Sec. 15. (a) An insurer or authorized representative of an insurer that terminates the appointment, employment, contract, or other insurance business relationship with a producer shall notify the commissioner not more than thirty (30) days after the effective date of the termination using a format prescribed by the commissioner, if:

(1) the reason for termination is described in section 12 of this chapter; or

(2) the insurer has knowledge that the producer was found by a court, a government body, or a self-regulatory organization authorized by law to have engaged in any of the activities described in section 12 of this chapter.

Upon the written request of the insurance commissioner, the insurer shall provide additional information, documents, records, and other data pertaining to the termination or activity of the producer.

     (b) If an insurer discovers, upon further review or investigation, additional information that would have been reportable to the commissioner under subsection (a) had the insurer known of the existence of the additional information, the insurer or an authorized representative of the insurer shall promptly notify the commissioner of the additional information in a format acceptable to the commissioner.

     (c) A copy of the notification of termination of a producer that must be provided to the commissioner under this section shall also be provided to the producer as follows:

(1) Not more than fifteen (15) days after making the notification required under subsection (a) or (b), the insurer shall mail a copy of the notification to the producer at the producer’s last known address. If the producer is terminated for cause for any of the reasons described in section 12 of this chapter, the insurer shall provide a copy of the notification to the producer at the producer’s last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by overnight delivery using a nationally recognized carrier.

(2) Not more than thirty (30) days after the producer has received the original or additional notification, the producer may file written comments concerning the substance of the notification with the commissioner. The producer shall, by the same means used by the producer to file the written comments with the commissioner, simultaneously send a copy of the comments to the reporting insurer, and the comments shall become a part of the commissioner’s file and accompany every copy of a report distributed or disclosed for any reason about the producer as permitted under subsection (e).

     (d) Immunities under this section are as follows:

(1) In the absence of actual malice, an insurer, an authorized representative of an insurer, a producer, the commissioner, and an organization of which the commissioner is a member and that compiles information and makes it available to other insurance commissioners or regulatory or law enforcement agencies are immune from civil liability, and a civil cause of action of any nature shall not arise against these entities or their respective agents or employees, as a result of:

(A) a statement or information required by or provided under this section or any information relating to a statement that may be requested in writing by the commissioner from an insurer or producer; or

(B) a statement by a terminating insurer to a producer or by a producer to a terminating insurer;

limited solely and exclusively to whether a termination for cause referred to in subsection (a) was reported to the commissioner, provided that the propriety of any termination for cause referred to in subsection (a) is certified in writing by an officer or authorized representative of the insurer or producer terminating the relationship.

(2) In any action brought against a person that may have immunity under subdivision (1) for:

(A) making a statement required under this section; or

(B) providing information relating to a statement that may be requested by the commissioner;

the party bringing the action must plead specifically in any allegation that subdivision (1) does not apply because the person making the statement or providing the information did so with actual malice.

(3) Existing statutory or common law privileges or immunities are not abrogated or modified by subdivision (1) or (2).

     (e) Confidentiality under this section is as follows:

(1) Documents, materials, and other forms of information in the control or possession of the department that are:

(A) furnished by:

(i) an insurer or producer; or

(ii) an employee or agent of an insurer acting on behalf of the insurer or producer; or

(B) obtained by the commissioner in an investigation under this section;

are confidential by law and privileged, are not subject to public inspection and copying under IC 5-14-3-3, are not subject to subpoena, and are not subject to discovery or admissible in evidence in any private civil action. However, the commissioner is authorized to use the documents, materials, or other information in the furtherance of any regulatory or legal action brought as a part of the commissioner’s duties.

(2) Neither the commissioner nor any person who receives confidential documents, materials, or other information described in subdivision (1) while acting under the authority of the commissioner may be permitted or required to testify in any private civil action concerning the confidential documents, materials, or information described in subdivision (1).

(3) To assist in the performance of the commissioner’s duties under this chapter, the commissioner may:

(A) share documents, materials, and other information, including the confidential and privileged documents, materials, and information described in subdivision (1), with:

(i) other state, federal, and international regulatory agencies;

(ii) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates or subsidiaries; and

(iii) state, federal, and international law enforcement authorities;

provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the documents, materials, or other information;

(B) receive documents, materials, and information, including otherwise confidential and privileged documents, materials, and information, from:

(i) the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, its affiliates or subsidiaries; and

(ii) regulatory and law enforcement officials of other foreign or domestic jurisdictions;

and shall maintain as confidential or privileged any document, material, or information received with notice or the understanding that it is confidential or privileged under the laws of the jurisdiction that is the source of the document, material, or information; and

(C) enter into agreements governing sharing and use of information consistent with this subsection.

(4) Disclosure of documents, materials, and information:

(A) to the commissioner; or

(B) by the commissioner;

under this section does not result in a waiver of any applicable privilege or claim of confidentiality in the documents, materials, or information.

(5) This chapter does not prohibit the commissioner from releasing final, adjudicated actions, including for cause terminations that are open to public inspection under IC 5-14, to a database or other clearinghouse service maintained by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or by its affiliates or subsidiaries.

     (f) If an insurer, an authorized representative of an insurer, or a producer fails to report as required under this section or is found to have reported falsely with actual malice by a court of competent jurisdiction, the commissioner may, after notice and hearing, suspend or revoke the license or certificate of authority of the insurer, authorized representative, or producer, and may fine the insurer, authorized representative, or producer under IC 27-4-1-6.

As added by P.L.132-2001, SEC.3.