Bill Text: IN HB1273 | 2011 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Defines health care provider for purposes of the statute authorizing the attorney general to take certain actions with respect to abandoned health records and other records containing personal information.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-16 - SECTION 26 effective retroactive to 07/01/2010 [HB1273 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-HB1273-Engrossed.html
Citations Affected: IC 4-6; IC 16-37; IC 24-4.7; IC 24-5; IC 24-9;
IC 25-1; IC 25-22.5; IC 27-4; IC 27-7; IC 27-8; IC 27-13.
(SENATE SPONSORS _ ZAKAS, LANANE, YOUNG R MICHAEL, YODER, ROGERS, WYSS, KRUSE, HUME, BECKER, TOMES, MRVAN, GROOMS, BRODEN, CHARBONNEAU, STEELE, ALTING, SKINNER)
January 12, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Judiciary.
January 20, 2011, amended, reported _ Do Pass.
January 24, 2011, read second time, amended, ordered engrossed.
January 25, 2011, engrossed.
January 31, 2011, read third time, passed. Yeas 96, nays 0.
February 17, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.
March 8, 2011, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
March 22, 2011, pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services.
March 31, 2011, amended, reported favorably _ Do Pass.
Digest Continued
telephone number or an Indiana identification number; in order to include within the protections afforded by the statute subscribers of interconnected VOIP service, subscribers of mobile telecommunications services, and users of a prepaid wireless calling service. Requires the attorney general's consumer protection division (division) to notify Indiana residents of the right of any of those subscribers or users to place a telephone number on the listing. Provides that for purposes of the same statute, a "telephone sales call" includes, in addition to calls made through automated dialing or recorded message devices, transmission of the following: (1) Text or graphic messages using short message service (SMS). (2) Images, photographs, or multimedia messages through multimedia messaging service (MMS). Authorizes the medical licensing board of Indiana (board) to investigate and assess civil penalties for specified violations by licensed physicians. Requires the division to forward complaints for specified violations to the board unless certain circumstances are met. Establishes the physician compliance fund consisting of penalties assessed and collected by the board for violations determined by the board through investigations. Specifies reporting requirements of penalties and prohibits the board from reporting specified administrative penalties. Amends the statute concerning deceptive consumer sales to: (1) provide that a violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a deceptive act that is actionable by the attorney general under the statute (but that is not subject to an action by an individual or to a class action); and (2) include cross references to certain consumer protection statutes, the violation of which constitutes a deceptive act subject to the penalties and remedies set forth in the statute. Limits the civil penalty that the attorney general may recover for a violation of the FDCPA to $1,000 per consumer. Specifies that for purposes of the statute governing home loan practices, a "deceptive act" includes a knowing or intentional misrepresentation made regarding real estate transactions, as well as mortgage transactions. Provides that the statute requiring the department of insurance (department) to establish and maintain an electronic system for the collection and storage of certain information about persons participating in or assisting with certain residential mortgage transactions also applies in the case of residential real estate transactions that: (1) do not involve a mortgage transaction; and (2) are closed by a closing agent after December 31, 2011. Requires certain additional information about residential mortgage transactions and residential real estate transactions to be collected and stored in the system.
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
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A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning trade
regulation.
(1) a person listed in IC 16-39-7-1(a)(1) through IC 16-39-7-1(a)(11); or
(2) a person licensed, certified, registered, or regulated by a board listed in IC 25-1-9-1.
(b) Each day a violation continues constitutes a separate offense.
(c) A person who:
(1) is licensed under IC 25 in a profession listed in section
3.1(c) of this chapter; and
(2) recklessly violates or fails to comply with this chapter;
is subject only to sanctions under IC 25-1-9-4(a)(3).
(d) The state department may not begin sanctioning a person for
failing to submit a document in electronic format as required in
section 3.1 of this chapter until January 1, 2012.
(1) for the telephone service received:
(A) has a place of primary use in Indiana; or
(B) is issued an Indiana telephone number or an Indiana identification number; and
(2) is an actual or a prospective:
(b) The term includes a user of a prepaid wireless calling service (as defined in IC 6-2.5-1-22.4) who:
(1) is issued an Indiana telephone number or an Indiana identification number for the service; or
(2) purchases prepaid wireless calling service in a retail transaction that is sourced to Indiana (as determined under IC 6-2.5-12-16).
(1) making; or
(2) causing others to make;
telephone sales calls to consumers located in Indiana whether the telephone sales calls are made from a location in Indiana or outside Indiana.
representative of where the subscriber's use of the telephone
service primarily occurs, which must be:
(1) the residential street address of the subscriber or, in the
case of a subscriber of interconnected VOIP service, the
subscriber's registered location (as defined in 47 CFR 9.3);
and
(2) in the case of mobile telecommunications services (as
defined in IC 6-8.1-15-7), within the licensed service area of
the home service provider, as set forth in IC 6-8.1-15-8.
(1) is assigned to a subscriber who has a place of primary use in Indiana; or
(2) otherwise represents an Indiana telephone number or is associated with an Indiana identification number.
(1) Solicitation of a sale of consumer goods or services.
(2) Solicitation of a charitable contribution.
(3) Obtaining information that will or may be used for the direct solicitation of a sale of consumer goods or services or an extension of credit for such purposes.
(b) The term includes any of the following:
(1) A call made by use of an automated dialing
(2) A call made by use of a recorded message
(3) Transmission of:
(A) a text message; or
(B) a graphic message;
using short message service (SMS).
(4) Transmission of:
(A) an image;
(B) a photograph; or
(C) a multimedia message;
using multimedia messaging service (MMS).
under section 1 of this chapter:
(1) Subscribers of interconnected VOIP service.
(2) Subscribers of mobile telecommunications service (as
defined in IC 6-8.1-15-7).
(3) Users of a prepaid wireless calling service, as described in
IC 24-4.7-2-2(b).
