(a)(1) A person may not operate as a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker without first obtaining a license from the commissioner.

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(2)(A) An insurance producer who is authorized to sell life insurance in this state pursuant to a resident or nonresident license issued in accordance with the provisions of §33-12-1 et seq. of this code may operate as a viatical settlement broker without obtaining a license pursuant to this section if the viatical settlement activities of the producer are incidental to the producer’s insurance business activities.

(B) The insurer that issued the policy being viaticated is not responsible for any act or omission of a viatical settlement broker or viatical settlement provider arising out of or in connection with the viatical settlement transaction, unless the insurer receives compensation for the placement of a viatical settlement contract from the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker in connection with the viatical settlement contract.

(3) A person licensed as an attorney, certified public accountant, or financial planner accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation agency who is retained to represent the viator, whose compensation is not paid directly or indirectly by the viatical settlement provider, may negotiate viatical settlement contracts on behalf of the viator without having to obtain a license as a viatical settlement broker.

(b) Application for a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker license and for renewals of the licenses shall be made in the manner prescribed by the commissioner and shall be accompanied by fees established in legislative rules, including emergency rules, promulgated by the commissioner.

(1) The commissioner may not disqualify an applicant from initial licensure because of a prior criminal conviction that remains unreversed unless that conviction is for a crime that bears a rational nexus to the activity requiring licensure. In determining whether a criminal conviction bears a rational nexus to a profession or occupation, the commissioner shall consider at a minimum:

(A) The nature and seriousness of the crime for which the individual was convicted;

(B) The passage of time since the commission of the crime;

(C) The relationship of the crime to the ability, capacity, and fitness required to perform the duties and discharge the responsibilities of the profession or occupation; and

(D) Any evidence of rehabilitation or treatment undertaken by the individual.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, if an applicant is disqualified from licensure because of a prior criminal conviction, unless that conviction is a felony pursuant to § 33-13C-14 of this code, the commissioner shall permit the applicant to apply for initial licensure if:

(A) A period of five years has elapsed from the date of conviction or the date of release from incarceration, whichever is later;

(B) The individual has not been convicted of any other crime during the period of time following the disqualifying offense; and

(C) The conviction was not for an offense of a violent or sexual nature: Provided, That a conviction for an offense of a violent or sexual nature may subject an individual to a longer period of disqualification from licensure, to be determined by the commissioner.

(3) An individual with a criminal record who has not previously applied for licensure may petition the commissioner at any time for a determination of whether the individual’s criminal record will disqualify the individual from obtaining a license. This petition shall include sufficient details about the individual’s criminal record to enable the commissioner to identify the jurisdiction where the conviction occurred, the date of the conviction, and the specific nature of the conviction. The commissioner shall provide the determination within 60 days of receiving the petition from the applicant. The commissioner may charge a fee to recoup its costs for each petition.

(c) The commissioner has the authority, at any time, to require the applicant to fully disclose the identity of all stockholders, partners, officers, members, and employees and the commissioner may, in the exercise of the commissioner’s discretion, refuse to issue a license in the name of a legal entity if not satisfied that any officer, employee, stockholder, partner, or member of the entity who may materially influence the applicant’s conduct meets the standards of this article.

(d) The commissioner shall make an investigation of each applicant and issue a license if the commissioner finds that the applicant:

(1) If a viatical settlement provider, has provided a detailed plan of operation;

(2) Is competent and trustworthy and acts in good faith in the capacity of a licensee;

(3) Has a good business reputation and is qualified by experience, training, or education as a viatical settlement provider or broker;

(4) Has demonstrated evidence of financial responsibility, in a format prescribed by the commissioner, by possessing a minimum equity of not less than $250,000 in cash or cash equivalents reflected in the applicant’s audited financial statements or through a surety bond executed and issued by an insurer authorized to issue surety bonds in this state in the amount of $250,000: Provided, That the commissioner may permit an applicant for a broker’s license to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility through a policy of insurance covering legal liability resulting from erroneous acts or failure to act in their capacity as a viatical settlement broker and inuring to the benefit of any aggrieved party as the result of any single occurrence in the sum of not less than $100,000 and $300,000 in the aggregate for all occurrences within one year. Any surety bond issued pursuant to this subdivision shall be in the favor of this state and shall specifically authorize recovery by the commissioner on behalf of any person in this state who sustained damages as the result of erroneous acts, failure to act, conviction of fraud, or conviction of unfair practices by the viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker. The commissioner shall accept, as evidence of financial responsibility, proof that financial instruments in accordance with the requirements in this paragraph have been filed with a state in which the applicant is licensed as a viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker. The commissioner may ask for evidence of financial responsibility at any time he or she considers it necessary.

(5) If a legal entity has provided a certificate of good standing from the state of its domicile; and

(6) Has provided an antifraud plan that meets the requirements of §33-13C-14(g) of this code.

(e) The commissioner may not issue a license to a nonresident applicant unless the applicant files with the commissioner either a written designation of an agent for service of process or the applicant’s written irrevocable consent that any action against the applicant may be commenced against the applicant by service of process on the commissioner.

(f) A viatical settlement provider or viatical settlement broker shall provide to the commissioner new or revised information about officers, 10 percent or more stockholders, partners, directors, members, or designated employees within 30 days of the change.

(g) An individual licensed as a viatical settlement broker shall complete on a biennial basis 15 hours of training related to viatical settlements and viatical settlement transactions as required by the commissioner. A life insurance producer operating as a viatical settlement broker pursuant to subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section is not subject to the requirements of this subsection. Any person failing to meet the requirements of this subsection is subject to the penalties imposed by the commissioner.