Senate File 2392 - Enrolled

PAG LIN



  1  1                                         SENATE FILE 2392
  1  2
  1  3                             AN ACT
  1  4 TO REGULATE VIATICAL SETTLEMENTS, AND PROVIDING FOR FEES AND
  1  5    PENALTIES.
  1  6
  1  7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  1  8
  1  9    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  508E.1A  SHORT TITLE.
  1 10    This Act may be cited as the "Viatical Settlements Act".
  1 11    Sec. 2.  Section 508E.2, Code 2007, is amended to read as
  1 12 follows:
  1 13    508E.2  DEFINITIONS.
  1 14    As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise
  1 15 requires:
  1 16    1.  "Advertising" means any written, electronic, or printed
  1 17 communication or any communication by means of recorded
  1 18 telephone messages or transmitted on radio; television; the
  1 19 internet; or similar communications media, including film
  1 20 strips, motion pictures, and videos, published, disseminated,
  1 21 circulated, or placed directly before the public in this
  1 22 state, for the purpose of creating an interest in or inducing
  1 23 a person to sell, assign, devise, bequest, or transfer the
  1 24 death benefit or ownership of a life insurance policy pursuant
  1 25 to a viatical settlement contract.
  1 26    2.  "Business of viatical settlements" means an activity
  1 27 involved in but not limited to the offering, soliciting,
  1 28 negotiating, procuring, effectuating, purchasing, investing,
  1 29 financing, monitoring, tracking, underwriting, selling,
  1 30 transferring, assigning, pledging, hypothecating, or in any
  1 31 other manner acquiring an interest in a life insurance policy
  1 32 by means of a viatical settlement contract.
  1 33    1.  3.  "Chronically ill" means any of the following:
  1 34    a.  Being unable to perform or maintain at least two
  1 35 activities of daily living, including but not limited to
  2  1 eating, toileting, transferring, bathing, dressing, or
  2  2 continence.
  2  3    b.  Requiring substantial supervision to protect the
  2  4 individual from threats to health and safety due to severe
  2  5 cognitive impairment.
  2  6    c.  Having a level of disability similar to that described
  2  7 in paragraph "a" as determined by the United States secretary
  2  8 of health and human services.
  2  9    2.  4.  "Commissioner" means the commissioner of insurance.
  2 10    5.  a.  "Financing entity" means an underwriter, placement
  2 11 agent, lender, purchaser of securities, purchaser of a policy
  2 12 or certificate from a viatical settlement provider, credit
  2 13 enhancer, or any entity that has a direct ownership in a
  2 14 policy or certificate that is the subject of a viatical
  2 15 settlement contract, but subject to all of the following:
  2 16    (1)  Whose principal activity related to the transaction is
  2 17 providing funds to effect the viatical settlement or purchase
  2 18 of one or more viaticated policies.
  2 19    (2)  Who has an agreement in writing with one or more
  2 20 licensed viatical settlement providers to finance the
  2 21 acquisition of viatical settlement contracts.
  2 22    b.  "Financing entity" does not include a nonaccredited
  2 23 investor or a viatical settlement purchaser.
  2 24    6.  "Fraudulent viatical settlement act" includes any of
  2 25 the following:
  2 26    a.  An act or omission committed by any person who,
  2 27 knowingly or with intent to defraud, for the purpose of
  2 28 depriving another of property or for pecuniary gain, commits
  2 29 or permits its employees or its agents to engage in acts
  2 30 including any of the following:
  2 31    (1)  Presenting, causing to be presented, or preparing with
  2 32 knowledge or belief that it will be presented to or by a
  2 33 viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker,
  2 34 viatical settlement purchaser, financing entity, insurer,
  2 35 insurance producer, or any other person, false material
  3  1 information, or concealing material information, as part of,
  3  2 in support of, or concerning a fact material to one or more of
  3  3 the following:
  3  4    (a)  An application for the issuance of a viatical
  3  5 settlement contract or insurance policy.
  3  6    (b)  The underwriting of a viatical settlement contract or
  3  7 insurance policy.
  3  8    (c)  A claim for payment or benefit pursuant to a viatical
  3  9 settlement contract or insurance policy.
  3 10    (d)  Premiums paid on an insurance policy.
  3 11    (e)  Payments and changes in ownership or beneficiary made
  3 12 in accordance with the terms of a viatical settlement contract
  3 13 or insurance policy.
  3 14    (f)  The reinstatement or conversion of an insurance
  3 15 policy.
  3 16    (g)  In the solicitation, offer, effectuation, or sale of a
  3 17 viatical settlement contract or insurance policy.
  3 18    (h)  The issuance of written evidence of viatical
  3 19 settlement contract or insurance policy.
  3 20    (i)  A financing transaction.
  3 21    (2)  Employing any plan, financial structure, device,
  3 22 scheme, or artifice to defraud related to viaticated policies.
  3 23    (3)  Entering into any practice or plan which involves
  3 24 stranger=originated life insurance.
  3 25    (4)  Failing to disclose to the insurer when requested by
  3 26 the insurer that the prospective insured has undergone a life
  3 27 expectancy evaluation by any person or entity other than the
  3 28 insurer or its authorized representative in connection with
  3 29 the issuance of the policy.
  3 30    b.  In the furtherance of a fraud or to prevent the
  3 31 detection of a fraud to do, or permit an employee or agent to
  3 32 do, any of the following:
  3 33    (1)  Remove, conceal, alter, destroy, or sequester from the
  3 34 commissioner the assets or records of a licensee or other
  3 35 person engaged in the business of viatical settlements.
  4  1    (2)  Misrepresent or conceal the financial condition of a
  4  2 licensee, financing entity, insurer, or other person.
  4  3    (3)  Transact the business of viatical settlements in
  4  4 violation of laws requiring a license, certificate of
  4  5 authority, or other legal authority for the transaction of the
  4  6 business of viatical settlements.
  4  7    (4)  File with the commissioner or the equivalent chief
  4  8 insurance regulatory official of another jurisdiction a
  4  9 document containing false information or otherwise conceal
  4 10 information about a material fact from the commissioner.
  4 11    c.  Embezzlement, theft, misappropriation, or conversion of
  4 12 moneys, funds, premiums, credits, or other property of a
  4 13 viatical settlement provider, insurer, insured, viator,
  4 14 insurance policyowner, or any other person engaged in the
  4 15 business of viatical settlements or insurance.
  4 16    d.  Recklessly entering into, negotiating, brokering, or
  4 17 otherwise dealing in a viatical settlement contract, the
  4 18 subject of which is a life insurance policy that was obtained
  4 19 by presenting false information concerning any fact material
  4 20 to the policy or by concealing, for the purpose of misleading
  4 21 another, information concerning any fact material to the
  4 22 policy, where the person or the persons intended to defraud
  4 23 the policy's issuer, the viatical settlement provider, or the
  4 24 viator.  As used in this paragraph, "recklessly" means
  4 25 engaging in the conduct in conscious and clearly unjustifiable
  4 26 disregard of a substantial likelihood of the existence of the
  4 27 relevant facts or risks, such disregard involving a gross
  4 28 deviation from acceptable standards of conduct.
  4 29    e.  Facilitating the change of state of ownership of a
  4 30 policy or certificate or the state of residency of a viator to
  4 31 a state or jurisdiction that does not have a law similar to
  4 32 this chapter for the express purposes of evading or avoiding
  4 33 the provisions of this chapter.
  4 34    f.  Attempting to commit, assisting, aiding or abetting in
  4 35 the commission of, or conspiracy to commit the acts or
  5  1 omissions specified in this subsection.
  5  2    7.  "Life insurance producer" means any person licensed in
  5  3 this state as a resident or nonresident insurance producer who
  5  4 has received qualification or authority for life insurance
  5  5 coverage or a life line of coverage pursuant to chapter 522B.
  5  6    8.  "Person" means a natural person or a legal entity,
  5  7 including, without limitation, an individual, partnership,
  5  8 limited liability company, association, trust, or corporation.
  5  9    9.  "Policy" means an individual or group policy, group
  5 10 certificate, contract, or arrangement of life insurance owned
  5 11 by a resident of this state, regardless of whether delivered
  5 12 or issued for delivery in this state.
  5 13    10.  "Related provider trust" means a titling trust or
  5 14 other trust established by a licensed viatical settlement
  5 15 provider or a financing entity for the sole purpose of holding
  5 16 the ownership or beneficial interest in purchased policies in
  5 17 connection with a financing transaction.  The trust shall have
  5 18 a written agreement with the licensed viatical settlement
  5 19 provider under which the licensed viatical settlement provider
  5 20 is responsible for ensuring compliance with all statutory and
  5 21 regulatory requirements and under which the trust agrees to
  5 22 make all records and files related to viatical settlement
  5 23 transactions available to the commissioner as if those records
  5 24 and files were maintained directly by the licensed viatical
  5 25 settlement provider.
  5 26    11.  "Special purpose entity" means a corporation,
  5 27 partnership, trust, limited liability company, or other
  5 28 similar entity formed solely to provide either directly or
  5 29 indirectly access to institutional capital markets for or in
  5 30 connection with any of the following:
  5 31    a.  For a financing entity or licensed viatical settlement
  5 32 provider.
  5 33    b.  (1)  In connection with a transaction in which the
  5 34 securities in the special purposes entity are acquired by the
  5 35 viator or by qualified institutional buyers as defined in 17
  6  1 C.F.R. } 230.144 promulgated by the United States securities
  6  2 and exchange commission under the federal Securities Act of
  6  3 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. } 77a et seq.
  6  4    (2)  In connection with a transaction in which the
  6  5 securities pay a fixed rate of return commensurate with
  6  6 established asset=backed institutional capital markets.
  6  7    12.  "Stranger=originated life insurance" means a practice
  6  8 or an act to initiate a life insurance policy for the benefit
  6  9 of a third=party investor who, at the time of policy
  6 10 origination, has no insurable interest in the insured.
  6 11    a.  Stranger=originated life insurance practices include
  6 12 cases in which life insurance is purchased with resources or
  6 13 guarantees from or through a person or entity who, at the time
  6 14 of the policy inception, could not lawfully initiate the
  6 15 policy by the person or entity, and where, at the time of the
  6 16 policy's inception, there is an arrangement or agreement,
  6 17 whether verbal or written, to directly or indirectly transfer
  6 18 the ownership of the policy or the policy benefits to a third
  6 19 party.  Trusts that are created to give the appearance of an
  6 20 insurable interest, and are used to initiate policies for
  6 21 investors, violate insurable interest laws and the prohibition
  6 22 against wagering on life.
  6 23    b.  Stranger=originated life insurance arrangements do not
  6 24 include those practices set forth in subsection 15, paragraph
  6 25 "d".
  6 26    3.  13.  "Terminally ill" means having an illness or
  6 27 sickness that can reasonably be expected to result in death in
  6 28 twenty=four months or less.
  6 29    14.  "Viatical settlement broker" means a person, including
  6 30 a life insurance producer as provided for in section 508E.3,
  6 31 who, working exclusively on behalf of a viator and for a fee,
  6 32 commission, or other valuable consideration, offers or
  6 33 attempts to negotiate viatical settlement contracts between a
  6 34 viator and one or more viatical settlement providers or one or
  6 35 more viatical settlement brokers.  Notwithstanding the manner
  7  1 in which the viatical settlement broker is compensated, a
  7  2 viatical settlement broker is deemed to represent only the
  7  3 viator, and not the insurer or the viatical settlement
  7  4 provider, and owes a fiduciary duty to the viator to act
  7  5 according to the viator's instructions and in the best
  7  6 interest of the viator.  "Viatical settlement broker" does not
  7  7 include an attorney, certified public accountant, or a
  7  8 financial planner accredited by a nationally recognized
  7  9 accreditation agency who is retained to represent the viator
  7 10 and whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by
  7 11 the viatical settlement provider or purchaser.
  7 12    4.  15.  a.  "Viatical settlement contract" means a written
  7 13 agreement entered into between a viator and a viatical
  7 14 settlement provider and a person who owns or is insured under
  7 15 a life insurance or any affiliate of the viatical settlement
  7 16 provider establishing the terms under which compensation or
  7 17 anything of value is or will be paid, which compensation or
  7 18 value is less than the expected death benefits of the policy
  7 19 in return for the viator's present or future assignment,
  7 20 transfer, sale, devise, or bequest of the death benefit or
  7 21 ownership of any portion of the insurance policy or
  7 22 certificate, or who owns or is covered under a group life of
  7 23 insurance policy.
  7 24    b.  "Viatical settlement contract" includes a premium
  7 25 finance loan made for a life insurance policy by a lender to a
  7 26 viator on, before, or after the date of issuance of the policy
  7 27 where any of the following applies:
  7 28    (1)  The viator or the insured receives on the date of the
  7 29 premium finance loan a guarantee of a future viatical
  7 30 settlement value of the policy.
  7 31    (2)  The viator or the insured agrees on the date of the
  7 32 premium finance loan to sell the policy or any portion of its
  7 33 death benefit on any date following the issuance of the
  7 34 policy.
  7 35    c.  "Viatical settlement contract" also includes the
  8  1 transfer for compensation or value of ownership or beneficial
  8  2 interest in a trust or other entity that owns a life insurance
  8  3 policy if the trust or other entity was formed or availed of
  8  4 for the principal purpose of acquiring one or more life
  8  5 insurance policies, which life insurance policy insures the
  8  6 life of a person residing in this state.
