to cancel any insurance contract or contracts in the agreement, the insurer shall honor the date of cancellation as set forth in the request from the premium finance company without requiring the return of the insurance contract or contracts. The insurer may mail to the named insured an acknowledgment of the notice of cancellation from the premium finance company but the named insured shall not incur any additional premium charge for any extension of coverage. The insurer need not maintain proof of mailing of this notice.

(d) All statutory regulatory and contractual restrictions providing that the insurance contract may not be cancelled unless the required notice is mailed to a governmental agency, mortgagee, lienholder, or other third party shall apply where cancellation is effected under a power of attorney under a premium finance agreement. The insurer shall have the right for a premium charge for this extension of coverage.

(Source: P.A. 93-713, eff. 1-1-05.)

(215 ILCS 5/143.17) (from Ch. 73, par. 755.17)

Sec. 143.17. Notice of intention not to renew.

a. No company shall fail to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13, to which Section 143.11 applies, unless it shall send by mail to the named insured at least 30 days advance notice of its intention not to renew. The company shall maintain proof of mailing of such notice on a recognized U.S. Post Office form or a form acceptable to the U. S. Post Office or other commercial mail delivery service. Notification of the intention not to renew An exact and unaltered copy of such notice shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record and to any the mortgagee or lien holder listed on the policy at the last mailing address known by the company. For purposes of this Section, the mortgagee or lien holder, insured's broker, or the agent of record may opt to accept notification electronically. However, where cancellation is for nonpayment of premium, the notice of cancellation must be mailed at least 10 days before the effective date of the cancellation.

b. This Section does not apply if the company has manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. Such written notice shall specify the premium amount payable, including any premium payment plan available, and the name of any person or persons, if any, authorized to receive payment on behalf of the company. If no person is so authorized, the premium notice shall so state. The notice of nonrenewal and the proof of mailing shall be effected on the same date.

b-5. This Section does not apply if the company manifested its willingness to renew directly to the named insured. However, no company may impose changes in deductibles or coverage for any policy forms applicable to an entire line of business enumerated in subsections (a), (b), (c), and (h) of Section 143.13 to which Section 143.11 applies unless the company mails to the named insured written notice of the change in deductible or coverage at least 60 days prior to the renewal or anniversary date. An exact and unaltered copy of the notice shall also be sent to the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record.

c. Should a company fail to comply with (a) or (b) of this Section, the policy shall terminate only on the effective date of any similar insurance procured by the insured with respect to the same subject or location designated in both policies.

d. Renewal of a policy does not constitute a waiver or estoppel with respect to grounds for cancellation which existed before the effective date of such renewal.

e. In all notices of intention not to renew any policy of insurance, as defined in Section 143.11 the company shall provide a specific explanation of the reasons for nonrenewal.

f. For purposes of this Section, the insured's broker, if known, or the agent of record and the mortgagee or lien holder may opt to accept notification electronically.

(Source: P.A. 93-713, eff. 1-1-05.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 1, 2018.