(1) "Consumer transaction" means a sale, lease, assignment, award by chance, or other disposition of an item of personal property, real property, a service, or an intangible, except securities and policies or contracts of insurance issued by corporations authorized to transact an insurance business under the laws of the state of Indiana, with or without an extension of credit, to a person for purposes that are primarily personal, familial, charitable, agricultural, or household, or a solicitation to supply any of these things. However, the term includes the following:
(A) A transfer of structured settlement payment rights under IC 34-50-2.
(B) An unsolicited advertisement sent to a person by telephone facsimile machine offering a sale, lease, assignment, award by chance, or other disposition of an item of personal property, real property, a service, or an intangible.
(C) Collecting or attempting to collect a debt owed or due, or asserted to be owed or due, to another person.
(2) "Person" means an individual, corporation, the state of Indiana or its subdivisions or agencies, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, nonprofit corporation or organization, or cooperative or any other legal entity.
(3) "Supplier" means the following:
(A) A seller, lessor, assignor, or other person who regularly engages in or solicits consumer transactions, including soliciting a consumer transaction by using a telephone facsimile machine to transmit an unsolicited advertisement. The term includes a manufacturer, wholesaler, or retailer, whether or not the person deals directly with the consumer.
(B) A person who contrives, prepares, sets up, operates, publicizes by means of advertisements, or promotes a pyramid promotional scheme.
(C) A debt collector (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 1692a(6)).
(4) "Subject of a consumer transaction" means the personal property, real property, services, or intangibles offered or furnished in a consumer transaction.
(5) "Cure" as applied to a deceptive act, means either:
(A) to offer in writing to adjust or modify the consumer transaction to which the act relates to conform to the reasonable expectations of the consumer generated by such deceptive act and to perform such offer if accepted by the consumer; or
(B) to offer in writing to rescind such consumer transaction and to perform such offer if accepted by the consumer.
The term includes an offer in writing of one (1) or more items of value, including monetary compensation, that the supplier delivers to a consumer or a representative of the consumer if accepted by the consumer.
(6) "Offer to cure" as applied to a deceptive act is a cure that:
(A) is reasonably calculated to remedy a loss claimed by the consumer; and
(B) includes a minimum additional amount that is the greater of:
(i) ten percent (10%) of the value of the remedy under clause (A), but not more than four thousand dollars ($4,000); or
(ii) five hundred dollars ($500);
as compensation for attorney's fees, expenses, and other costs that a consumer may incur in relation to the deceptive act.
(7) "Uncured deceptive act" means a deceptive act:
(A) with respect to which a consumer who has been damaged by such act has given notice to the supplier under section 5(a) of this chapter; and
(B) either:
(i) no offer to cure has been made to such consumer within thirty (30) days after such notice; or
(ii) the act has not been cured as to such consumer within a reasonable time after the consumer's acceptance of the offer to cure.
(8) "Incurable deceptive act" means a deceptive act done by a supplier as part of a scheme, artifice, or device with intent to defraud or mislead. The term includes a failure of a transferee of structured settlement payment rights to timely provide a true and complete disclosure statement to a payee as provided under IC 34-50-2 in connection with a direct or indirect transfer of
structured settlement payment rights.
(9) "Pyramid promotional scheme" means any program utilizing
a pyramid or chain process by which a participant in the program
gives a valuable consideration exceeding one hundred dollars
($100) for the opportunity or right to receive compensation or
other things of value in return for inducing other persons to
become participants for the purpose of gaining new participants
in the program. The term does not include ordinary sales of goods
or services to persons who are not purchasing in order to
participate in such a scheme.
(10) "Promoting a pyramid promotional scheme" means:
(A) inducing or attempting to induce one (1) or more other
persons to become participants in a pyramid promotional
scheme; or
(B) assisting another in promoting a pyramid promotional
scheme.
(11) "Elderly person" means an individual who is at least
sixty-five (65) years of age.
(12) "Telephone facsimile machine" means equipment that has
the capacity to transcribe text or images, or both, from:
(A) paper into an electronic signal and to transmit that signal
over a regular telephone line; or
(B) an electronic signal received over a regular telephone line
onto paper.
(13) "Unsolicited advertisement" means material advertising the
commercial availability or quality of:
(A) property;
(B) goods; or
(C) services;
that is transmitted to a person without the person's prior express
invitation or permission, in writing or otherwise.
(14) "Debt" has the meaning set forth in 15 U.S.C. 1692a(5)).
(b) As used in section 3(a)(15) and 3(a)(16) of this chapter:
(1) "Directory assistance" means the disclosure of telephone
number information in connection with an identified telephone
service subscriber by means of a live operator or automated
service.
(2) "Local telephone directory" refers to a telephone classified
advertising directory or the business section of a telephone
directory that is distributed by a telephone company or directory
publisher to subscribers located in the local exchanges contained
in the directory. The term includes a directory that includes
listings of more than one (1) telephone company.
(3) "Local telephone number" refers to a telephone number that
has the three (3) number prefix used by the provider of telephone
service for telephones physically located within the area covered
by the local telephone directory in which the number is listed. The
term does not include long distance numbers or 800-, 888-, or
900- exchange numbers listed in a local telephone directory.
(1) That such subject of a consumer transaction has sponsorship, approval, performance, characteristics, accessories, uses, or benefits it does not have which the supplier knows or should reasonably know it does not have.
(2) That such subject of a consumer transaction is of a particular standard, quality, grade, style, or model, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(3) That such subject of a consumer transaction is new or unused, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(4) That such subject of a consumer transaction will be supplied to the public in greater quantity than the supplier intends or reasonably expects.
(5) That replacement or repair constituting the subject of a consumer transaction is needed, if it is not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it is not.
(6) That a specific price advantage exists as to such subject of a consumer transaction, if it does not and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that it does not.
(7) That the supplier has a sponsorship, approval, or affiliation in such consumer transaction the supplier does not have, and which the supplier knows or should reasonably know that the supplier does not have.