  8  7    d.  "Viatical settlement contract" does not mean a written
  8  8 agreement entered into between a viator and a person having an
  8  9 insurable interest in the viator's life. include any of the
  8 10 following:
  8 11    (1)  A policy loan or accelerated death benefit made by the
  8 12 insurer pursuant to the policy's terms.
  8 13    (2)  Loan proceeds that are used solely to pay any of the
  8 14 following:
  8 15    (a)  Premiums for the policy.
  8 16    (b)  The costs of the loan, including, without limitation,
  8 17 interest, arrangement fees, utilization fees and similar fees,
  8 18 closing costs, legal fees and expenses, trustee fees and
  8 19 expenses, and third=party collateral provider fees and
  8 20 expenses, including fees payable to letter of credit issuers.
  8 21    (3)  A loan made by a bank or other licensed financial
  8 22 institution in which the lender takes an interest in a life
  8 23 insurance policy solely to secure repayment of a loan or, if
  8 24 there is a default on the loan and the policy is transferred,
  8 25 the transfer of such a policy by the lender, provided that
  8 26 neither the default itself nor the transfer of the policy in
  8 27 connection with such default is pursuant to an agreement or
  8 28 understanding with any other person for the purpose of evading
  8 29 regulation under this chapter.
  8 30    (4)  A loan made by a lender that does not violate
  8 31 insurance premium finance law, provided that the premium
  8 32 finance loan is not described in paragraph "b".
  8 33    (5)  An agreement where all the parties are closely related
  8 34 to the insured by blood or law; have a lawful substantial
  8 35 economic interest in the continued life, health, and bodily
  9  1 safety of the person insured; or are trusts established
  9  2 primarily for the benefit of such parties.
  9  3    (6)  Any designation, consent, or agreement by an insured
  9  4 who is an employee of an employer in connection with the
  9  5 purchase by the employer, or trust established by the
  9  6 employer, of life insurance on the life of the employee.
  9  7    (7)  A bona fide business succession planning arrangement
  9  8 between one or more of the following:
  9  9    (a)  Shareholders in a corporation or between a corporation
  9 10 and one or more of its shareholders or one or more trusts
  9 11 established by its shareholders.
  9 12    (b)  Partners in a partnership or between a partnership and
  9 13 one or more of its partners or one or more trusts established
  9 14 by its partners.
  9 15    (c)  Members in a limited liability company or between a
  9 16 limited liability company and one or more of its members or
  9 17 one or more trusts established by its members.
  9 18    (8)  An agreement entered into by a service recipient, or a
  9 19 trust established by the service recipient, and a service
  9 20 provider, or a trust established by the service provider, who
  9 21 performs significant services for the service recipient's
  9 22 trade or business.
  9 23    (9)  Any other contract, transaction, or arrangement
  9 24 exempted from the definition of viatical settlement contract
  9 25 by the commissioner based on a determination that the
  9 26 contract, transaction, or arrangement is not of the type
  9 27 intended to be regulated by this chapter.
  9 28    16.  a.  "Viatical settlement provider" means a person,
  9 29 other than a viator, that enters into or effectuates a
  9 30 viatical settlement contract with a viator resident in this
  9 31 state.
  9 32    b.  "Viatical settlement provider" does not include any of
  9 33 the following:
  9 34    (1)  A bank, savings bank, savings and loan association,
  9 35 credit union, or other licensed lending institution that takes
 10  1 an assignment of a life insurance policy solely as collateral
 10  2 for a loan.
 10  3    (2)  The issuer of the life insurance policy.
 10  4    (3)  An authorized or eligible insurer that provides
 10  5 stop=loss coverage or financial guaranty insurance to a
 10  6 viatical settlement provider, purchaser, financing entity,
 10  7 special purpose entity, or related provider trust.
 10  8    (4)  A natural person who enters into or effectuates no
 10  9 more than one agreement in a calendar year for the transfer of
 10 10 life insurance policies for any value less than the expected
 10 11 death benefit.
 10 12    (5)  A financing entity.
 10 13    (6)  A special purpose entity.
 10 14    (7)  A related provider trust.
 10 15    (8)  A viatical settlement purchaser.
 10 16    (9)  Any other person that the commissioner determines is
 10 17 not the type of person intended to be covered by the
 10 18 definition of viatical settlement provider.
 10 19    17.  a.  "Viatical settlement purchaser" means a person who
 10 20 provides a sum of money as consideration for a life insurance
 10 21 policy or an interest in the death benefits of a life
 10 22 insurance policy, or a person who owns or acquires or is
 10 23 entitled to a beneficial interest in a trust that owns a
 10 24 viatical settlement contract or is the beneficiary of a life
 10 25 insurance policy that has been or will be the subject of a
 10 26 viatical settlement contract, for the purpose of deriving an
 10 27 economic benefit.
 10 28    b.  "Viatical settlement purchaser" does not include any of
 10 29 the following:
 10 30    (1)  A licensee under this chapter.
 10 31    (2)  An accredited investor or qualified institutional
 10 32 buyer as defined, respectively, in 17 C.F.R. } 230.501(a) or
 10 33 17 C.F.R. } 230.144A as promulgated by the United States
 10 34 securities and exchange commission under the federal
 10 35 Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. } 77a et seq.
 11  1    (3)  A financing entity.
 11  2    (4)  A special purpose entity.
 11  3    (5)  A related provider trust.
 11  4    18.  "Viaticated policy" means a life insurance policy or
 11  5 certificate that has been acquired by a viatical settlement
 11  6 provider pursuant to a viatical settlement contract.
 11  7    5.  19.  a.  "Viator" means a person selling the owner of a
 11  8 life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group
 11  9 policy who resides in this state and enters or seeks to enter
 11 10 into a viatical settlement contract.  "Viator" includes but is
 11 11 not limited to an owner of a life insurance policy or a
 11 12 certificate holder under a group policy insuring the life of
 11 13 an individual with a terminal or chronic illness or condition
 11 14 except where specifically addressed.  If there is more than
 11 15 one viator on a single policy and the viators are residents of
 11 16 different states, the transaction shall be governed by the law
 11 17 of the state in which the viator having the largest percentage
 11 18 ownership resides or, if the viators hold equal ownership, the
 11 19 state of residence of one viator agreed upon in writing by all
 11 20 the viators.
 11 21    b.  "Viator" does not include any of the following:
 11 22    (1)  A licensee under this chapter, including a life
 11 23 insurance producer acting as a viatical settlement broker
 11 24 pursuant to this chapter.
 11 25    (2)  A qualified institutional buyer as defined in 17
 11 26 C.F.R. } 230.144=144A as promulgated by the United States
 11 27 securities and exchange commission under the federal
 11 28 Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. } 77a et seq.
 11 29    (3)  A financing entity.
 11 30    (4)  A special purpose entity.
 11 31    (5)  A related provider trust.
 11 32    Sec. 3.  Section 508E.3, Code 2007, is amended by striking
 11 33 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
 11 34    508E.3  LICENSE REQUIREMENTS.
 11 35    1.  a.  A person shall not operate as a viatical settlement
 12  1 provider or viatical settlement broker without first obtaining
 12  2 a license from the commissioner of the state of residence of
 12  3 the viator.
 12  4    b.  (1)  A life insurance producer who has been duly
 12  5 licensed as a resident insurance producer with a life line of
 12  6 authority in this state or the life insurance producer's home
 12  7 state for at least one year and is licensed as a nonresident
 12  8 producer in this state shall be deemed to meet the licensing
 12  9 requirements of this section and shall be permitted to operate
 12 10 as a viatical settlement broker.
 12 11    (2)  Not later than thirty days from the first day of
 12 12 operating as a viatical settlement broker, the life insurance
 12 13 producer shall notify the commissioner that the life insurance
 12 14 producer is acting as a viatical settlement broker on a form
 12 15 prescribed by the commissioner, and shall pay any applicable
 12 16 fee of up to one hundred dollars as provided by rules adopted
 12 17 by the commissioner.  The notification shall include an
 12 18 acknowledgment by the life insurance producer that the life
 12 19 insurance producer will operate as a viatical settlement
 12 20 broker in accordance with this chapter.
 12 21    (3)  The insurer that issued the policy being viaticated
 12 22 shall not be responsible for any act or omission of a viatical
 12 23 settlement broker or viatical settlement provider arising out
 12 24 of or in connection with the viatical settlement transaction,
 12 25 unless the insurer receives compensation for the placement of
 12 26 a viatical settlement contract from the viatical settlement
 12 27 provider or viatical settlement broker in connection with the
 12 28 viatical settlement contract.
 12 29    c.  A person licensed as an attorney, certified public
 12 30 accountant, or financial planner accredited by a nationally
 12 31 recognized accreditation agency who is retained to represent
 12 32 the viator, whose compensation is not paid directly or
 12 33 indirectly by the viatical settlement provider, may negotiate
 12 34 viatical settlement contracts on behalf of the viator without
 12 35 having to obtain a license as a viatical settlement broker.
 13  1    2.  An application for a viatical settlement provider or
 13  2 viatical settlement broker license shall be made to the
 13  3 commissioner by the applicant on a form prescribed by the
 13  4 commissioner, and the application shall be accompanied by a
 13  5 fee of not more than one hundred dollars as provided by rules
 13  6 adopted by the commissioner.
 13  7    3.  A license may be renewed from year to year on the
 13  8 anniversary date upon payment of the annual renewal fee of not
 13  9 more than one hundred dollars as provided by rules adopted by
 13 10 the commissioner.  A failure to pay the fee by the renewal
 13 11 date results in expiration of the license.
 13 12    4.  An applicant shall provide information on forms
 13 13 required by the commissioner.  The commissioner shall have
 13 14 authority, at any time, to require the applicant to fully
 13 15 disclose the identity of all stockholders, partners, officers,
 13 16 members, and employees, and the commissioner may, in the
 13 17 exercise of the commissioner's discretion, refuse to issue a
 13 18 license in the name of a legal entity if not satisfied that
 13 19 any officer, employee, stockholder, partner, or member thereof
 13 20 who may materially influence the applicant's conduct meets the
 13 21 standards of this chapter.
 13 22    5.  A license issued to a legal entity authorizes all
 13 23 partners, officers, members, and designated employees to act
 13 24 as viatical settlement providers or viatical settlement
 13 25 brokers, as applicable, under the license, and all those
 13 26 persons shall be named in the application and any supplements
 13 27 to the application.
 13 28    6.  Upon the filing of an application and the payment of
 13 29 the license fee, the commissioner shall make an investigation
 13 30 of each applicant and issue a license if the commissioner
 13 31 finds that the applicant complies with all of the following:
 13 32    a.  If a viatical settlement provider, has provided a
 13 33 detailed plan of operation.
 13 34    b.  Is competent and trustworthy and intends to act in good
 13 35 faith in the capacity involved by the license applied for.
 14  1    c.  Has a good business reputation and has had experience,
 14  2 training, or education so as to be qualified in the business
 14  3 for which the license is applied for.
 14  4    d.  If a legal entity, provides a certificate of good
 14  5 standing from the state of its domicile.
 14  6    e.  If a viatical settlement provider or viatical
 14  7 settlement broker, has provided an antifraud plan that meets
 14  8 the requirements of section 508E.15, subsection 7.
 14  9    7.  The commissioner shall not issue a license to a
 14 10 nonresident applicant unless a written designation of an agent
 14 11 for service of process is filed and maintained with the
 14 12 commissioner or the applicant has filed with the commissioner
 14 13 the applicant's written irrevocable consent that any action
 14 14 against the applicant may be commenced against the applicant
 14 15 by service of process on the commissioner.
 14 16    8.  A viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement
 14 17 broker shall provide to the commissioner new or revised
 14 18 information about officers, ten=percent=or=more stockholders,
 14 19 partners, directors, members, or designated employees within
 14 20 thirty days of the change.
 14 21    9.  An individual licensed as a viatical settlement broker
 14 22 shall complete on a biennial basis fifteen hours of training
 14 23 related to viatical settlements and viatical settlement
 14 24 transactions, as required by the commissioner; provided,
 14 25 however, that a life insurance producer who is operating as a
 14 26 viatical settlement broker pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph
 14 27 "b", shall not be subject to the requirements of this
 14 28 subsection.  Any person failing to meet the requirements of
 14 29 this subsection shall be subject to the penalties imposed by
 14 30 the commissioner.
 14 31    10.  Fees collected pursuant to this section shall be
 14 32 deposited into the general fund of the state.
 14 33    Sec. 4.  Section 508E.4, Code 2007, is amended by striking
 14 34 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
 14 35    508E.4  LICENSE REVOCATION AND DENIAL.
 15  1    1.  The commissioner may refuse to issue, suspend, revoke,
 15  2 or refuse to renew the license of a viatical settlement
 15  3 provider or viatical settlement broker if the commissioner
 15  4 finds that any of the following applies:
 15  5    a.  There was any material misrepresentation in the
 15  6 application for the license.
 15  7    b.  The licensee or any officer, partner, member, or key
 15  8 management personnel has been convicted of fraudulent or
 15  9 dishonest practices, is subject to a final administrative
 15 10 action, or is otherwise shown to be untrustworthy or
 15 11 incompetent.
