Bill Text: HI SB2701 | 2010 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Prepaid Legal Services Plans
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-04-23 - (S) Act 047, 4/23/2010 (Gov. Msg. No. 509). [SB2701 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2010-SB2701-Amended.html
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2701 |
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TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Chapter 488, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
1. By adding two new definitions to section 488-1 to be appropriately inserted and to read:
""Accumulation or payment of money" or "accumulates funds" means the payment of funds by a member to the plan.
"Commissioner" means the insurance commissioner."
2. By amending subsections (a) and (b) in section 488-2, to read:
"(a)
This chapter shall apply to all plans in the [State] state other
than:
[(1) Plans in which either the group or the
plan administrator is otherwise subject to regulation under chapter 431 or 432;
(2)] (1) Plans in which any party to
the plan is the federal government or any agency thereof; or
[(3)] (2) Any employer-employee plan
that is subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
Public Law 93-406.
(b) The
commissioner shall have jurisdiction to enforce this chapter. The
operation of all plans subject to this chapter shall also be subject to
chapters 480, part I of chapter 481, 481A, and 481B, 481C, and other
provisions of law that may be applicable. Chapters 431 and 432 shall not apply
to any plans or the operations thereof that are subject to this chapter, except
as provided in sections 488-4, 488-5, [and] 488-6[.],
and 488-7."
3. By amending section 488-3 to read:
"[[]§488-3[]]
Filing and other requirements. (a) Sixty days prior to the
implementation of any plan and the accumulation or payment of money thereunder,
all plan documents shall be submitted in writing [to the department.] for
approval by the commissioner.
(b)
[Such] The documentation required by subsection (a) shall
contain in writing the following:
(1) A brief statement of the plan's financial
structure, including a statement of the amount of prepayment, [and]
other charges or dues to be paid by plan members, and the manner in
which [such amount is] the amounts are to be paid[.];
(2) A statement of the amount of benefits, legal
services, or reimbursement for legal services to be furnished each member of a
plan, and the period during which it will be furnished; and, if there are
exceptions, reductions, exclusions, limitations, or restrictions of [such]
benefits, legal services, or reimbursements, a detailed statement of [such]
the exceptions, reductions, exclusions, limitations, or restrictions[.];
(3) A statement of the terms and conditions upon
which the plan may be canceled or otherwise terminated by the group, the plan
administrator, the persons furnishing legal services, or the member; provided
that for any [such] cancellation or termination, other than by a member,
there shall be provision made for the disposition of funds accumulated under
the plan[.];
(4) A statement describing the applicability or
nonapplicability of the benefits of the plan to the family dependents of the
member[.];
(5) A statement of the period of grace which will be
allowed the member or the member's group for making any payment due under the
plan[.];
(6) A statement describing a procedure for settling
disputes between or among the group, the plan administrator, the persons furnishing
legal services, and the member[.]; and
(7) A statement that the plan includes the
endorsements thereon and attached papers, if any, and contains the entire
contract or contracts to be used [between] among all parties to a
plan.
Any amendments or changes to the documents filed
under paragraphs (1) to (7) shall be filed with the [department] commissioner
for approval at least sixty days before they take effect. All documents
filed under this section shall be public documents."
4. By amending section 488-4 to read:
"§488-4
Accumulated funds, protection, violation. (a) Any plan [which]
that accumulates funds from payments of premiums prior to [the
payment of such] paying those funds to [the] persons
providing legal services shall meet the requirements of this section.
(b) The plan administrator shall have the responsibilities of a trustee for all funds received or collected under this chapter.
(c) The plan administrator, upon receipt of premium funds intended for payment to a person providing legal services pursuant to this chapter, shall maintain the funds at all times in a federally insured account with a bank, savings and loan association, or financial services loan company located in Hawaii, separate from the plan's own funds or funds held by the plan administrator in any other capacity, in an amount at least equal to the funds collected and unpaid to the persons providing legal services, unless otherwise approved by the commissioner. Only additional funds that are reasonably necessary to pay bank, savings and loan association, or financial services loan company charges may be commingled with premium funds accumulated pursuant to this section. If the bank, savings and loan association, or financial services loan company account is an interest earning account, the plan shall not retain the interest earned on accumulated funds for the plan or plan administrator's own use or benefit without the prior written consent of the person entitled to the funds. A plan trustee account shall be designated on the records of the bank, savings and loan association, or financial services loan company as a "trustee account established pursuant to section 488-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes", or words of similar import.
(d)
The plan administrator shall obtain a bond in an amount and form approved by
the [department] commissioner which shall be executed by the plan
administrator and a surety company authorized to do business in the [State]
state as a surety. The bond shall be to the benefit of the members of
the plan and shall be filed with the [department.] commissioner.
In lieu of the bond required by this section, the [department shall] commissioner
may accept letters of credit, certificates of deposits, or other evidences
of security in form and amounts deemed appropriate by the [department.] commissioner.
(e) Any plan administrator who, not being lawfully entitled to do so, diverts or appropriates funds accumulated pursuant to this section or any portion thereof to the plan or plan administrator's own use, shall be subject to penalties as provided by law."
5. By amending section 488-5 to read:
"§488-5 Annual exhibits; examination
by [director.] commissioner. (a) Each plan
shall file with the [director of commerce and consumer affairs] commissioner
within [thirty] sixty days after the end of its fiscal year [a
statement under oath in such form as the director prescribes containing:
(1) A statement setting forth the total
amount of gross receipts and expenditures of the plan during its fiscal year;
(2) The assets and liabilities of the plan
at the close of its fiscal year; and
(3) The profit and loss of the plan during
its fiscal year.]
an income statement and balance sheet compiled, reviewed, or audited by a certified public accountant.
(b) The powers, authorities,
and duties relating to examinations vested in and imposed upon the [insurance]
commissioner under chapter 431 [are extended to and imposed upon the
director in] apply with respect to examinations of [the]
plans[;] subject to this section; provided that no examination
shall attempt to obtain or inspect written or oral information or documents in
violation of the rules for client-lawyer confidentiality as contained in the
Hawaii rules of professional conduct adopted by the supreme court."
6. By amending section 488-7 to read:
"[[]488-7[]]
Failure to comply; penalty. (a) Any plan [which] that
neglects or refuses to comply with this chapter shall be notified in writing by
the [director of commerce and consumer affairs] commissioner of
the neglect or refusal, and of the need to take corrective action[;
if] within seven days. If the neglect or refusal continues for
seven days after notification, the plan, group, or plan administrator may be
fined not more than $1,000. Every day's neglect or refusal after the
expiration of seven days shall be a separate offense.
(b) The commissioner may deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to approve any plan or plan amendments and may levy civil penalties as allowed by chapters 431, 432, 480, 481A, 481B, and 481C, and any other applicable law for any violation of this chapter."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2010.
Report Title:
Prepaid Legal Services Plans
Description:
Updates regulation of prepaid legal services plans. (SB2701 HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