(8) That such consumer transaction involves or does not involve a warranty, a disclaimer of warranties, or other rights, remedies, or obligations, if the representation is false and if the supplier knows or should reasonably know that the representation is false.
(9) That the consumer will receive a rebate, discount, or other benefit as an inducement for entering into a sale or lease in return
for giving the supplier the names of prospective consumers or
otherwise helping the supplier to enter into other consumer
transactions, if earning the benefit, rebate, or discount is
contingent upon the occurrence of an event subsequent to the time
the consumer agrees to the purchase or lease.
(10) That the supplier is able to deliver or complete the subject of
the consumer transaction within a stated period of time, when the
supplier knows or should reasonably know the supplier could not.
If no time period has been stated by the supplier, there is a
presumption that the supplier has represented that the supplier
will deliver or complete the subject of the consumer transaction
within a reasonable time, according to the course of dealing or the
usage of the trade.
(11) That the consumer will be able to purchase the subject of the
consumer transaction as advertised by the supplier, if the supplier
does not intend to sell it.
(12) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a
consumer transaction can be made by the supplier for the estimate
the supplier gives a customer for the replacement or repair, if the
specified work is completed and:
(A) the cost exceeds the estimate by an amount equal to or
greater than ten percent (10%) of the estimate;
(B) the supplier did not obtain written permission from the
customer to authorize the supplier to complete the work even
if the cost would exceed the amounts specified in clause (A);
(C) the total cost for services and parts for a single transaction
is more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750); and
(D) the supplier knew or reasonably should have known that
the cost would exceed the estimate in the amounts specified in
clause (A).
(13) That the replacement or repair constituting the subject of a
consumer transaction is needed, and that the supplier disposes of
the part repaired or replaced earlier than seventy-two (72) hours
after both:
(A) the customer has been notified that the work has been
completed; and
(B) the part repaired or replaced has been made available for
examination upon the request of the customer.
(14) Engaging in the replacement or repair of the subject of a
consumer transaction if the consumer has not authorized the
replacement or repair, and if the supplier knows or should
reasonably know that it is not authorized.
(15) The act of misrepresenting the geographic location of the supplier by listing a fictitious business name or an assumed business name (as described in IC 23-15-1) in a local telephone directory if:
(A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location;
(B) the listing fails to identify the locality and state of the supplier's business;
(C) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that is outside the calling area covered by the local telephone directory; and
(D) the supplier's business location is located in a county that is not contiguous to a county in the calling area covered by the local telephone directory.
(16) The act of listing a fictitious business name or assumed business name (as described in IC 23-15-1) in a directory assistance database if:
(A) the name misrepresents the supplier's geographic location;
(B) calls to the local telephone number are routinely forwarded or otherwise transferred to a supplier's business location that is outside the local calling area; and
(C) the supplier's business location is located in a county that is not contiguous to a county in the local calling area.
(17) The violation by a supplier of IC 24-3-4 concerning cigarettes for import or export.
(18) The act of a supplier in knowingly selling or reselling a product to a consumer if the product has been recalled, whether by the order of a court or a regulatory body, or voluntarily by the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, unless the product has been repaired or modified to correct the defect that was the subject of the recall.
(19) The violation by a supplier of 47 U.S.C. 227, including any rules or regulations issued under 47 U.S.C. 227.
(20) The violation by a supplier of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.), including any rules or regulations issued under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.).
(21) A violation of IC 24-5-7 (concerning health spa services), as set forth in IC 24-5-7-17.
(22) A violation of IC 24-5-8 (concerning business opportunity transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-8-20.
(23) A violation of IC 24-5-10 (concerning home consumer
transactions), as set forth in IC 24-5-10-18.
(24) A violation of IC 24-5-11 (concerning home improvement
contracts), as set forth in IC 24-5-11-14.
(25) A violation of IC 24-5-12 (concerning telephone
solicitations), as set forth in IC 24-5-12-23.
(26) A violation of IC 24-5-13.5 (concerning buyback motor
vehicles), as set forth in IC 24-5-13.5-14.
(27) A violation of IC 24-5-14 (concerning automatic
dialing-announcing devices), as set forth in IC 24-5-14-13.
(28) A violation of IC 24-5-15 (concerning credit services
organizations), as set forth in IC 24-5-15-11.
(29) A violation of IC 24-5-16 (concerning unlawful motor
vehicle subleasing), as set forth in IC 24-5-16-18.
(30) A violation of IC 24-5-17 (concerning environmental
marketing claims), as set forth in IC 24-5-17-14.
(31) A violation of IC 24-5-19 (concerning deceptive
commercial solicitation), as set forth in IC 24-5-19-11.
(32) A violation of IC 24-5-21 (concerning prescription drug
discount cards), as set forth in IC 24-5-21-7.
(33) A violation of IC 24-5-23.5-7 (concerning real estate
appraisals), as set forth in IC 24-5-23.5-9.
(34) A violation of IC 24-5-26 (concerning identity theft), as
set forth in IC 24-5-26-3.
(35) A violation of IC 24-5.5 (concerning mortgage rescue
fraud), as set forth in IC 24-5.5-6-1.
(36) A violation of IC 24-8 (concerning promotional gifts and
contests), as set forth in IC 24-8-6-3.
(b) Any representations on or within a product or its packaging or
in advertising or promotional materials which would constitute a
deceptive act shall be the deceptive act both of the supplier who places
such representation thereon or therein, or who authored such materials,
and such other suppliers who shall state orally or in writing that such
representation is true if such other supplier shall know or have reason
to know that such representation was false.
(c) If a supplier shows by a preponderance of the evidence that an
act resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of
procedures reasonably adopted to avoid the error, such act shall not be
deceptive within the meaning of this chapter.