 15 12    c.  The viatical settlement provider demonstrates a pattern
 15 13 of unreasonable payments to viators.
 15 14    d.  The licensee or any officer, partner, member, or key
 15 15 management personnel has been found guilty of, or has pleaded
 15 16 guilty or nolo contendere to, any felony, or to a misdemeanor
 15 17 involving fraud or moral turpitude, regardless of whether a
 15 18 judgment of conviction has been entered by the court.
 15 19    e.  The viatical settlement provider has entered into any
 15 20 viatical settlement contract form that has not been approved
 15 21 pursuant to this chapter.
 15 22    f.  The viatical settlement provider has failed to honor
 15 23 contractual obligations set out in a viatical settlement
 15 24 contract.
 15 25    g.  The licensee no longer meets the requirements for
 15 26 initial licensure.
 15 27    h.  The viatical settlement provider has assigned,
 15 28 transferred, or pledged a viaticated policy to a person other
 15 29 than a viatical settlement provider licensed in this state,
 15 30 viatical settlement purchaser, an accredited investor, or
 15 31 qualified institutional buyer as defined respectively in 17
 15 32 C.F.R. } 230.501(a) or 17 C.F.R. } 230.144A as promulgated by
 15 33 the United States securities and exchange commission under the
 15 34 federal Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 15 U.S.C. } 77a et
 15 35 seq., a financing entity, special purpose entity, or related
 16  1 provider trust.
 16  2    i.  The licensee or any officer, partner, member, or key
 16  3 management personnel has violated any provision of this
 16  4 chapter.
 16  5    2.  The commissioner may suspend, revoke, or refuse to
 16  6 renew the license of a viatical settlement broker or a life
 16  7 insurance producer operating as a viatical settlement broker
 16  8 pursuant to this chapter if the commissioner finds that the
 16  9 viatical settlement broker or life insurance producer has
 16 10 violated the provisions of this chapter or has otherwise
 16 11 engaged in bad faith conduct with one or more viators.
 16 12    3.  If the commissioner denies a license application or
 16 13 suspends, revokes, or refuses to renew the license of a
 16 14 viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker, or
 16 15 suspends, revokes, or refuses to renew a license of a life
 16 16 insurance producer operating as a viatical settlement broker
 16 17 pursuant to this chapter, the commissioner shall conduct a
 16 18 hearing in accordance with chapter 17A.
 16 19    Sec. 5.  NEW SECTION.  508E.5  APPROVAL OF VIATICAL
 16 20 SETTLEMENT CONTRACTS AND DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS.
 16 21    A person shall not use a viatical settlement contract form
 16 22 or provide to a viator a disclosure statement form in this
 16 23 state unless first filed with and approved by the
 16 24 commissioner.  The commissioner shall disapprove a viatical
 16 25 settlement contract form or disclosure statement form if, in
 16 26 the commissioner's opinion, the contract or provisions
 16 27 contained therein fail to meet the requirements of sections
 16 28 508E.8, 508E.10, 508E.14, and 508E.15, subsection 2, or are
 16 29 unreasonable, contrary to the interests of the public, or
 16 30 otherwise misleading or unfair to the viator.  At the
 16 31 commissioner's discretion, the commissioner may require the
 16 32 submission of advertising material.  The commissioner's
 16 33 approval of any of the materials shall not be a defense or
 16 34 otherwise preclude a civil action for fraud.
 16 35    Sec. 6.  NEW SECTION.  508E.6  REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND
 17  1 PRIVACY.
 17  2    1.  For any policy settled within five years of policy
 17  3 issuance, each viatical settlement provider shall file with
 17  4 the commissioner on or before March 1 of each year an annual
 17  5 statement containing such information as the commissioner may
 17  6 adopt by rule.  In addition to any other requirements, the
 17  7 annual statement shall specify the total number, aggregate
 17  8 face amount, and life settlement proceeds of policies settled
 17  9 during the immediately preceding calendar year, together with
 17 10 a breakdown of the information by policy issue year.  The
 17 11 annual statement shall also include the names of the insurance
 17 12 companies whose policies have been settled and the viatical
 17 13 settlement brokers that have settled said policies.  Such
 17 14 information shall be limited to only those transactions where
 17 15 the viator is a resident of this state.  Notwithstanding
 17 16 chapter 22, individual transaction data regarding the business
 17 17 of viatical settlements or data that could compromise the
 17 18 privacy of personal, financial, and health information of the
 17 19 viator or insured shall be filed with the commissioner on a
 17 20 confidential basis.
 17 21    2.  Except as otherwise allowed or required by law, a
 17 22 viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker,
 17 23 insurance company, insurance producer, information bureau,
 17 24 rating agency or company, or any other person with actual
 17 25 knowledge of an insured's identity shall not disclose that
 17 26 identity as an insured, or the insured's financial or medical
 17 27 information to any other person unless the disclosure is any
 17 28 of the following:
 17 29    a.  Necessary to effect a viatical settlement between the
 17 30 viator and a viatical settlement provider and the viator and
 17 31 insured have provided prior written consent to the disclosure.
 17 32    b.  Provided in response to an investigation or examination
 17 33 by the commissioner or any other governmental officer or
 17 34 agency or pursuant to the requirements of section 508E.15,
 17 35 subsection 3.
 18  1    c.  A term of or condition to the transfer of a policy by
 18  2 one viatical settlement provider to another viatical
 18  3 settlement provider.
 18  4    d.  Necessary to permit a financing entity, related
 18  5 provider trust, or special purpose entity to finance the
 18  6 purchase of policies by a viatical settlement provider and the
 18  7 viator and insured have provided prior written consent to the
 18  8 disclosure.
 18  9    e.  Necessary to allow the viatical settlement provider,
 18 10 viatical settlement broker, or their authorized
 18 11 representatives to make contacts for the purpose of
 18 12 determining health status.
 18 13    f.  Required to purchase stop=loss coverage or financial
 18 14 guaranty insurance.
 18 15    Sec. 7.  NEW SECTION.  508E.7  EXAMINATION OR
 18 16 INVESTIGATIONS.
 18 17    1.  AUTHORITY, SCOPE, AND SCHEDULING OF EXAMINATIONS.
 18 18    a.  (1)  The commissioner may conduct an examination under
 18 19 this chapter of a licensee as often as the commissioner in the
 18 20 commissioner's discretion deems appropriate after considering
 18 21 the factors set forth in this paragraph "a".
 18 22    (2)  In scheduling and determining the nature, scope, and
 18 23 frequency of the examinations, the commissioner shall consider
 18 24 such matters as the consumer complaints, results of financial
 18 25 statement analyses and ratios, changes in management or
 18 26 ownership, actuarial opinions, reports of independent
 18 27 certified public accountants, and other relevant criteria as
 18 28 determined by the commissioner.
 18 29    b.  For purposes of completing an examination of a licensee
 18 30 under this chapter, the commissioner may examine or
 18 31 investigate any person, or the business of any person, in so
 18 32 far as the examination or investigation is, in the sole
 18 33 discretion of the commissioner, necessary or material to the
 18 34 examination of the licensee.
 18 35    c.  In lieu of an examination under this chapter of any
 19  1 foreign or alien licensee licensed in this state, the
 19  2 commissioner may, at the commissioner's discretion, accept an
 19  3 examination report on the licensee as prepared by the
 19  4 commissioner for the licensee's state of domicile or
 19  5 port=of=entry state.
 19  6    d.  As far as practical, the examination of a foreign or
 19  7 alien licensee shall be made in cooperation with the insurance
 19  8 supervisory officials of other states in which the licensee
 19  9 transacts business.
 19 10    2.  RECORD RETENTION REQUIREMENTS.
 19 11    a.  A person required to be licensed pursuant to section
 19 12 508E.3 shall for five years retain copies of all of the
 19 13 following:
 19 14    (1)  Proposed, offered, or executed contracts, purchase
 19 15 agreements, underwriting documents, policy forms, and
 19 16 applications from the date of the proposal, offer, or
 19 17 execution of the contract or purchase agreement, whichever is
 19 18 later.
 19 19    (2)  All checks, drafts, or other evidence and
 19 20 documentation related to the payment, transfer, deposit, or
 19 21 release of funds from the date of the transaction.
 19 22    (3)  All other records and documents related to the
 19 23 requirements of this chapter.
 19 24    b.  This section does not relieve a person of the
 19 25 obligation to produce documents described in paragraph "a" to
 19 26 the commissioner after the retention period has expired if the
 19 27 person has retained the documents.
 19 28    c.  Records required to be retained by paragraph "a" must
 19 29 be legible and complete and may be retained in paper,
 19 30 photograph, microprocess, magnetic, mechanical, or electronic
 19 31 media, or by any process that accurately reproduces or forms a
 19 32 durable medium for the reproduction of a record.
 19 33    3.  CONDUCT OF EXAMINATIONS.
 19 34    a.  Upon determining that an examination should be
 19 35 conducted, the commissioner shall issue an examination warrant
 20  1 appointing one or more examiners to perform the examination
 20  2 and instructing them as to the scope of the examination.  In
 20  3 conducting the examination, the examiner shall observe those
 20  4 guidelines and procedures set forth in the examiners handbook
 20  5 adopted by the national association of insurance
 20  6 commissioners.  The commissioner may also adopt rules for such
 20  7 other guidelines or procedures as the commissioner may deem
 20  8 appropriate.
 20  9    b.  Every licensee or person from whom information is
 20 10 sought, its officers, directors, and agents shall provide to
 20 11 the examiners timely, convenient, and free access at all
 20 12 reasonable hours at its offices to all books, records,
 20 13 accounts, papers, documents, assets, and computer or other
 20 14 recordings relating to the property, assets, business, and
 20 15 affairs of the licensee being examined.  The officers,
 20 16 directors, employees, and agents of the licensee or person
 20 17 shall facilitate the examination and aid in the examination so
 20 18 far as it is in their power to do so.  The refusal of a
 20 19 licensee, by its officers, directors, employees, or agents, to
 20 20 submit to examination or to comply with any reasonable written
 20 21 request of the commissioner shall be grounds for suspension or
 20 22 refusal of, or nonrenewal of, any license or authority held by
 20 23 the licensee to engage in the viatical settlement business or
 20 24 other business subject to the commissioner's jurisdiction.
 20 25 Any proceedings for suspension, revocation, or refusal of any
 20 26 license or authority shall be conducted pursuant to section
 20 27 507B.6A.
 20 28    c.  The commissioner shall have the power to issue
 20 29 subpoenas, to administer oaths, and to examine under oath any
 20 30 person as to any matter pertinent to the examination.  Upon
 20 31 the failure or refusal of a person to obey a subpoena, the
 20 32 commissioner may petition a court of competent jurisdiction,
 20 33 and upon proper showing, the court may enter an order
 20 34 compelling the witness to appear and testify or produce
 20 35 documentary evidence.  A failure to obey the court order shall
 21  1 be punishable as contempt of court.
 21  2    d.  When making an examination under this chapter, the
 21  3 commissioner may retain attorneys, appraisers, independent
 21  4 actuaries, independent certified public accountants, or other
 21  5 professionals and specialists as examiners, the reasonable
 21  6 cost of which shall be borne by the licensee that is the
 21  7 subject of the examination.
 21  8    e.  Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to
 21  9 limit the commissioner's authority to terminate or suspend an
 21 10 examination in order to pursue other legal or regulatory
 21 11 action pursuant to the insurance laws of this state.  Findings
 21 12 of fact and conclusions made pursuant to any examination shall
 21 13 be prima facie evidence in any legal or regulatory action.
 21 14    f.  The commissioner's authority to use and, if
 21 15 appropriate, to make public any final or preliminary
 21 16 examination report, any examiner or licensee workpapers, or
 21 17 other documents, or any other information discovered or
 21 18 developed during the course of any examination in the
 21 19 furtherance of any legal or regulatory action shall be
 21 20 permitted consistent with section 507.14.
 21 21    4.  EXAMINATION REPORTS.
 21 22    a.  Examination reports shall be comprised of only facts
 21 23 appearing upon the books, records, or other documents of the
 21 24 licensee, its agents, or other persons examined, or as
 21 25 ascertained from the testimony of its officers, agents, or
 21 26 other persons examined concerning its affairs, and such
 21 27 conclusions and recommendations as the examiners find
 21 28 reasonably warranted from the facts.
 21 29    b.  Not later than sixty days following completion of the
 21 30 examination, the examiner in charge shall file with the
 21 31 commissioner a verified written report of examination under
 21 32 oath.  Upon receipt of the verified report, the commissioner
 21 33 shall transmit the report to the licensee examined, together
 21 34 with a notice that shall afford the licensee examined a
 21 35 reasonable opportunity of not more than thirty days to make a
 22  1 written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters
 22  2 contained in the examination report.
 22  3    c.  In the event the commissioner determines that
 22  4 regulatory action is appropriate as a result of an
 22  5 examination, the commissioner may initiate any proceedings or
 22  6 actions provided by law.
 22  7    5.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF EXAMINATION INFORMATION.
 22  8    a.  Notwithstanding chapter 22, the names and individual
 22  9 identification data for all viators shall be considered
 22 10 private and confidential information and shall not be
 22 11 disclosed by the commissioner, unless required by law.
