2006 Ohio Revised Code - 3905.20. Appointment of insurance agent to act as agent of insurer.

§ 3905.20. Appointment of insurance agent to act as agent of insurer.
 

(A)  An insurance agent shall not act as an agent of an insurer unless the insurance agent is appointed as an agent of the insurer. An insurance agent who does not act as an agent of an insurer shall not be required to be appointed as an agent of the insurer. 
 

For purposes of this division, an insurance agent acts as an agent of an insurer when the insurance agent sells, solicits, or negotiates any product of the insurer and is compensated directly by the insurer. 

(B) (1)  To appoint an insurance agent as its agent, an insurer shall file a notice of appointment with the superintendent of insurance not later than thirty days after the date the agency contract is executed or the first insurance application is submitted, whichever is earlier. The notice of appointment shall be provided in the manner prescribed by the superintendent. 

Each insurer shall pay to the superintendent a fee of twenty dollars for every such appointment when issued and for each continuance thereafter. Such an appointment, unless canceled by the insurer, may be continued in force past the thirtieth day of June next after its issue and after the thirtieth day of June of each succeeding year, unless a different date is determined by the superintendent. 

A separate appointment and fee are required for a variable life and variable annuity products line of authority. 

(2) By appointing an insurance agent, an insurer certifies to the superintendent that the person is competent, financially responsible, and suitable to represent the insurer. 

(3) While an appointment remains in force, an insurer shall be bound by the acts of the person named in the appointment within that person's actual and apparent authority as its agent. 

(C)  The superintendent may, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, adopt rules to establish appointment procedures, including cancellations and renewals, to clarify the circumstances that require an appointment, and to provide for the appointment of insurance agents to some or all of the insurers within an insurer's holding company system or group. 
 

HISTORY: 149 v S 129. Eff 9-1-2002.
 

Not analogous to former RC § 3905.20 (133 v S 203; 141 v H 310; 143 v H 111; 144 v S 375; 147 v S 154), repealed 149 v S 129, § 2, eff 9-1-2002. 

Not analogous to former RC § 3905.20 (GC § 654-7; 111 v 128; Bureau of Code Revision, 10-1-53), repealed 128 v 490(495), § 2, eff 11-2-59.

The effective date is set by section 3 of SB 129.