(d) It shall be a defense to any action brought under this chapter that
the representation constituting an alleged deceptive act was one made
in good faith by the supplier without knowledge of its falsity and in
reliance upon the oral or written representations of the manufacturer,
the person from whom the supplier acquired the product, any testing
organization, or any other person provided that the source thereof is
disclosed to the consumer.
(e) For purposes of subsection (a)(12), a supplier that provides
estimates before performing repair or replacement work for a customer
shall give the customer a written estimate itemizing as closely as
possible the price for labor and parts necessary for the specific job
before commencing the work.
(f) For purposes of subsection (a)(15) and (a)(16), a telephone
company or other provider of a telephone directory or directory
assistance service or its officer or agent is immune from liability for
publishing the listing of a fictitious business name or assumed business
name of a supplier in its directory or directory assistance database
unless the telephone company or other provider of a telephone
directory or directory assistance service is the same person as the
supplier who has committed the deceptive act.
(g) For purposes of subsection (a)(18), it is an affirmative defense
to any action brought under this chapter that the product has been
altered by a person other than the defendant to render the product
completely incapable of serving its original purpose.
(1) three (3) times the actual damages of the consumer suffering the loss; or
(2) one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Except as provided in subsection (j), the court may award reasonable attorney fees to the party that prevails in an action under this subsection. This subsection does not apply to a consumer transaction in real property, including a claim or action involving a construction defect (as defined in IC 32-27-3-1(5)) brought against a construction professional (as defined in IC 32-27-3-1(4)), except for purchases of time shares and camping club memberships. This subsection does not apply with respect to a deceptive act described in section 3(a)(20) of this chapter. This subsection also does not apply to a violation of IC 24-4.7, IC 24-5-12, or IC 24-5-14. Actual damages awarded to a person under this section have priority over any civil penalty imposed
under this chapter.
(b) Any person who is entitled to bring an action under subsection
(a) on the person's own behalf against a supplier for damages for a
deceptive act may bring a class action against such supplier on behalf
of any class of persons of which that person is a member and which has
been damaged by such deceptive act, subject to and under the Indiana
Rules of Trial Procedure governing class actions, except as herein
expressly provided. Except as provided in subsection (j), the court may
award reasonable attorney fees to the party that prevails in a class
action under this subsection, provided that such fee shall be determined
by the amount of time reasonably expended by the attorney and not by
the amount of the judgment, although the contingency of the fee may
be considered. Any money or other property recovered in a class action
under this subsection which cannot, with due diligence, be restored to
consumers within one (1) year after the judgment becomes final shall
be returned to the party depositing the same. This subsection does not
apply to a consumer transaction in real property, except for purchases
of time shares and camping club memberships. This subsection does
not apply with respect to a deceptive act described in section
3(a)(20) of this chapter. Actual damages awarded to a class have
priority over any civil penalty imposed under this chapter.
(c) The attorney general may bring an action to enjoin a deceptive
act, including a deceptive act described in section 3(a)(20) of this
chapter, notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b). However, the
attorney general may seek to enjoin patterns of incurable deceptive acts
with respect to consumer transactions in real property. In addition, the
court may:
(1) issue an injunction;
(2) order the supplier to make payment of the money unlawfully
received from the aggrieved consumers to be held in escrow for
distribution to aggrieved consumers;
(3) order the supplier to pay to the state the reasonable costs of
the attorney general's investigation and prosecution related to the
action; and
(4) provide for the appointment of a receiver.
(d) In an action under subsection (a), (b), or (c), the court may void
or limit the application of contracts or clauses resulting from deceptive
acts and order restitution to be paid to aggrieved consumers.
(e) In any action under subsection (a) or (b), upon the filing of the
complaint or on the appearance of any defendant, claimant, or any
other party, or at any later time, the trial court, the supreme court, or the
court of appeals may require the plaintiff, defendant, claimant, or any
other party or parties to give security, or additional security, in such
sum as the court shall direct to pay all costs, expenses, and
disbursements that shall be awarded against that party or which that
party may be directed to pay by any interlocutory order by the final
judgment or on appeal.
(f) Any person who violates the terms of an injunction issued under
subsection (c) shall forfeit and pay to the state a civil penalty of not
more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per violation. For the
purposes of this section, the court issuing an injunction shall retain
jurisdiction, the cause shall be continued, and the attorney general
acting in the name of the state may petition for recovery of civil
penalties. Whenever the court determines that an injunction issued
under subsection (c) has been violated, the court shall award
reasonable costs to the state.
(g) If a court finds any person has knowingly violated section 3 or
10 of this chapter, other than section 3(a)(19) or 3(a)(20) of this
chapter, the attorney general, in an action pursuant to subsection (c),
may recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty of a
fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation.
(h) If a court finds that a person has violated section 3(a)(19) of this
chapter, the attorney general, in an action under subsection (c), may
recover from the person on behalf of the state a civil penalty as follows:
(1) For a knowing or intentional violation, one thousand five
hundred dollars ($1,500).
(2) For a violation other than a knowing or intentional violation,
five hundred dollars ($500).
A civil penalty recovered under this subsection shall be deposited in
the consumer protection division telephone solicitation fund
established by IC 24-4.7-3-6 to be used for the administration and
enforcement of section 3(a)(19) of this chapter.
(i) An elderly person relying upon an uncured or incurable
deceptive act, including an act related to hypnotism, may bring an
action to recover treble damages, if appropriate.
(j) An offer to cure is:
(1) not admissible as evidence in a proceeding initiated under this
section unless the offer to cure is delivered by a supplier to the
consumer or a representative of the consumer before the supplier
files the supplier's initial response to a complaint; and
(2) only admissible as evidence in a proceeding initiated under
this section to prove that a supplier is not liable for attorney's fees
under subsection (k).
If the offer to cure is timely delivered by the supplier, the supplier may
submit the offer to cure as evidence to prove in the proceeding in
accordance with the Indiana Rules of Trial Procedure that the supplier
made an offer to cure.