 22 12    b.  Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all
 22 13 examination reports, working papers, recorded information,
 22 14 documents, and copies thereof produced by, obtained by, or
 22 15 disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in the
 22 16 course of an examination made under this chapter, or in the
 22 17 course of an analysis or investigation by the commissioner of
 22 18 the financial condition or market conduct of a licensee, shall
 22 19 be confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to
 22 20 chapter 22, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be
 22 21 subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private
 22 22 civil action.  The commissioner is authorized to use the
 22 23 documents, materials, or other information in the furtherance
 22 24 of any regulatory or legal action brought as part of the
 22 25 commissioner's official duties.  All examination reports,
 22 26 working papers, recorded information, documents, and their
 22 27 copies produced by, obtained by, or disclosed to the
 22 28 commissioner or any other person in the course of an
 22 29 examination made under this chapter, or in the course of an
 22 30 analysis or investigation by the commissioner of the financial
 22 31 condition or market conduct of a licensee shall be privileged
 22 32 and confidential in any judicial or administrative proceeding
 22 33 except for any of the following:
 22 34    (1)  An administrative proceeding brought by the insurance
 22 35 division under chapter 17A.
 23  1    (2)  A judicial review proceeding under chapter 17A brought
 23  2 by an insurer to whom the records relate.
 23  3    (3)  An action or proceeding which arises out of the
 23  4 criminal provisions of the laws of this state or the United
 23  5 States.
 23  6    c.  Documents, materials, or other information, including
 23  7 but not limited to all working papers and copies, in the
 23  8 possession or control of the national association of insurance
 23  9 commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries shall be
 23 10 confidential by law and privileged, shall not be subject to
 23 11 chapter 22, shall not be subject to subpoena, and shall not be
 23 12 subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private
 23 13 civil action if they are any of the following:
 23 14    (1)  Created, produced, or obtained by or disclosed to the
 23 15 national association of insurance commissioners and its
 23 16 affiliates and subsidiaries in the course of assisting an
 23 17 examination made under this chapter, or assisting the
 23 18 commissioner in the analysis or investigation of the financial
 23 19 condition or market conduct of a licensee.
 23 20    (2)  Disclosed to the national association of insurance
 23 21 commissioners and its affiliates and subsidiaries under
 23 22 paragraph "d" by the commissioner.
 23 23    (3)  For the purposes of paragraph "b", "chapter" includes
 23 24 the law of another state or jurisdiction that is substantially
 23 25 similar to this chapter.
 23 26    d.  In order to assist in the performance of the
 23 27 commissioner's duties, the commissioner may do all of the
 23 28 following:
 23 29    (1)  Share documents, materials, or other information,
 23 30 including the confidential and privileged documents,
 23 31 materials, or information subject to paragraph "a", with other
 23 32 state, federal, and international regulatory agencies, with
 23 33 the national association of insurance commissioners and its
 23 34 affiliates and subsidiaries, and with state, federal, and
 23 35 international law enforcement authorities, provided that the
 24  1 recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality and
 24  2 privileged status of the documents, materials, communications,
 24  3 or other information.
 24  4    (2)  Receive documents, materials, communications, or
 24  5 information, including otherwise confidential and privileged
 24  6 documents, materials, or information, from the national
 24  7 association of insurance commissioners and its affiliates and
 24  8 subsidiaries, notwithstanding chapter 22, and from regulatory
 24  9 and law enforcement officials of other foreign or domestic
 24 10 jurisdictions, and shall maintain as confidential or
 24 11 privileged any documents, materials, or information received
 24 12 with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or
 24 13 privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the
 24 14 source of the documents, materials, or information.
 24 15    (3)  Enter into agreements governing sharing and use of
 24 16 information consistent with section 507.14, subsection 4.
 24 17    e.  No waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of
 24 18 confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information
 24 19 shall occur as a result of disclosure to the commissioner
 24 20 under this section or as a result of sharing as authorized in
 24 21 paragraph "c".
 24 22    f.  A privilege established under the law of any state or
 24 23 jurisdiction that is substantially similar to the privilege
 24 24 established under this subsection shall be available and
 24 25 enforced in any proceeding in, and in any court of, this
 24 26 state.
 24 27    g.  Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent or be
 24 28 construed as prohibiting the commissioner from disclosing the
 24 29 content of an examination report, preliminary examination
 24 30 report or results, or any matter relating thereto, to the
 24 31 commissioner of any other state or country, or to law
 24 32 enforcement officials of this or any other state or agency of
 24 33 the federal government at any time or to the national
 24 34 association of insurance commissioners, so long as such agency
 24 35 or office receiving the report or matters relating thereto
 25  1 agrees in writing to hold it confidential and in a manner
 25  2 consistent with this chapter.
 25  3    6.  CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
 25  4    a.  An examiner may not be appointed by the commissioner if
 25  5 the examiner, either directly or indirectly, has a conflict of
 25  6 interest or is affiliated with the management of or owns a
 25  7 pecuniary interest in any person subject to examination under
 25  8 this chapter.  This section shall not be construed to
 25  9 automatically preclude an examiner from being any of the
 25 10 following:
 25 11    (1)  A viator.
 25 12    (2)  An insured in a viaticated insurance policy.
 25 13    (3)  A beneficiary in an insurance policy that is proposed
 25 14 to be viaticated.
 25 15    b.  Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph "a", the
 25 16 commissioner may retain from time to time, on an individual
 25 17 basis, qualified actuaries, certified public accountants, or
 25 18 other similar individuals who are independently practicing
 25 19 their professions, even though these persons may from time to
 25 20 time be similarly employed or retained by persons subject to
 25 21 examination under this chapter.
 25 22    7.  COST OF EXAMINATIONS.
 25 23    a.  The commissioner may appoint insurance examiners who,
 25 24 while conducting examinations, shall possess all the powers
 25 25 conferred upon the commissioner for such purposes.  The entire
 25 26 time of the examiners shall be under the control of the
 25 27 commissioner, and shall be employed as the commissioner may
 25 28 direct.
 25 29    b.  The commissioner may, when in the commissioner's
 25 30 judgment it is advisable, appoint assistants to aid in making
 25 31 examinations.  The examiners shall be compensated on the basis
 25 32 of the normal workweek of the insurance division at a salary
 25 33 to be fixed by the commissioner subject, however, to the
 25 34 provisions of section 505.14.  The compensation shall be paid
 25 35 from appropriations for such purposes upon certification of
 26  1 the commissioner, which shall be reimbursed as provided in
 26  2 sections 507.8 and 507.9.
 26  3    c.  When making an examination under this chapter, the
 26  4 commissioner may retain attorneys, appraisers, independent
 26  5 actuaries, independent certified public accountants, or other
 26  6 professionals and specialists as examiners, the reasonable
 26  7 cost of which shall be borne by the company which is the
 26  8 subject of the examination.
 26  9    d.  The commissioner shall, upon the completion of an
 26 10 examination, or at such regular intervals prior to completion
 26 11 as the commissioner determines, prepare an account of the
 26 12 costs incurred in performing and preparing the report of such
 26 13 examinations which shall be charged to and paid by the company
 26 14 examined, and upon failure or refusal of a company examined to
 26 15 pay such costs, the same may be recovered by the commissioner
 26 16 or the attorney general in an action brought in the name of
 26 17 the state, and the commissioner may also revoke the
 26 18 certificate of authority of such company to transact business
 26 19 within this state.
 26 20    8.  IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.
 26 21    a.  No cause of action shall arise, nor shall any liability
 26 22 be imposed, against the commissioner, the commissioner's
 26 23 authorized representatives, or any examiner appointed by the
 26 24 commissioner for any statements made or conduct performed
 26 25 reasonably and in good faith while carrying out the provisions
 26 26 of this chapter.
 26 27    b.  No cause of action shall arise, nor shall any liability
 26 28 be imposed, against any person for the act of communicating or
 26 29 delivering information or data to the commissioner or the
 26 30 commissioner's authorized representative or examiner pursuant
 26 31 to an examination made under this chapter, if the act of
 26 32 communication or delivery was performed reasonably and in good
 26 33 faith and without fraudulent intent or the intent to deceive.
 26 34 This paragraph does not abrogate or modify in any way any
 26 35 common law or statutory privilege or immunity heretofore
 27  1 enjoyed by any person identified in paragraph "a".
 27  2    9.  INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY OF THE COMMISSIONER.  The
 27  3 commissioner may investigate suspected fraudulent viatical
 27  4 settlement acts and persons engaged in the business of
 27  5 viatical settlements.
 27  6    Sec. 8.  NEW SECTION.  508E.8  DISCLOSURE TO VIATOR.
 27  7    1.  With each application for a viatical settlement, a
 27  8 viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker
 27  9 shall provide the viator with at least the following
 27 10 disclosures no later than the time the application for the
 27 11 viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties.  The
 27 12 disclosures shall be provided in a separate document that is
 27 13 signed by the viator and the viatical settlement provider or
 27 14 viatical settlement broker, and shall provide all of the
 27 15 following information:
 27 16    a.  There are possible alternatives to viatical settlement
 27 17 contracts including any accelerated death benefits or policy
 27 18 loans offered under the viator's life insurance policy.
 27 19    b.  That a viatical settlement broker represents
 27 20 exclusively the viator, and not the insurer or the viatical
 27 21 settlement provider, and owes a fiduciary duty to the viator,
 27 22 including a duty to act according to the viator's instructions
 27 23 and in the best interest of the viator.
 27 24    c.  Some or all of the proceeds of the viatical settlement
 27 25 may be taxable under federal income tax and state franchise
 27 26 and income taxes, and assistance should be sought from a
 27 27 professional tax advisor.
 27 28    d.  Proceeds of the viatical settlement could be subject to
 27 29 the claims of creditors.
 27 30    e.  Receipt of the proceeds of a viatical settlement may
 27 31 adversely affect the viator's eligibility for Medicaid or
 27 32 other government benefits or entitlements, and advice should
 27 33 be obtained from the appropriate government agencies.
 27 34    f.  The viator has the right to rescind a viatical
 27 35 settlement contract before the earlier of thirty days after
 28  1 the date upon which the viatical settlement contract is
 28  2 executed by all parties or fifteen days after the viatical
 28  3 settlement proceeds have been paid to the viator, as provided
 28  4 in section 508E.10, subsection 3.  Recision, if exercised by
 28  5 the viator, is effective only if both notice of the recision
 28  6 is given, and the viator repays all proceeds and any premiums,
 28  7 loans, and loan interest paid on account of the viatical
 28  8 settlement within the recision period.  If the insured dies
 28  9 during the recision period, the viatical settlement contract
 28 10 shall be deemed to have been rescinded, subject to repayment
 28 11 by the viator or the viator's estate of all viatical
 28 12 settlement proceeds and any premiums, loans, and loan interest
 28 13 that have been paid by the viatical settlement provider or
 28 14 purchaser within sixty days of the insured's death.
 28 15    g.  Funds will be sent to the viator within three business
 28 16 days after the viatical settlement provider has received the
 28 17 insurer's or group administrator's written acknowledgment that
 28 18 ownership of the policy or interest in the certificate has
 28 19 been transferred and the beneficiary has been designated.
 28 20    h.  Entering into a viatical settlement contract may cause
 28 21 other rights or benefits, including conversion rights and
 28 22 waiver of premium benefits, that may exist under the policy or
 28 23 certificate, to be forfeited by the viator.  Assistance should
 28 24 be sought from a financial adviser.
 28 25    i.  Disclosure to a viator shall include distribution of a
 28 26 brochure describing the process of viatical settlements.  The
 28 27 national association of insurance commissioners form for the
 28 28 brochure shall be used unless another form is developed or
 28 29 approved by the commissioner.
 28 30    j.  The disclosure document shall contain the following
 28 31 language:
 28 32    "All medical, financial, or personal information solicited
 28 33 or obtained by a viatical settlement provider or viatical
 28 34 settlement broker about an insured, including the insured's
 28 35 identity or the identity of family members, a spouse, or a
 29  1 significant other may be disclosed as necessary to effect the
 29  2 viatical settlement between the viator and the viatical
 29  3 settlement provider.  If you are asked to provide this
 29  4 information, you will be asked to consent to the disclosure.
 29  5 The information may be provided to someone who buys the policy
 29  6 or provides funds for the purchase.  You may be asked to renew
 29  7 your permission to share information every two years."
 29  8    k.  Following execution of a viatical contract, the insured
 29  9 may be contacted for the purpose of determining the insured's
 29 10 health status and to confirm the insured's residential or
 29 11 business street address and telephone number, or as otherwise
 29 12 provided in this chapter.  This contact shall be limited to
 29 13 once every three months if the insured has a life expectancy
 29 14 of more than one year, and no more than once per month if the
 29 15 insured has a life expectancy of one year or less.  All such
 29 16 contracts shall be made only by a duly licensed viatical
 29 17 settlement provider or by the authorized representative of a
 29 18 duly licensed viatical settlement provider.
 29 19    2.  A viatical settlement provider shall provide the viator
 29 20 with at least the following disclosures no later than the date
 29 21 the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties.
 29 22 The disclosures shall be conspicuously displayed in the
 29 23 viatical settlement contract or in a separate document signed
 29 24 by the viator and provide all of the following information:
 29 25    a.  The affiliation, if any, between the viatical
 29 26 settlement provider and the issuer of the insurance policy to
 29 27 be viaticated.