(k) A supplier may not be held liable for the attorney's fees and
court costs of the consumer that are incurred following the timely
delivery of an offer to cure as described in subsection (j) unless the
actual damages awarded, not including attorney's fees and costs, exceed
the value of the offer to cure.
(l) If a court finds that a person has knowingly violated section
3(a)(20) of this chapter, the attorney general, in an action under
subsection (c), may recover from the person on behalf of the state
a civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) per
consumer. In determining the amount of the civil penalty in any
action by the attorney general under this subsection, the court shall
consider, among other relevant factors, the frequency and
persistence of noncompliance by the debt collector, the nature of
the noncompliance, and the extent to which the noncompliance was
intentional. A person may not be held liable in any action by the
attorney general for a violation of section 3(a)(20) of this chapter
if the person shows by a preponderance of evidence that the
violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error,
notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably
adapted to avoid the error.
(1) makes a material misrepresentation; or
(2) conceals material information regarding the terms or conditions of the transaction.
(b) For purposes of this section, "knowingly" means having actual knowledge at the time of the transaction.
(b) The medical licensing board of Indiana shall investigate a complaint concerning a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5 and a violation specified in IC 25-22.5-2-8. The division shall forward a
complaint concerning a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5 and a
violation specified in IC 25-22.5-2-8 to the medical licensing board
of Indiana for investigation by the board. However, if the
complaint includes a violation in addition to a violation specified in
IC 25-22.5-2-8, the division shall investigate the complaint in its
entirety and notify the medical licensing board of Indiana of the
investigation.
(1) a complaint filed by:
(A) a member of any of the boards listed in section 1 of this chapter; or
(B) the Indiana professional licensing agency; or
(2) a complaint filed under IC 25-1-5-4.
(b) Except as provided in section 3(b) of this chapter, the director has the following duties and powers:
(1) The director shall make an initial determination as to the merit of each complaint. A copy of a complaint having merit shall be submitted to the board having jurisdiction over the licensee's regulated occupation, that board thereby acquiring jurisdiction over the matter except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(2) The director shall through any reasonable means notify the licensee of the nature and ramifications of the complaint and of the duty of the board to attempt to resolve the complaint through negotiation.
(3) The director shall report any pertinent information regarding the status of the complaint to the complainant.
(4) The director may investigate any written complaint against a licensee. The investigation shall be limited to those areas in which there appears to be a violation of statutes governing the regulated occupation.
(5) The director has the power to subpoena witnesses and to send for and compel the production of books, records, papers, and documents for the furtherance of any investigation under this chapter. The circuit or superior court located in the county where the subpoena is to be issued shall enforce any such subpoena by the director.
to the complaints shall be held in strict confidence until the attorney
general files notice with the board of the attorney general's intent to
prosecute the licensee.
(b) A person in the employ of the office of attorney general or any
of the boards, or any person not a party to the complaint, may not
disclose or further a disclosure of information concerning the
complaint unless the disclosure is required:
(1) under law; or
(2) for the advancement of an investigation.
(1) Licensure renewal fraud.
(2) Failure to timely provide copies of patient medical records.
(3) Overcharging for copies of patient medical records.
(4) Improper release of confidential patient information.
(5) Failure to maintain accurate patient records.
(6) Improper termination of a physician and patient relationship.
(7) Misleading advertising concerning specific board certification.
(8) Practicing with an expired medical license.
(9) Providing office based anesthesia without the proper accreditation.
(10) Failure to perform duties required for issuing birth or death certificates.
(b) An individual who is investigated by the board and found by the board to have committed a violation specified in subsection (a)
may appeal the determination made by the board in accordance
with IC 4-21.5.
(c) In accordance with the federal Health Care Quality
Improvement Act (42 U.S.C. 11132), the board shall report a
disciplinary board action that is subject to reporting to the
National Practitioner Data Bank. However, the board may not
report board action against a physician for only an administrative
penalty described in subsection (a). The board's action concerning
disciplinary action or an administrative penalty described in
subsection (a) shall be conducted at a hearing that is open to the
public.
(d) The physician compliance fund is established to provide
funds for administering and enforcing the investigation of
violations specified in subsection (a). The fund shall be
administered by the Indiana professional licensing agency.
(e) The expenses of administering the physician compliance fund
shall be paid from the money in the fund. The fund consists of
penalties collected through investigations and assessments by the
board concerning violations specified in subsection (a). Money in
the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not revert to the state
general fund.
(1) Making, issuing, circulating, or causing to be made, issued, or circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular, or statement:
(A) misrepresenting the terms of any policy issued or to be issued or the benefits or advantages promised thereby or the dividends or share of the surplus to be received thereon;
(B) making any false or misleading statement as to the dividends or share of surplus previously paid on similar policies;
(C) making any misleading representation or any misrepresentation as to the financial condition of any insurer, or as to the legal reserve system upon which any life insurer operates;
(D) using any name or title of any policy or class of policies misrepresenting the true nature thereof; or
(E) making any misrepresentation to any policyholder insured in any company for the purpose of inducing or tending to
induce such policyholder to lapse, forfeit, or surrender the
policyholder's insurance.
(2) Making, publishing, disseminating, circulating, or placing
before the public, or causing, directly or indirectly, to be made,
published, disseminated, circulated, or placed before the public,
in a newspaper, magazine, or other publication, or in the form of
a notice, circular, pamphlet, letter, or poster, or over any radio or
television station, or in any other way, an advertisement,
announcement, or statement containing any assertion,
representation, or statement with respect to any person in the
conduct of the person's insurance business, which is untrue,
deceptive, or misleading.
(3) Making, publishing, disseminating, or circulating, directly or
indirectly, or aiding, abetting, or encouraging the making,
publishing, disseminating, or circulating of any oral or written
statement or any pamphlet, circular, article, or literature which is
false, or maliciously critical of or derogatory to the financial
condition of an insurer, and which is calculated to injure any
person engaged in the business of insurance.
(4) Entering into any agreement to commit, or individually or by
a concerted action committing any act of boycott, coercion, or
intimidation resulting or tending to result in unreasonable
restraint of, or a monopoly in, the business of insurance.
(5) Filing with any supervisory or other public official, or making,
publishing, disseminating, circulating, or delivering to any person,
or placing before the public, or causing directly or indirectly, to
be made, published, disseminated, circulated, delivered to any
person, or placed before the public, any false statement of
financial condition of an insurer with intent to deceive. Making
any false entry in any book, report, or statement of any insurer
with intent to deceive any agent or examiner lawfully appointed
to examine into its condition or into any of its affairs, or any
public official to which such insurer is required by law to report,
or which has authority by law to examine into its condition or into
any of its affairs, or, with like intent, willfully omitting to make a
true entry of any material fact pertaining to the business of such
insurer in any book, report, or statement of such insurer.
(6) Issuing or delivering or permitting agents, officers, or
employees to issue or deliver, agency company stock or other
capital stock, or benefit certificates or shares in any common law
corporation, or securities or any special or advisory board
contracts or other contracts of any kind promising returns and
profits as an inducement to insurance.
(7) Making or permitting any of the following:
(A) Unfair discrimination between individuals of the same
class and equal expectation of life in the rates or assessments
charged for any contract of life insurance or of life annuity or
in the dividends or other benefits payable thereon, or in any
other of the terms and conditions of such contract. However,
in determining the class, consideration may be given to the
nature of the risk, plan of insurance, the actual or expected
expense of conducting the business, or any other relevant
factor.
(B) Unfair discrimination between individuals of the same
class involving essentially the same hazards in the amount of
premium, policy fees, assessments, or rates charged or made
for any policy or contract of accident or health insurance or in
the benefits payable thereunder, or in any of the terms or
conditions of such contract, or in any other manner whatever.
However, in determining the class, consideration may be given
to the nature of the risk, the plan of insurance, the actual or
expected expense of conducting the business, or any other
relevant factor.
(C) Excessive or inadequate charges for premiums, policy
fees, assessments, or rates, or making or permitting any unfair
discrimination between persons of the same class involving
essentially the same hazards, in the amount of premiums,
policy fees, assessments, or rates charged or made for:
(i) policies or contracts of reinsurance or joint reinsurance,
or abstract and title insurance;
(ii) policies or contracts of insurance against loss or damage
to aircraft, or against liability arising out of the ownership,
maintenance, or use of any aircraft, or of vessels or craft,
their cargoes, marine builders' risks, marine protection and
indemnity, or other risks commonly insured under marine,
as distinguished from inland marine, insurance; or
(iii) policies or contracts of any other kind or kinds of
insurance whatsoever.
However, nothing contained in clause (C) shall be construed to
apply to any of the kinds of insurance referred to in clauses (A)
and (B) nor to reinsurance in relation to such kinds of insurance.
Nothing in clause (A), (B), or (C) shall be construed as making or
permitting any excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory
charge or rate or any charge or rate determined by the department
or commissioner to meet the requirements of any other insurance
rate regulatory law of this state.
(8) Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, knowingly
permitting or offering to make or making any contract or policy
of insurance of any kind or kinds whatsoever, including but not in
limitation, life annuities, or agreement as to such contract or
policy other than as plainly expressed in such contract or policy
issued thereon, or paying or allowing, or giving or offering to pay,
allow, or give, directly or indirectly, as inducement to such
insurance, or annuity, any rebate of premiums payable on the
contract, or any special favor or advantage in the dividends,
savings, or other benefits thereon, or any valuable consideration
or inducement whatever not specified in the contract or policy; or
giving, or selling, or purchasing or offering to give, sell, or
purchase as inducement to such insurance or annuity or in
connection therewith, any stocks, bonds, or other securities of any
insurance company or other corporation, association, limited
liability company, or partnership, or any dividends, savings, or
profits accrued thereon, or anything of value whatsoever not
specified in the contract. Nothing in this subdivision and
subdivision (7) shall be construed as including within the
definition of discrimination or rebates any of the following
practices:
(A) Paying bonuses to policyholders or otherwise abating their
premiums in whole or in part out of surplus accumulated from
nonparticipating insurance, so long as any such bonuses or
abatement of premiums are fair and equitable to policyholders
and for the best interests of the company and its policyholders.
(B) In the case of life insurance policies issued on the
industrial debit plan, making allowance to policyholders who
have continuously for a specified period made premium
payments directly to an office of the insurer in an amount
which fairly represents the saving in collection expense.
(C) Readjustment of the rate of premium for a group insurance
policy based on the loss or expense experience thereunder, at
the end of the first year or of any subsequent year of insurance
thereunder, which may be made retroactive only for such
policy year.
(D) Paying by an insurer or insurance producer thereof duly
licensed as such under the laws of this state of money,
commission, or brokerage, or giving or allowing by an insurer
or such licensed insurance producer thereof anything of value,
for or on account of the solicitation or negotiation of policies
or other contracts of any kind or kinds, to a broker, an
insurance producer, or a solicitor duly licensed under the laws
of this state, but such broker, insurance producer, or solicitor
receiving such consideration shall not pay, give, or allow
credit for such consideration as received in whole or in part,
directly or indirectly, to the insured by way of rebate.
(9) Requiring, as a condition precedent to loaning money upon the
security of a mortgage upon real property, that the owner of the
property to whom the money is to be loaned negotiate any policy
of insurance covering such real property through a particular
insurance producer or broker or brokers. However, this
subdivision shall not prevent the exercise by any lender of the
lender's right to approve or disapprove of the insurance company
selected by the borrower to underwrite the insurance.
(10) Entering into any contract, combination in the form of a trust
or otherwise, or conspiracy in restraint of commerce in the
business of insurance.