 29 28    b.  The name, business address, and telephone number of the
 29 29 viatical settlement provider.
 29 30    c.  If an insurance policy to be viaticated has been issued
 29 31 as a joint policy or involves family riders or any coverage of
 29 32 a life other than the insured under the policy to be
 29 33 viaticated, a notice of the viator's possible loss of coverage
 29 34 on the other lives under the policy and to consult with the
 29 35 viator's insurance producer or the insurer issuing the policy
 30  1 for advice on the proposed viatical settlement.
 30  2    d.  The dollar amount of the current death benefit payable
 30  3 to the viatical settlement provider under the policy or
 30  4 certificate.  If known, the viatical settlement provider shall
 30  5 also disclose the availability of any additional guaranteed
 30  6 insurance benefits, the dollar amount of any accidental death
 30  7 and dismemberment benefits under the policy or certificate,
 30  8 and the extent to which the viator's interest in those
 30  9 benefits will be transferred as a result of the viatical
 30 10 settlement contract.
 30 11    e.  Whether the funds will be escrowed with an independent
 30 12 third party during the transfer process, and if so, provide
 30 13 the name, business address, and telephone number of the
 30 14 independent third=party escrow agent, and the fact that the
 30 15 viator or owner may inspect or receive copies of the relevant
 30 16 escrow or trust agreements or documents.
 30 17    3.  A viatical settlement broker shall provide the viator
 30 18 with at least the following disclosures no later than the date
 30 19 the viatical settlement contract is signed by all parties.
 30 20 The disclosures shall be conspicuously displayed in the
 30 21 viatical settlement contract or in a separate document signed
 30 22 by the viator and provide all of the following information:
 30 23    a.  The name, business address, and telephone number of the
 30 24 viatical settlement broker.
 30 25    b.  A full, complete, and accurate description of all
 30 26 offers, counteroffers, acceptances, and rejections relating to
 30 27 the proposed viatical settlement contract.
 30 28    c.  Any affiliations or contractual arrangements between
 30 29 the viatical settlement broker and any person making an offer
 30 30 in connection with the proposed viatical settlement contracts.
 30 31    d.  The amount and method of calculating the broker's
 30 32 compensation.  As used in this paragraph, "compensation"
 30 33 includes anything of value paid or given to a viatical
 30 34 settlement broker for the placement of a policy.
 30 35    e.  Where any portion of the viatical settlement broker's
 31  1 compensation, as defined in paragraph "d", is taken from a
 31  2 proposed viatical settlement offer, the broker shall disclose
 31  3 the total amount of the viatical settlement offer and the
 31  4 percentage of the viatical settlement offer comprised by the
 31  5 viatical settlement broker's compensation.
 31  6    4.  If the viatical settlement provider transfers ownership
 31  7 or changes the beneficiary of the insurance policy, the
 31  8 viatical settlement provider shall communicate in writing the
 31  9 change in ownership or beneficiary to the insured within
 31 10 twenty days after the change.
 31 11    5.  A viatical settlement provider shall provide the
 31 12 viatical settlement purchaser with at least the following
 31 13 disclosures prior to the date the viatical settlement purchase
 31 14 agreement is signed by all parties.  The disclosures shall be
 31 15 conspicuously displayed in any viatical purchase contract or
 31 16 in a separate document signed by the viatical settlement
 31 17 purchaser and viatical settlement provider or viatical
 31 18 settlement investment agent, and shall make the following
 31 19 disclosure to the viatical settlement purchaser:
 31 20    a.  The viatical settlement purchaser will receive no
 31 21 returns including dividends and interest, until the insured
 31 22 dies and a death claim payment is made.
 31 23    b.  The actual annual rate of return on a viatical
 31 24 settlement contract is dependent upon an accurate projection
 31 25 of the insured's life expectancy, and the actual date of the
 31 26 insured's death.  An annual "guaranteed" rate of return is not
 31 27 determinable.
 31 28    c.  The viaticated life insurance contract should not be
 31 29 considered a liquid purchase since it is impossible to predict
 31 30 the exact timing of its maturity and the funds probably are
 31 31 not available until the death of the insured.  There is no
 31 32 established secondary market for resale of these products by
 31 33 the viatical settlement purchaser.
 31 34    d.  The viatical settlement purchaser may lose all benefits
 31 35 or may receive substantially reduced benefits if the insurer
 32  1 goes out of business during the term of the viatical
 32  2 investment.
 32  3    e.  The viatical settlement purchaser is responsible for
 32  4 payment of the insurance premium or other costs related to the
 32  5 policy, if required by the terms of the viatical purchase
 32  6 agreement.  These payments may reduce the viatical settlement
 32  7 purchaser's return.  If a party other than the viatical
 32  8 settlement purchaser is responsible for the payment, the name
 32  9 and address of that party also shall be disclosed.
 32 10    f.  The viatical settlement purchaser is responsible for
 32 11 payment of the insurance premiums or other costs related to
 32 12 the policy if the insured returns to health.  The viatical
 32 13 settlement provider shall disclose the amount of such
 32 14 premiums, if applicable.
 32 15    g.  The name, business address, and telephone number of the
 32 16 independent third party providing escrow services and the
 32 17 relationship to the viatical settlement broker.
 32 18    h.  The amount of any trust fees or other expenses to be
 32 19 charged to the viatical settlement purchaser shall be
 32 20 disclosed.
 32 21    i.  Whether the viatical settlement purchaser is entitled
 32 22 to a refund of all or part of the viatical settlement
 32 23 purchaser's investment under the viatical settlement contract
 32 24 if the policy is later determined to be null and void.
 32 25    j.  That group policies may contain limitations or caps in
 32 26 the conversion rights, that additional premiums may have to be
 32 27 paid if the policy is converted, the name of the party
 32 28 responsible for the payment of the additional premiums, and,
 32 29 if a group policy is terminated and replaced by another group
 32 30 policy, that there may be no right to convert the original
 32 31 coverage.
 32 32    k.  The risks associated with policy contestability
 32 33 including but not limited to the risk that the viatical
 32 34 settlement purchaser will have no claim or only a partial
 32 35 claim to death benefits should the insurer rescind the policy
 33  1 within the contestability period.
 33  2    l.  Whether the viatical settlement purchaser will be the
 33  3 owner of the policy in addition to being the beneficiary, and
 33  4 if the viatical settlement purchaser is the beneficiary only
 33  5 and not also the owner, the special risks associated with that
 33  6 status, including but not limited to the risk that the
 33  7 beneficiary may be changed or the premium may not be paid.
 33  8    m.  The experience and qualifications of the person who
 33  9 determines the life expectancy of the insured, including
 33 10 in=house staff, independent physicians, and specialty firms
 33 11 that weigh medical and actuarial data; the information this
 33 12 projection is based on; and the relationship of the projection
 33 13 maker to the viatical settlement provider, if any.
 33 14    n.  A brochure describing the process of investment in
 33 15 viatical settlements.  The national association of insurance
 33 16 commissioners form for the brochure shall be used unless
 33 17 another form is developed and approved by the commissioner.
 33 18    6.  A viatical settlement provider shall provide the
 33 19 viatical settlement purchaser with at least the following
 33 20 disclosures no later than at the time of the assignment,
 33 21 transfer, or sale of all or a portion of an insurance policy.
 33 22 The disclosures shall be contained in a document signed by the
 33 23 viatical settlement purchaser and viatical settlement
 33 24 provider, and shall make all of the following disclosures to
 33 25 the viatical settlement purchaser:
 33 26    a.  All the life expectancy certifications obtained by the
 33 27 provider in the process of determining the price paid to the
 33 28 viator.
 33 29    b.  Whether premium payments or other costs related to the
 33 30 policy have been escrowed.  If escrowed, state the date upon
 33 31 which the escrowed funds will be depleted and whether the
 33 32 viatical settlement purchaser will be responsible for payment
 33 33 of premiums thereafter and, if so, the amount of the premiums.
 33 34    c.  Whether premium payments or other costs related to the
 33 35 policy have been waived.  If waived, disclose whether the
 34  1 viatical settlement purchaser will be responsible for payment
 34  2 of the premiums if the insurer that wrote the policy
 34  3 terminates the waiver after purchase and the amount of those
 34  4 premiums.
 34  5    d.  The type of policy offered or sold, i.e., whole life,
 34  6 term life, universal life, or a group policy certificate, any
 34  7 additional benefits contained in the policy, and the current
 34  8 status of the policy.
 34  9    e.  If the policy is term insurance, the special risks
 34 10 associated with term insurance including but not limited to
 34 11 the viatical settlement purchaser's responsibility for
 34 12 additional premiums if the viator continues the term policy at
 34 13 the end of the current term.
 34 14    f.  Whether the policy is contestable.
 34 15    g.  Whether the insurer that wrote the policy has any
 34 16 additional rights that could negatively affect or extinguish
 34 17 the viatical settlement purchaser's rights under the viatical
 34 18 settlement contract, what these rights are, and under what
 34 19 conditions these rights are activated.
 34 20    h.  The name and address of the person responsible for
 34 21 monitoring the insured's condition.  The viatical settlement
 34 22 provider shall describe how often the monitoring of the
 34 23 insured's condition is done, how the date of death is
 34 24 determined, and how and when this information will be
 34 25 transmitted to the viatical settlement purchaser.
 34 26    Sec. 9.  NEW SECTION.  508E.9  DISCLOSURE TO INSURER.
 34 27    A viatical settlement broker, or viatical settlement
 34 28 provider, shall fully disclose to an insurer a transaction or
 34 29 series of transactions to which the viatical settlement broker
 34 30 or viatical settlement provider is a party to originate,
 34 31 renew, continue, or finance a life insurance policy with the
 34 32 insurer for the purpose of engaging in the business of
 34 33 viatical settlements at any time prior to, or during the first
 34 34 five years after, issuance of the policy.
 34 35    Sec. 10.  NEW SECTION.  508E.10  GENERAL RULES.
 35  1    1.  a.  A viatical settlement provider entering into a
 35  2 viatical settlement contract shall first obtain all of the
 35  3 following:
 35  4    (1)  If the viator is the insured, a written statement from
 35  5 a licensed attending physician that the viator is of sound
 35  6 mind and under no constraint or undue influence to enter into
 35  7 a viatical settlement contract.
 35  8    (2)  A document in which the insured consents to the
 35  9 release of the insured's medical records to a licensed
 35 10 viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker, and,
 35 11 if the policy was issued less than two years from the date of
 35 12 application for a viatical settlement contract, the insurance
 35 13 company that issued the life insurance policy covering the
 35 14 life of the insured.
 35 15    b.  Within twenty days after a viator executes documents
 35 16 necessary to transfer any rights under an insurance policy or
 35 17 within twenty days of entering any agreement, option, promise,
 35 18 or any other form of understanding, expressed or implied, to
 35 19 viaticate the policy, the viatical settlement provider shall
 35 20 give written notice to the insurer that issued that insurance
 35 21 policy that the policy has or will become a viaticated policy.
 35 22 The notice shall be accompanied by the documents required by
 35 23 paragraph "c".
 35 24    c.  The viatical provider shall deliver a copy of the
 35 25 medical release required under paragraph "a", subparagraph
 35 26 (2), a copy of the viator's application for the viatical
 35 27 settlement contract, the notice required under paragraph "b",
 35 28 and a request for verification of coverage to the insurer that
 35 29 issued the life policy that is the subject of the viatical
 35 30 transaction.  The national association of insurance
 35 31 commissioners form for verification of coverage shall be used
 35 32 unless another form is developed and approved by the
 35 33 commissioner.
 35 34    d.  The insurer shall respond to a request for verification
 35 35 of coverage submitted on an approved form by a viatical
 36  1 settlement provider or viatical settlement broker within
 36  2 thirty days of the date the request is received and shall
 36  3 indicate whether, based on the medical evidence and documents
 36  4 provided, the insurer intends to pursue an investigation at
 36  5 this time regarding the validity of the insurance contract or
 36  6 possible fraud.  The insurer shall accept a request for
 36  7 verification of coverage made on a national association of
 36  8 insurance commissioners form or any other form developed and
 36  9 approved by the commissioner.  The insurer shall accept an
 36 10 original, facsimile, or electronic copy of such request and
 36 11 any accompanying authorization signed by the viator.  A
 36 12 failure by the insurer to meet its obligations under this
 36 13 subsection shall be a violation of sections 508E.11 and
 36 14 508E.17.
 36 15    e.  Prior to or at the time of execution of the viatical
 36 16 settlement contract, the viatical settlement provider shall
 36 17 obtain a witnessed document in which the viator consents to
 36 18 the viatical settlement contract, represents that the viator
 36 19 has a full and complete understanding of the viatical
 36 20 settlement contract, that the viator has a full and complete
 36 21 understanding of the benefits of the life insurance policy,
 36 22 acknowledges that the viator is entering into the viatical
 36 23 settlement contract freely and voluntarily, and, for persons
 36 24 with a terminal or chronic illness or condition, acknowledges
 36 25 that the insured has a terminal or chronic illness or
 36 26 condition and that the terminal or chronic illness or
 36 27 condition was diagnosed after the life insurance policy was
 36 28 issued.