(11) Monopolizing or attempting to monopolize or combining or
conspiring with any other person or persons to monopolize any
part of commerce in the business of insurance. However,
participation as a member, director, or officer in the activities of
any nonprofit organization of insurance producers or other
workers in the insurance business shall not be interpreted, in
itself, to constitute a combination in restraint of trade or as
combining to create a monopoly as provided in this subdivision
and subdivision (10). The enumeration in this chapter of specific
unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts and
practices in the business of insurance is not exclusive or
restrictive or intended to limit the powers of the commissioner or
department or of any court of review under section 8 of this
chapter.
(12) Requiring as a condition precedent to the sale of real or
personal property under any contract of sale, conditional sales
contract, or other similar instrument or upon the security of a
chattel mortgage, that the buyer of such property negotiate any
policy of insurance covering such property through a particular
insurance company, insurance producer, or broker or brokers.
However, this subdivision shall not prevent the exercise by any
seller of such property or the one making a loan thereon of the
right to approve or disapprove of the insurance company selected
by the buyer to underwrite the insurance.
(13) Issuing, offering, or participating in a plan to issue or offer, any policy or certificate of insurance of any kind or character as an inducement to the purchase of any property, real, personal, or mixed, or services of any kind, where a charge to the insured is not made for and on account of such policy or certificate of insurance. However, this subdivision shall not apply to any of the following:
(A) Insurance issued to credit unions or members of credit unions in connection with the purchase of shares in such credit unions.
(B) Insurance employed as a means of guaranteeing the performance of goods and designed to benefit the purchasers or users of such goods.
(C) Title insurance.
(D) Insurance written in connection with an indebtedness and intended as a means of repaying such indebtedness in the event of the death or disability of the insured.
(E) Insurance provided by or through motorists service clubs or associations.
(F) Insurance that is provided to the purchaser or holder of an air transportation ticket and that:
(i) insures against death or nonfatal injury that occurs during the flight to which the ticket relates;
(ii) insures against personal injury or property damage that occurs during travel to or from the airport in a common carrier immediately before or after the flight;
(iii) insures against baggage loss during the flight to which the ticket relates; or
(iv) insures against a flight cancellation to which the ticket relates.
(14) Refusing, because of the for-profit status of a hospital or medical facility, to make payments otherwise required to be made under a contract or policy of insurance for charges incurred by an insured in such a for-profit hospital or other for-profit medical facility licensed by the state department of health.
(15) Refusing to insure an individual, refusing to continue to issue insurance to an individual, limiting the amount, extent, or kind of coverage available to an individual, or charging an individual a different rate for the same coverage, solely because of that individual's blindness or partial blindness, except where the refusal, limitation, or rate differential is based on sound actuarial principles or is related to actual or reasonably anticipated
experience.
(16) Committing or performing, with such frequency as to
indicate a general practice, unfair claim settlement practices (as
defined in section 4.5 of this chapter).
(17) Between policy renewal dates, unilaterally canceling an
individual's coverage under an individual or group health
insurance policy solely because of the individual's medical or
physical condition.
(18) Using a policy form or rider that would permit a cancellation
of coverage as described in subdivision (17).
(19) Violating IC 27-1-22-25, IC 27-1-22-26, or IC 27-1-22-26.1
concerning motor vehicle insurance rates.
(20) Violating IC 27-8-21-2 concerning advertisements referring
to interest rate guarantees.
(21) Violating IC 27-8-24.3 concerning insurance and health plan
coverage for victims of abuse.
(22) Violating IC 27-8-26 concerning genetic screening or testing.
(23) Violating IC 27-1-15.6-3(b) concerning licensure of
insurance producers.
(24) Violating IC 27-1-38 concerning depository institutions.
(25) Violating IC 27-8-28-17(c) or IC 27-13-10-8(c) concerning
the resolution of an appealed grievance decision.
(26) Violating IC 27-8-5-2.5(e) through IC 27-8-5-2.5(j) (expired
July 1, 2007, and removed) or IC 27-8-5-19.2 (expired July 1,
2007, and repealed).
(27) Violating IC 27-2-21 concerning use of credit information.
(28) Violating IC 27-4-9-3 concerning recommendations to
consumers.
(29) Engaging in dishonest or predatory insurance practices in
marketing or sales of insurance to members of the United States
Armed Forces as:
(A) described in the federal Military Personnel Financial
Services Protection Act, P.L.109-290; or
(B) defined in rules adopted under subsection (b).
(30) Violating IC 27-8-19.8-20.1 concerning stranger originated
life insurance.
(31) Violating IC 27-8-11-4.7 or IC 27-13-34-15.2 concerning
contracts for dental services.
(b) Except with respect to federal insurance programs under
Subchapter III of Chapter 19 of Title 38 of the United States Code, the
commissioner may, consistent with the federal Military Personnel
Financial Services Protection Act (P.L.109-290), adopt rules under
IC 4-22-2 to:
(1) define; and
(2) while the members are on a United States military installation
or elsewhere in Indiana, protect members of the United States
Armed Forces from;
dishonest or predatory insurance practices.
(1)
(A) is:
(i) a first lien purchase money mortgage transaction; or
(2) A real estate transaction (as defined in IC 24-9-3-7(b)) that:
(A) does not involve a mortgage transaction described in subdivision (1);
(B) is closed by a closing agent (as defined in IC 6-1.1-12-43(a)(2)) after December 31, 2011.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, a person described in this subsection is involved in a transaction to which this section applies if the person participates in or assists with, or will participate in or assist with, a transaction to which this section applies.
(1) In the case of a transaction described in subsection (a)(1), the name and license number (under IC 23-2-5) of each loan brokerage business involved in the transaction.
(2) In the case of a transaction described in subsection (a)(1), the name and license or registration number of any mortgage loan originator who is:
(A) either licensed or registered under state or federal law as a mortgage loan originator consistent with the Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (H.R. 3221 Title V); and
(B) involved in the transaction.
(3) The name and license number (under IC 25-34.1) of each:
(A) principal broker; and
(B) salesperson or broker-salesperson, if any;
involved in the transaction.
(4) The following information:
(A) The:
(i) name of; and
each title insurance underwriter involved in the transaction.
(B) The type of title insurance policy issued in connection with the transaction.
(5) The name and license number (under IC 27-1-15.6) of each title insurance agency and agent involved in the transaction as a closing agent (as defined in IC 6-1.1-12-43(a)(2)).
(6) The following information:
(A) The name and:
who appraises the property that is the subject of the transaction.
(B) The name and registration number (under IC 25-34.1-11-10) of any appraisal management company that performs appraisal management services (as defined in IC 25-34.1-11-3) in connection with the transaction.
(7) In the case of a transaction described in subsection (a)(1), the name of the
(8) In the case of a
(9) In the case of a
(A) The name of the buyer of the property that is the subject of the transaction.
(B) The purchase price of the property that is the subject of the transaction.
(C) The loan amount of the mortgage transaction.
(10) In the case of a transaction described in subsection (a)(2),
the following information:
(A) The name of the buyer of the property that is the
subject of the transaction.
(B) The purchase price of the property that is the subject
of the transaction.
(11) In the case of a transaction described in subsection
(a)(1)(A)(ii), the following information:
(A) The name of the borrower in the mortgage transaction.
(B) The loan amount of the refinancing.
(10) (12) The:
(A) name; and
(B) license number, certificate number, registration number,
or other code, as appropriate;
of any other person that participates in or assists with is involved
in a transaction to which this section applies, as the department
may prescribe.
(c) The system established by the department under this section
must include a form that:
(1) is uniformly accessible in an electronic format to the closing
agent (as defined in IC 6-1.1-12-43(a)(2)) in the transaction; and
(2) allows the closing agent to do the following:
(A) Input information identifying the property that is the
subject of the transaction by lot or parcel number, street
address, or some other means of identification that the
department determines:
(i) is sufficient to identify the property; and
(ii) is determinable by the closing agent.
(B) Subject to subsection (d) and to the extent determinable,
input the applicable information described in subsection (b).
with respect to each person described in subsection (b) that
participates in or assists with the transaction.
(C) Respond to the following questions, if applicable:
(i) "On what date did you receive the closing instructions
from the creditor in the transaction?".
(ii) "On what date did the transaction close?".
(D) Submit the form electronically to a data base maintained
by the department.
(d) Not later than the time of the closing, each person described in
subsection (b), other than a person described in subsection (b)(8), or
(b)(9), (b)(10), or (b)(11), shall provide to the closing agent in the
transaction the person's:
(1) legal name; and
(2) license number, certificate number, registration number, or NAIC code, as appropriate;
to allow the closing agent to comply with subsection (c)(2)(B).
(e) Except for a person described in subsection (b)(8),
(1) may be enforced by the state agency that has administrative jurisdiction over the person in the same manner that the agency enforces the payment of fees or other penalties payable to the agency; and
(2) shall be paid into the home ownership education account established by IC 5-20-1-27.
(f) Subject to subsection (g), the department shall make the information stored in the data base described in subsection (c)(2)(D) accessible to:
(1) each entity described in IC 4-6-12-4; and
(2) the homeowner protection unit established under IC 4-6-12-2.
(g) The department, a closing agent who submits a form under subsection (c), each entity described in IC 4-6-12-4, and the homeowner protection unit established under IC 4-6-12-2 shall exercise all necessary caution to avoid disclosure of any information:
(1) concerning a person described in subsection (b), including the person's license, registration, or certificate number; and
(2) contained in the data base described in subsection (c)(2)(D);
except to the extent required or authorized by state or federal law.
(h) The department may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2, including emergency rules under IC 4-22-2-37.1, to implement this section. Rules adopted by the department under this subsection may establish procedures for the department to:
(1) establish;
(2) collect; and
(3) change as necessary;
an administrative fee to cover the department's expenses in establishing and maintaining the electronic system required by this section.
(i) If the department adopts a rule under IC 4-22-2 to establish an administrative fee to cover the department's expenses in establishing and maintaining the electronic system required by this section, as allowed under subsection (h), the department may:
(1) require the fee to be paid:
(A) to the closing agent responsible for inputting the information and submitting the form described in subsection (c)(2); and
(B) by the borrower, the seller, or the buyer in the transaction;
(2) allow the closing agent described in subdivision (1)(A) to retain a part of the fee collected to cover the closing agent's costs in inputting the information and submitting the form described in subsection (c)(2); and
(3) require the closing agent to pay the remainder of the fee collected to the department for deposit in the title insurance enforcement fund established by IC 27-7-3.6-1, for the department's use in establishing and maintaining the electronic system required by this section.
(b) An insurer may not, under an agreement under section 3 of
this chapter, require a dentist to accept an amount set by the
insurer as payment for health care services provided to an insured
unless the health care services are covered services under the
insured's policy.
(c) An insurer may not provide merely de minimis
reimbursement or coverage in an effort to avoid the requirements
of this section.
(d) This section does not apply to a discount medical card
program provider agreement regulated under IC 27-17.
(e) A violation of this section is an unfair and deceptive act in
the business of insurance under IC 27-4-1-4.
(b) A limited service health maintenance organization may not, under a contract described in section 15 of this chapter, require a dentist to accept an amount set by the limited service health maintenance organization as payment for limited health services provided to an enrollee unless the limited health services are covered services under the enrollee's individual contract or group contract.
(c) A limited service health maintenance organization may not provide merely de minimis reimbursement or coverage in an effort to avoid the requirements of this section.
(d) This section does not apply to a discount medical card program provider agreement regulated under IC 27-17.
(e) A violation of this section is an unfair and deceptive act in the business of insurance under IC 27-4-1-4.