 36 29    f.  If a viatical settlement broker performs any of these
 36 30 activities required of the viatical settlement provider, the
 36 31 viatical settlement provider is deemed to have fulfilled the
 36 32 requirements of this section.
 36 33    2.  All medical information solicited or obtained by any
 36 34 licensee shall be subject to the applicable provisions of
 36 35 state law relating to confidentiality of medical information,
 37  1 including section 505.8.
 37  2    3.  All viatical settlement contracts entered into in this
 37  3 state shall provide the viator with an absolute right to
 37  4 rescind the contract before the earlier of thirty days after
 37  5 the date upon which the viatical settlement contract is
 37  6 executed by all parties or fifteen days after the viatical
 37  7 settlement proceeds have been sent to the viator as provided
 37  8 in section 508E.10, subsection 4.  Recision by the viator may
 37  9 be conditioned upon the viator both giving notice and repaying
 37 10 to the viatical settlement provider within the recision period
 37 11 all viatical settlement proceeds, and any premiums, loans, and
 37 12 loan interest paid by or on behalf of the viatical settlement
 37 13 provider in connection with or as a consequence of the
 37 14 viatical settlement.  If the insured dies during the recision
 37 15 period, the viatical settlement contract shall be deemed to
 37 16 have been rescinded, subject to repayment to the viatical
 37 17 settlement provider or purchaser of all viatical settlement
 37 18 proceeds, and any premiums, loans, and loan interest that have
 37 19 been paid by the viatical settlement provider or purchaser,
 37 20 which shall be paid within sixty days of the death of the
 37 21 insured.  In the event of any recision, if the viatical
 37 22 settlement provider has paid commissions or other compensation
 37 23 to a viatical settlement broker in connection with the
 37 24 rescinded transaction, the viatical settlement broker shall
 37 25 refund all such commissions and compensation to the viatical
 37 26 settlement provider within five business days following
 37 27 receipt of written demand from the viatical settlement
 37 28 provider, which demand shall be accompanied by either the
 37 29 viator's notice of recision if rescinded at the election of
 37 30 the viator, or a notice of the death of the insured if
 37 31 rescinded by reason of the death of the insured within the
 37 32 applicable recision period.
 37 33    4.  The viatical settlement provider shall instruct the
 37 34 viator to send the executed documents required to effect the
 37 35 change in ownership, assignment, or change in beneficiary
 38  1 directly to the independent escrow agent.  Within three
 38  2 business days after the date the escrow agent receives the
 38  3 document, or from the date the viatical settlement provider
 38  4 receives the documents, if the viator erroneously provides the
 38  5 documents directly to the viatical settlement provider, the
 38  6 viatical settlement provider shall pay or transfer the
 38  7 viatical settlement proceeds into an escrow or trust account
 38  8 maintained in a state or federally chartered financial
 38  9 institution whose deposits are insured by the federal deposit
 38 10 insurance corporation.  Upon payment of the viatical
 38 11 settlement proceeds into the escrow account, the escrow agent
 38 12 shall deliver the original change in ownership, assignment, or
 38 13 change in beneficiary forms to the viatical settlement
 38 14 provider or related provider trust, or other designated
 38 15 representative of the viatical settlement provider.  Upon the
 38 16 escrow agent's receipt of the acknowledgment of the properly
 38 17 completed transfer of ownership, assignment, or designation of
 38 18 beneficiary from the insurance company, the escrow agent shall
 38 19 pay the viatical settlement proceeds to the viator.
 38 20    5.  A failure to tender consideration to the viator for the
 38 21 viatical settlement contract within the time set forth in the
 38 22 disclosure pursuant to section 508E.8, subsection 1, paragraph
 38 23 "g", renders the viatical settlement contract voidable by the
 38 24 viator for lack of consideration until the time consideration
 38 25 is tendered to and accepted by the viator.  Funds shall be
 38 26 deemed sent by a viatical settlement provider to a viator as
 38 27 of the date that the escrow agent either releases funds for
 38 28 wire transfer to the viator or places a check for delivery to
 38 29 the viator via the United States postal service or other
 38 30 nationally recognized delivery service.
 38 31    6.  A contact with the insured for the purpose of
 38 32 determining the health status of the insured by the viatical
 38 33 settlement provider or viatical settlement broker after the
 38 34 viatical settlement has occurred shall only be made by the
 38 35 viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker
 39  1 licensed pursuant to section 508E.3 or its authorized
 39  2 representatives and shall be limited to once every three
 39  3 months for insureds with a life expectancy of more than one
 39  4 year, and to no more than once per month for insureds with a
 39  5 life expectancy of one year or less.  The viatical settlement
 39  6 provider or viatical settlement broker shall explain the
 39  7 procedure for these contacts at the time the viatical
 39  8 settlement contract is entered into.  The limitations set
 39  9 forth in this subsection shall not apply to any contact with
 39 10 an insured for reasons other than determining the insured's
 39 11 health status.  A viatical settlement provider and a viatical
 39 12 settlement broker shall be responsible for the actions of
 39 13 their authorized representatives.
 39 14    Sec. 11.  NEW SECTION.  508E.11  PROHIBITED PRACTICES.
 39 15    1.  Except as provided in section 508E.12, it is a
 39 16 violation of this chapter for any person to enter into a
 39 17 viatical settlement contract at any time prior to the
 39 18 application or issuance of a policy which is the subject of a
 39 19 viatical settlement contract or within a five=year period
 39 20 commencing with the date of issuance of the insurance policy
 39 21 or certificate.
 39 22    2.  An insurer shall not, as a condition of responding to a
 39 23 request for verification of coverage or effecting the transfer
 39 24 of a policy pursuant to a viatical settlement contract,
 39 25 require that the viator, insured, viatical settlement
 39 26 provider, or viatical settlement broker sign any form,
 39 27 disclosure, consent, or waiver form that has not been
 39 28 expressly approved by the commissioner for use in connection
 39 29 with viatical settlement contracts in this state.
 39 30    3.  Upon receipt of a properly completed request for change
 39 31 of ownership or beneficiary of a policy, the insurer shall
 39 32 respond in writing within twenty days, with written
 39 33 acknowledgment confirming that the change has been effected or
 39 34 specifying the reasons why the requested change cannot be
 39 35 processed.  The insurer shall not unreasonably delay effecting
 40  1 a change of ownership or beneficiary and shall not otherwise
 40  2 seek to interfere with any viatical settlement contract
 40  3 lawfully entered into in this state.
 40  4    Sec. 12.  NEW SECTION.  508E.12  PERMITTED PRACTICES.
 40  5    1.  Notwithstanding section 508E.11, at any time subsequent
 40  6 to the issuance of the policy, a person may enter into a
 40  7 viatical settlement contract if the viator certifies to the
 40  8 viatical settlement provider that one or more of the following
 40  9 conditions have been met within the five=year period:
 40 10    a.  The policy was issued upon the viator's exercise of
 40 11 conversion rights arising out of a group or individual policy,
 40 12 provided the total of the time covered under the conversion
 40 13 policy plus the time covered under the prior policy is at
 40 14 least sixty months.  The time covered under a group policy
 40 15 shall be calculated without regard to any change in insurance
 40 16 carriers, provided the coverage has been continuous and under
 40 17 the same group sponsorship.
 40 18    b.  The viator submits an affidavit to the viatical
 40 19 settlement provider that one or more of the following
 40 20 conditions exists:
 40 21    (1)  The viator or insured is terminally or chronically
 40 22 ill.
 40 23    (2)  The viator's spouse or child dies.
 40 24    (3)  The viator divorces the viator's spouse.
 40 25    (4)  The viator retires from full=time employment.
 40 26    (5)  The viator becomes physically or mentally disabled and
 40 27 a physician determines that the disability prevents the viator
 40 28 from maintaining full=time employment.
 40 29    (6)  The viator has filed for bankruptcy or sought
 40 30 reorganization in a court of competent jurisdiction, or a
 40 31 court of competent jurisdiction has appointed a receiver,
 40 32 trustee, or liquidator to all or a substantial part of the
 40 33 viator's assets.
 40 34    (7)  Other circumstances as established as eligible
 40 35 exemptions by the commissioner by rule, including but not
 41  1 limited to substantial adverse financial circumstances or
 41  2 other factors substantially affecting the viator.
 41  3    2.  Notwithstanding section 508E.11, a person may enter
 41  4 into a viatical settlement contract if at all times prior to
 41  5 the date that is two years after policy issuance, all of the
 41  6 following conditions are met with respect to the policy:
 41  7    a.  Policy premiums have been funded exclusively with any
 41  8 of the following:
 41  9    (1)  Unencumbered assets, including an interest in the life
 41 10 insurance policy being financed only to the extent of its net
 41 11 cash surrender value, provided by a person described in
 41 12 section 508E.2, subsection 15, paragraph "d".
 41 13    (2)  Fully recourse liability incurred by the insured or a
 41 14 person described in section 508E.2, subsection 15, paragraph
 41 15 "d".
 41 16    b.  There is no agreement or understanding with any other
 41 17 person to guarantee any such liability or to purchase, or
 41 18 stand ready to purchase, the policy, including through an
 41 19 assumption or forgiveness of the loan.
 41 20    c.  Neither the insured nor the policy has been evaluated
 41 21 for settlement.
 41 22    3.  Copies of the affidavits described in this section and
 41 23 documents required by section 508E.10, subsection 1, shall be
 41 24 submitted to the insurer when the viatical settlement provider
 41 25 or viatical settlement broker submits a request to the insurer
 41 26 for verification of coverage.  The copies shall be accompanied
 41 27 by a letter of attestation from the viatical settlement
 41 28 provider that the copies are true and correct copies of the
 41 29 documents received by the viatical settlement provider.
 41 30    4.  If the viatical settlement provider submits to the
 41 31 insurer a copy of the owner's or insured's or insurer's
 41 32 affidavit described in this section when the provider submits
 41 33 a request to the insurer to effect the transfer of the policy
 41 34 or certificate to the viatical settlement provider, the copy
 41 35 shall be deemed to conclusively establish that the viatical
 42  1 settlement contract satisfies the requirement of this section
 42  2 and the insurer shall timely respond to the request.
 42  3    Sec. 13.  NEW SECTION.  508E.13  PROHIBITED PRACTICES AND
 42  4 CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
 42  5    1.  With respect to any viatical settlement contract or
 42  6 insurance policy, a viatical settlement broker shall not
 42  7 knowingly solicit an offer from, effectuate a viatical
 42  8 settlement with, or make a sale to any viatical settlement
 42  9 provider, viatical settlement purchaser, financing entity, or
 42 10 related provider trust that is controlling, controlled by, or
 42 11 under common control with such viatical settlement broker
 42 12 unless such relationship is disclosed to the viator.
 42 13    2.  With respect to any viatical settlement contract or
 42 14 insurance policy, a viatical settlement provider shall not
 42 15 knowingly enter into a viatical settlement contract with a
 42 16 viator, if, in connection with such viatical settlement
 42 17 contract, anything of value will be paid to a viatical
 42 18 settlement broker that is controlling, controlled by, or under
 42 19 common control with such viatical settlement provider or the
 42 20 viatical settlement purchaser, financing entity, or related
 42 21 provider trust that is involved in such viatical settlement
 42 22 contract unless such relationship is disclosed to the viator.
 42 23    3.  A viatical settlement provider shall not enter into a
 42 24 premium finance agreement with any person or agency, or any
 42 25 person affiliated with such person or agency, pursuant to
 42 26 which such person or agency shall receive any proceeds, fees,
 42 27 or other consideration, directly or indirectly, from the
 42 28 policy or owner of the policy or any other person with respect
 42 29 to the premium finance agreement or any viatical settlement
 42 30 contract or other transaction related to such policy that are
 42 31 in addition to the amounts required to pay the principal,
 42 32 interest, and service charges related to policy premiums
 42 33 pursuant to the premium finance agreement or subsequent sale
 42 34 of such agreement.  Any payments, charges, fees, normal
 42 35 insurance commissions, or other amounts in addition to the
 43  1 amounts required to pay the principal, interest, and service
 43  2 charges related to policy premiums paid under the premium
 43  3 finance agreement shall be remitted to the original owner of
 43  4 the policy or to the original owner's estate if the original
 43  5 owner is not living at the time of the determination of the
 43  6 overpayment.
 43  7    4.  A violation of subsection 1, 2, or 3 shall be deemed a
 43  8 fraudulent viatical settlement act.
 43  9    5.  A person shall not issue, solicit, market, or otherwise
 43 10 promote the purchase of an insurance policy for the sole
 43 11 purpose of or with a primary emphasis on settling the policy.
 43 12    6.  A person providing premium financing shall not receive
 43 13 any proceeds, fees, or other consideration from the policy or
 43 14 owner of the policy that are in addition to the amounts
 43 15 required to pay principal, interest, and any costs or expenses
 43 16 incurred by the lender or borrower in connection with the
 43 17 premium finance agreement, except for the event of a default,
 43 18 unless either the default on such loan or transfer of the
 43 19 policy occurs pursuant to an agreement or understanding with
 43 20 any other person for the purpose of evading regulation under
 43 21 this chapter.  Any payments, charges, fees, or other amounts
 43 22 received by a person providing premium financing in violation
 43 23 of this subsection shall be remitted to the original owner of
 43 24 the policy or to the original owner's estate if the original
 43 25 owner is not living at the time of the determination of
 43 26 overpayment.
 43 27    7.  In the solicitation, application for, or issuance of a
 43 28 life insurance policy, a person shall not employ any device,
 43 29 scheme, or artifice to create an insurable interest in the
 43 30 life of a person except as provided in sections 511.39 and
 43 31 511.40.
 43 32    8.  No viatical settlement provider shall enter into a
 43 33 viatical settlement contract unless the viatical settlement
 43 34 promotional, advertising, and marketing materials, as may be
 43 35 prescribed by rules adopted by the commissioner, have been
 44  1 filed with the commissioner.  In no event shall any marketing
 44  2 materials expressly reference that the insurance is free for
 44  3 any period of time.  The inclusion of any reference in the
 44  4 marketing materials that would cause a viator to reasonably
 44  5 believe that the insurance is free for any period of time
 44  6 shall be considered a violation of this chapter.
 44  7    9.  No life insurance producer, insurance company, viatical
 44  8 settlement broker, or viatical settlement provider shall make
 44  9 any statement or representation to the applicant or
 44 10 policyholder in connection with the sale or financing of a
 44 11 life insurance policy to the effect that the insurance is free
 44 12 or without cost to the policyholder for any period of time
 44 13 unless provided in the policy.
 44 14    Sec. 14.  NEW SECTION.  508E.14  ADVERTISING FOR VIATICAL
 44 15 SETTLEMENTS.
 44 16    The purpose of this section is to provide prospective
 44 17 viators with clear and unambiguous statements in the
 44 18 advertisement of viatical settlements and to assure the clear,
 44 19 truthful, and adequate disclosure of the benefits, risks,
 44 20 limitations, and exclusions of any viatical settlement
 44 21 contract.  This purpose is intended to be accomplished by
 44 22 rules adopted by the commissioner for the establishment of
 44 23 guidelines and standards of permissible and impermissible
 44 24 conduct in the advertising of viatical settlements to assure
 44 25 that product descriptions are presented in a manner that
 44 26 prevents unfair, deceptive, or misleading advertising, and is
 44 27 conducive to accurate presentation and description of viatical
 44 28 settlements through the advertising media and materials used
 44 29 by viatical settlement licensees.
 44 30    1.  This section shall apply to any advertising of viatical
 44 31 settlement contracts or related products or services intended
 44 32 for dissemination in this state, including internet
 44 33 advertising viewed by persons located in this state.  Where
 44 34 disclosure requirements are established pursuant to federal
 44 35 regulation, this section shall be interpreted so as to
 45  1 minimize or eliminate conflict with federal regulation
 45  2 wherever possible.
 45  3    2.  Every viatical settlement licensee shall establish and
 45  4 at all times maintain a system of control over the content,
 45  5 form, and method of dissemination of all advertisements of its
 45  6 contracts, products, and services.  All advertisements,
 45  7 regardless of by whom written, created, designed, or
 45  8 presented, shall be the responsibility of the viatical
 45  9 settlement licensees, as well as the individual who created or
 45 10 presented the advertisement.  A system of control shall
 45 11 include regular, routine notification, at least once a year,
 45 12 to agents and others authorized by the viatical settlement
 45 13 licensee who disseminate advertisements of the requirements
 45 14 and procedures for approval prior to the use of any
 45 15 advertisements not furnished by the viatical settlement
 45 16 licensee.
 45 17    3.  An advertisement shall be truthful and not misleading
 45 18 in fact or by implication.  The form and content of an
 45 19 advertisement of a viatical settlement contract shall be
 45 20 sufficiently complete and clear so as to avoid deception.  It
 45 21 shall not have the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive.
 45 22 Whether an advertisement has the capacity or tendency to
 45 23 mislead or deceive shall be determined by the commissioner
 45 24 from the overall impression that the advertisement may be
 45 25 reasonably expected to create upon a person of average
 45 26 education or intelligence within the segment of the public to
 45 27 which it is directed.
 45 28    4.  The information required to be disclosed under this
 45 29 section shall not be minimized, rendered obscure, or presented
 45 30 in an ambiguous fashion or intermingled with the text of the
 45 31 advertisement so as to be confusing or misleading.
 45 32    a.  An advertisement shall not omit material information or
 45 33 use words, phrases, statements, references, or illustrations
 45 34 if the omission or use has the capacity, tendency, or effect
 45 35 of misleading or deceiving viators as to the nature or extent
 46  1 of any benefit, loss covered, premium payable, or state or
 46  2 federal tax consequence.  The fact that the viatical
 46  3 settlement contract offered is made available for inspection
 46  4 prior to consummation of the sale, or an offer is made to
 46  5 refund the payment if the viator is not satisfied or that the
 46  6 viatical settlement contract includes a free=look period that
 46  7 satisfies or exceeds legal requirements, does not remedy a
 46  8 misleading statement.
 46  9    b.  An advertisement shall not use the name or title of a
 46 10 life insurance company or a life insurance policy unless the
 46 11 advertisement has been approved by the insurer.
 46 12    c.  An advertisement shall not state or imply that interest
 46 13 charged on an accelerated death benefit or a policy loan is
 46 14 unfair, inequitable, or in any manner an incorrect or improper
 46 15 practice.
 46 16    d.  The words "free", "no cost", "without cost", "no
 46 17 additional cost", "at no extra cost", or words of similar
 46 18 import shall not be used with respect to any benefit or
 46 19 service unless true.  An advertisement may specify the charge
 46 20 for a benefit or a service or may state that a charge is
 46 21 included in the payment or use other appropriate language.
 46 22    e.  Testimonials, appraisals, analyses, or endorsements
 46 23 used in advertisements must be genuine; represent the current
 46 24 opinion of the author; be applicable to the viatical
 46 25 settlement contract product or service advertised, if any; and
 46 26 be accurately reproduced with sufficient completeness to avoid
 46 27 misleading or deceiving prospective viators as to the nature
 46 28 or scope of the testimonials, appraisal, analysis, or
 46 29 endorsement.  In using a testimonial, appraisal, analysis, or
 46 30 endorsement, a licensee under this chapter makes as its own
 46 31 all the statements contained therein, and the statements are
 46 32 subject to all of the provisions of this section.
 46 33    (1)  If the individual making a testimonial, appraisal,
 46 34 analysis, or an endorsement has a financial interest in the
 46 35 party making use of the testimonial, appraisal, analysis, or
 47  1 endorsement, either directly or through a related entity as a
 47  2 stockholder, director, officer, employee, or otherwise, or
 47  3 receives any benefit directly or indirectly other than
 47  4 required union scale wages, that fact shall be prominently
 47  5 disclosed in the advertisement.
 47  6    (2)  An advertisement shall not state or imply that a
 47  7 viatical settlement contract benefit or product or service has
 47  8 been approved or endorsed by a group of individuals, society,
 47  9 association, or other organization unless that is the fact and
 47 10 unless any relationship between an organization and the
 47 11 viatical settlement licensee is disclosed.  If the entity
 47 12 making the endorsement or testimonial is owned, controlled, or
 47 13 managed by the viatical settlement licensee, or receives any
 47 14 payment or other consideration from the viatical settlement
 47 15 licensee for making an endorsement or testimonial, that fact
 47 16 shall be disclosed in the advertisement.
 47 17    (3)  When an endorsement refers to benefits received under
 47 18 a viatical settlement contract, all pertinent information
 47 19 shall be retained by the viatical settlement licensee for a
 47 20 period of five years after its use.
 47 21    5.  An advertisement shall not contain statistical
 47 22 information unless it accurately reflects recent and relevant
 47 23 facts.  The source of all statistics used in an advertisement
 47 24 shall be identified.
 47 25    6.  An advertisement shall not disparage an insurer,
 47 26 viatical settlement provider, viatical settlement broker,
 47 27 insurance producer, policy, services, or methods of marketing.
 47 28    7.  The name of the viatical settlement licensee shall be
 47 29 clearly identified in all advertisements about the viatical
 47 30 settlement licensee or its viatical settlement contract,
 47 31 products, or services, and if any specific viatical settlement
 47 32 contract is advertised, the viatical settlement contract shall
 47 33 be identified either by form number or some other appropriate
 47 34 description.  If an application is part of the advertisement,
 47 35 the name of the viatical settlement provider shall be shown on
 48  1 the application.
 48  2    8.  An advertisement shall not use a trade name, group
 48  3 designation, name of the parent company of a viatical
 48  4 settlement licensee, name of a particular division of the
 48  5 viatical settlement licensee, service mark, slogan, symbol or
 48  6 other device, or reference without disclosing the name of the
 48  7 viatical settlement licensee, if the advertisement would have
 48  8 the capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive as to the true
 48  9 identity of the viatical settlement licensee, or to create the
 48 10 impression that a company other than the viatical settlement
 48 11 licensee would have any responsibility for the financial
 48 12 obligation under a viatical settlement contract.
 48 13    9.  An advertisement shall not use any combination of
 48 14 words, symbols, or physical materials that by their content,
 48 15 phraseology, shape, color, or other characteristics are so
 48 16 similar to a combination of words, symbols, or physical
 48 17 materials used by a government program or agency or otherwise
 48 18 appear to be of such a nature that they tend to mislead
 48 19 prospective viators into believing that the solicitation is in
 48 20 some manner connected with a government program or agency.
 48 21    10.  An advertisement may state that a viatical settlement
 48 22 licensee is licensed in the state where the advertisement
 48 23 appears, provided it does not exaggerate that fact or suggest
 48 24 or imply that a competing viatical settlement licensee may not
 48 25 be so licensed.  The advertisement may ask the audience to
 48 26 consult the viatical settlement licensee's internet site or
 48 27 contact the commissioner to find out if the state requires
 48 28 licensing and, if so, whether the viatical settlement provider
 48 29 or viatical settlement broker is licensed.
 48 30    11.  An advertisement shall not create the impression that
 48 31 the viatical settlement provider, its financial condition or
 48 32 status, the payment of its claims or the merits, desirability,
 48 33 or advisability of its viatical settlement contracts are
 48 34 recommended or endorsed by any government entity.
 48 35    12.  The name of the actual viatical settlement licensee
 49  1 shall be stated in each of its advertisements.  An
 49  2 advertisement shall not use a trade name, any group
 49  3 designation, name of any affiliate, or controlling entity of
 49  4 the viatical settlement licensee, service mark, slogan,
 49  5 symbol, or other device in a manner that would have the
 49  6 capacity or tendency to mislead or deceive as to the true
 49  7 identity of the actual viatical settlement licensee or create
 49  8 the false impression that an affiliate or controlling entity
 49  9 would have any responsibility for the financial obligation of
 49 10 the viatical settlement licensee.
 49 11    13.  An advertisement shall not directly or indirectly
 49 12 create the impression that any division or agency of the state
 49 13 or of the United States government endorses, approves, or
 49 14 favors any of the following:
 49 15    a.  A viatical settlement licensee or its business
 49 16 practices or methods of operation.
 49 17    b.  The merits, desirability, or advisability of any
 49 18 viatical settlement contract.
 49 19    c.  Any viatical settlement contract.
 49 20    d.  Any life insurance policy or life insurance company.
 49 21    14.  If the advertiser emphasizes the speed with which the
 49 22 viatication will occur, the advertising must disclose the
 49 23 average time frame from completed application to the date of
 49 24 offer and from acceptance of the offer to receipt of the funds
 49 25 by the viator.
 49 26    15.  If the advertising emphasizes the dollar amounts
 49 27 available to viators, the advertising shall disclose the
 49 28 average purchase price as a percent of face value obtained by
 49 29 viators contracting with the licensee during the past six
 49 30 months.
 49 31    Sec. 15.  NEW SECTION.  508E.15  FRAUD PREVENTION AND
 49 32 CONTROL.
 49 33    1.  FRAUDULENT VIATICAL SETTLEMENT ACTS == INTERFERENCE AND
 49 34 PARTICIPATION OF CONVICTED FELONS PROHIBITED.
 49 35    a.  A person shall not commit a fraudulent viatical
 50  1 settlement act.
 50  2    b.  A person shall not knowingly or intentionally interfere
 50  3 with the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter or
 50  4 investigations of suspected or actual violations of this
 50  5 chapter.
 50  6    c.  A person in the business of viatical settlements shall
 50  7 not knowingly or intentionally permit any person convicted of
 50  8 a felony involving dishonesty or breach of trust to
 50  9 participate in the business of viatical settlements.
 50 10    2.  FRAUD WARNING REQUIRED.
 50 11    a.  A viatical settlements contract and application for a
 50 12 viatical settlement, regardless of the form of transmission,
 50 13 shall contain the following statement or a substantially
 50 14 similar statement:
 50 15    "Any person who knowingly presents false information in an
 50 16 application for insurance or viatical settlement contract is
 50 17 guilty of a crime and may be subject to fines and confinement
 50 18 in prison."
 50 19    b.  The lack of a statement as required in paragraph "a"
 50 20 does not constitute a defense in any prosecution for a
 50 21 fraudulent viatical settlement act.
 50 22    3.  MANDATORY REPORTING OF FRAUDULENT VIATICAL SETTLEMENT
 50 23 ACTS.
 50 24    a.  Any person engaged in the business of viatical
 50 25 settlements having knowledge or a reasonable suspicion that a
 50 26 fraudulent viatical settlement act is being, will be, or has
 50 27 been committed shall provide to the commissioner such
 50 28 information as required by and in a manner prescribed by rules
 50 29 adopted by the commissioner.
 50 30    b.  Any other person having knowledge or a reasonable
 50 31 belief that a fraudulent viatical settlement act is being,
 50 32 will be, or has been committed may provide to the commissioner
 50 33 the information required by and in a manner prescribed by
 50 34 rules adopted by the commissioner.
 50 35    4.  IMMUNITY FROM LIABILITY.
 51  1    a.  No civil liability shall be imposed on and no cause of
 51  2 action shall arise from a person, who acting reasonably and in
 51  3 good faith, furnishes information concerning suspected,
 51  4 anticipated, or completed fraudulent viatical settlement acts
 51  5 or suspected or completed fraudulent insurance acts, if the
 51  6 information is provided to or received from any of the
 51  7 following:
 51  8    (1)  The commissioner or the commissioner's employees,
 51  9 agents, or representatives.
 51 10    (2)  A federal, state, or local law enforcement or
 51 11 regulatory official or the official's employees, agents, or
 51 12 representatives.
 51 13    (3)  A person involved in the prevention and detection of
 51 14 fraudulent viatical settlement acts or that person's agents,
 51 15 employees, or representatives.
 51 16    (4)  The national association of insurance commissioners;
 51 17 the national association of securities dealers; the north
 51 18 American securities administrators association; their
 51 19 employees, agents, or representatives; or other regulatory
 51 20 body overseeing life insurance, viatical settlements,
 51 21 securities, or investment fraud.
 51 22    (5)  A life insurer that issued the life insurance policy
 51 23 covering the life of the insured.
 51 24    b.  Paragraph "a" does not apply to a statement made in bad
 51 25 faith or with actual malice.  In an action brought against a
 51 26 person for filing a report or furnishing other information
 51 27 concerning a fraudulent viatical settlement act, the party
 51 28 bringing the action shall plead specifically any allegation
 51 29 that paragraph "a" does not apply because the person filing
 51 30 the report or furnishing the information did so in bad faith
 51 31 or with actual malice.
 51 32    c.  A person furnishing information as identified in
 51 33 paragraph "a" shall be entitled to an award of attorney fees
 51 34 and costs if the person is the prevailing party in a civil
 51 35 cause of action for libel, slander, or any other relevant tort
 52  1 arising out of an activity in carrying out the provisions of
 52  2 this chapter and the party bringing the action was not
 52  3 substantially justified in doing so.  For purposes of this
 52  4 paragraph, a proceeding is substantially justified if it had a
 52  5 reasonable basis in law or fact at the time that it was
 52  6 initiated.  However, such an award does not apply to any
 52  7 person furnishing information concerning the person's own
 52  8 fraudulent viatical settlement act.
 52  9    d.  This section does not abrogate or modify a common law
 52 10 or statutory privilege or immunity enjoyed by a person
 52 11 described in paragraph "a".
 52 12    5.  CONFIDENTIALITY.
 52 13    a.  A document or evidence provided pursuant to subsection
 52 14 4 or obtained by the commissioner in an investigation of a
 52 15 suspected or actual fraudulent viatical settlement act shall
 52 16 be privileged and confidential, notwithstanding chapter 22,
 52 17 shall not be a public record, and shall not be subject to
 52 18 discovery or subpoena in a civil or criminal action.
 52 19    b.  Paragraph "a" does not prohibit the release by the
 52 20 commissioner of a document or evidence obtained in an
 52 21 investigation of a suspected or actual fraudulent viatical
 52 22 settlement act if any of the following applies:
 52 23    (1)  In an administrative or judicial proceeding to enforce
 52 24 laws administered by the commissioner.
 52 25    (2)  To a federal, state, or local law enforcement or
 52 26 regulatory agency, to an organization established for the
 52 27 purpose of detecting and preventing fraudulent viatical
 52 28 settlement acts, or to the national association of insurance
 52 29 commissioners.
 52 30    (3)  At the discretion of the commissioner, to a person in
 52 31 the business of viatical settlements that is aggrieved by a
 52 32 fraudulent viatical settlement act.
 52 33    c.  Release of a document or evidence under paragraph "b"
 52 34 does not abrogate or modify the privilege granted in paragraph
 52 35 "a".
 53  1    6.  OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY.  This
 53  2 chapter shall not do any of the following:
 53  3    a.  Preempt the authority or relieve the duty of other law
 53  4 enforcement or regulatory agencies to investigate, examine,
 53  5 and prosecute suspected violations of law.
 53  6    b.  Prevent or prohibit a person from disclosing
 53  7 voluntarily information concerning viatical settlement fraud
 53  8 to a law enforcement or regulatory agency other than the
 53  9 commissioner.
 53 10    c.  Limit the powers granted elsewhere by the laws of this
 53 11 state to the commissioner or an insurance fraud unit to
 53 12 investigate and examine possible violations of law and to take
 53 13 appropriate action against wrongdoers.
 53 14    7.  VIATICAL SETTLEMENT ANTIFRAUD INITIATIVES.
 53 15    a.  A viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement
 53 16 broker shall have in place antifraud initiatives reasonably
 53 17 calculated to detect, prosecute, and prevent fraudulent
 53 18 viatical settlement acts.  At the discretion of the
 53 19 commissioner, the commissioner may order, or a licensee may
 53 20 request and the commissioner may grant, such modifications of
 53 21 the following required initiatives as necessary to ensure an
 53 22 effective antifraud program.  The modifications may be more or
 53 23 less restrictive than the required initiatives so long as the
 53 24 modifications may reasonably be expected to accomplish the
 53 25 purpose of this section.
 53 26    b.  Antifraud initiatives shall include all of the
 53 27 following:
 53 28    (1)  A fraud investigator, who may be a viatical settlement
 53 29 provider, viatical settlement broker, a viatical settlement
 53 30 provider's or viatical settlement broker's employee, or an
 53 31 independent contractor.
 53 32    (2)  An antifraud plan, which shall be submitted to the
 53 33 commissioner.  The antifraud plan shall include, but is not
 53 34 limited to all of the following:
 53 35    (a)  A description of the procedures for detecting and
 54  1 investigating possible fraudulent viatical settlement acts and
 54  2 procedures for resolving material inconsistencies between
 54  3 medical records and insurance applications.
 54  4    (b)  A description of the procedures for reporting possible
 54  5 fraudulent viatical settlement acts to the commissioner.
 54  6    (c)  A description of the plan for antifraud education and
 54  7 training of underwriters and other personnel.
 54  8    (d)  A description or chart outlining the organizational
 54  9 arrangement of the antifraud personnel who are responsible for
 54 10 the investigation and reporting of possible fraudulent
 54 11 viatical settlement acts and investigating unresolved material
 54 12 inconsistencies between medical records and insurance
 54 13 applications.
 54 14    c.  An antifraud plan submitted to the commissioner shall
 54 15 be privileged and confidential, notwithstanding chapter 22,
 54 16 shall not be a public record, and shall not be subject to
 54 17 discovery or subpoena in a civil or criminal action.
 54 18    Sec. 16.  NEW SECTION.  508E.16  INJUNCTIONS == CIVIL
 54 19 REMEDIES == CEASE AND DESIST ORDERS == CIVIL PENALTY.
 54 20    1.  In addition to the penalties and other enforcement
 54 21 provisions of this chapter, if any person violates this
 54 22 chapter or any rule implementing this chapter, the
 54 23 commissioner may seek an injunction in a court of competent
 54 24 jurisdiction and may apply for a temporary or permanent order
 54 25 that the commissioner determines is necessary to restrain the
 54 26 person from committing the violation.
 54 27    2.  A person damaged by the act of a person in violation of
 54 28 this chapter may bring a civil action against the person
 54 29 committing the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
 54 30    3.  The commissioner may issue, in accordance with chapter
 54 31 17A, a cease and desist order upon a person that violates any
 54 32 provision of this chapter, any rule or order adopted by the
 54 33 commissioner, or any written agreement entered into with the
 54 34 commissioner.
 54 35    4.  When the commissioner finds that an activity in
 55  1 violation of this chapter presents an immediate danger to the
 55  2 health, safety, or welfare of the public requiring immediate
 55  3 agency action, the commissioner may proceed under section
 55  4 17A.18A.
 55  5    5.  In addition to the penalties and other enforcement
 55  6 provisions of this chapter, any person who violates this
 55  7 chapter is subject to a civil penalty of up to five thousand
 55  8 dollars for each violation of this chapter.  The civil penalty
 55  9 shall be deposited into the general fund of the state.  If a
 55 10 person has not been ordered to pay restitution by a court, the
 55 11 commissioner's order may require a person found to be in
 55 12 violation of this chapter to make restitution to a person
 55 13 aggrieved by a violation of this chapter.
 55 14    6.  Except for a fraudulent viatical settlement act
 55 15 committed by a viator, the enforcement provisions and
 55 16 penalties of this section shall not apply to a viator.
 55 17    Sec. 17.  NEW SECTION.  508E.17  UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.
 55 18    A violation of this chapter, including the commission of a
 55 19 fraudulent viatical settlement act, is an unfair trade
 55 20 practice under chapter 507B and a person convicted of the
 55 21 violation is subject to the penalties contained in that
 55 22 chapter.
 55 23    Sec. 18.  NEW SECTION.  508E.18  CRIMINAL PENALTIES.
 55 24    1.  a.  A person acting in this state as a viatical
 55 25 settlement provider or viatical settlement broker, without
 55 26 being licensed pursuant to section 508E.3, who willfully
 55 27 violates any provision of this chapter or any rule adopted or
 55 28 order issued under this chapter, is guilty of a class "D"
 55 29 felony.
 55 30    b.  A person acting in this state as a viatical settlement
 55 31 provider or viatical settlement broker, without proper
 55 32 licensure who willfully violates any provision of this
 55 33 chapter, or any rule adopted or order issued under this
 55 34 chapter, and when such violation results in a loss of more
 55 35 than ten thousand dollars, is guilty of a class "C" felony.
 56  1    2.  The commissioner may refer such evidence as is
 56  2 available concerning violations of this chapter or of any rule
 56  3 adopted or order issued under this chapter, or of the failure
 56  4 of a person to comply with the licensing requirements of this
 56  5 chapter, to the attorney general or the proper county attorney
 56  6 who may, with or without such reference, institute the
 56  7 appropriate criminal proceedings under this chapter.
 56  8    Sec. 19.  NEW SECTION.  508E.19  AUTHORITY TO PROMULGATE
 56  9 RULES.
 56 10    The commissioner shall have the authority to do all of the
 56 11 following:
 56 12    1.  Adopt rules implementing and administering this
 56 13 chapter.
 56 14    2.  Establish standards for evaluating reasonableness of
 56 15 payments under viatical settlement contracts for persons who
 56 16 are terminally or chronically ill.  This authority includes
 56 17 but is not limited to regulation of discount rates used to
 56 18 determine the amount paid in exchange for assignment,
 56 19 transfer, sale, devise, or bequest of a benefit under a life
 56 20 insurance policy insuring the life of a person who is
 56 21 chronically or terminally ill.
 56 22    3.  Establish appropriate licensing requirements, fees, and
 56 23 standards for continued licensure for viatical settlement
 56 24 providers and brokers.
 56 25    4.  Require a bond or other mechanism for financial
 56 26 accountability for viatical settlement providers and viatical
 56 27 settlement brokers.
 56 28    5.  Adopt rules governing the relationship and
 56 29 responsibilities of both insurers and viatical settlement
 56 30 providers and viatical settlement brokers during the
 56 31 viatication of a life insurance policy or certificate.
 56 32    Sec. 20.  Section 507B.3, subsection 1, Code 2007, is
 56 33 amended to read as follows:
 56 34    1.  A person shall not engage in this state in any trade
 56 35 practice which is defined in this chapter as, or determined
 57  1 pursuant to section 507B.6 to be, an unfair method of
 57  2 competition, or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the
 57  3 business of insurance.
 57  4    a.  A person who violates a provision in chapter 508E shall
 57  5 be deemed to have committed an unfair trade practice under
 57  6 this chapter.
 57  7    b.  The issuance of a qualified charitable gift annuity as
 57  8 provided in chapter 508F does not constitute a trade practice
 57  9 in violation of this chapter.
 57 10    Sec. 21.  CODIFICATION.
 57 11    1.  The Code editor shall codify section 508E.1 as section
 57 12 508E.1A.
 57 13    2.  The Code editor shall codify section 508E.1A, as
 57 14 enacted in this Act, as section 508E.1.
 57 15    Sec. 22.  Section 508E.3A, Code 2007, is repealed.
 57 16
 57 17
 57 18                                                             
 57 19                               JOHN P. KIBBIE
 57 20                               President of the Senate
 57 21
 57 22
 57 23                                                             
 57 24                               PATRICK J. MURPHY
 57 25                               Speaker of the House
 57 26
 57 27    I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
 57 28 is known as Senate File 2392, Eighty=second General Assembly.
 57 29
 57 30
 57 31                                                             
 57 32                               MICHAEL E. MARSHALL
 57 33                               Secretary of the Senate
 57 34 Approved                , 2008
 57 35
 58  1
 58  2                                
 58  3 CHESTER J. CULVER
 58  4 Governor