3 | 2 | | *ANS105* 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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4 | 3 | | |
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5 | 4 | | State of Arkansas As Engrossed: S3/7/23 1 |
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6 | 5 | | 94th General Assembly A Bill 2 |
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7 | 6 | | Regular Session, 2023 SENATE BILL 97 3 |
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8 | 7 | | 4 |
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9 | 8 | | By: Senator D. Wallace 5 |
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10 | 9 | | By: Representative Joey Carr 6 |
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11 | 10 | | 7 |
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12 | 11 | | For An Act To Be Entitled 8 |
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13 | 12 | | AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PREPAID FUN ERAL BENEFITS 9 |
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14 | 13 | | LAW; TO REGULATE PRE PAID BENEFITS CONTRA CTS; TO 10 |
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15 | 14 | | REDUCE BURDENS ON TH E ADMINISTRATION OF PREPAID 11 |
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16 | 15 | | BENEFITS CONTRACTS; TO CLARIFY CONTROL O F PREPAID 12 |
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17 | 16 | | BENEFITS CONTRACTS; TO ENHANC E THE ADMINISTRATION OF 13 |
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18 | 17 | | THE ARKANSAS PREPAID FUNERAL BENEFITS LAW ; AND FOR 14 |
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19 | 18 | | OTHER PURPOSES. 15 |
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20 | 19 | | 16 |
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21 | 20 | | 17 |
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22 | 21 | | Subtitle 18 |
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23 | 22 | | TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS PREPAID FUNERAL 19 |
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24 | 23 | | BENEFITS LAW; TO REGULATE PREPAID 20 |
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25 | 24 | | BENEFITS CONTRACTS; AND TO ENHANCE THE 21 |
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26 | 25 | | ADMINISTRATION OF THE ARKANSAS PREPAID 22 |
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27 | 26 | | FUNERAL BENEFITS LAW. 23 |
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28 | 27 | | 24 |
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29 | 28 | | 25 |
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30 | 29 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 26 |
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31 | 30 | | 27 |
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32 | 31 | | SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 19 -5-1106(b)(3), concerning the 28 |
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33 | 32 | | administration of the State Insurance Department Prepaid Trust Fund, is 29 |
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34 | 33 | | amended to read as follows: 30 |
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35 | 34 | | (3) The State Insurance Department Prepaid Trust Fund shall also 31 |
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36 | 35 | | consist of the assets of the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Fund, 32 |
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37 | 36 | | there to be administered by the Insurance Commissioner and the Prepaid 33 |
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38 | 37 | | Funeral Contracts Rec overy Program Board as set out in § 23 -40-125 34 |
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39 | 38 | | commissioner. 35 |
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40 | 39 | | 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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41 | 40 | | |
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42 | 41 | | 2 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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43 | 42 | | |
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44 | 43 | | |
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45 | 44 | | SECTION 2. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-111(b), concerning the cancellation 1 |
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46 | 45 | | or denial of a permit to sell prepaid funeral benefits under the Arkansas 2 |
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47 | 46 | | Prepaid Funeral Benefits Law, is amended to add ad ditional subdivisions to 3 |
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48 | 47 | | read as follows: 4 |
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49 | 48 | | (6)(A)(i)(a) Under § 23 -40-110(c), a licensee's permit expires 5 |
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50 | 49 | | on June 1 of each year. 6 |
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51 | 50 | | (b) For each licensee that has not renewed a 7 |
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52 | 51 | | permit by June 1, the commissioner shall send a notice to the licensee th at 8 |
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53 | 52 | | the licensee is required to renew the permit within thirty (30) days of June 9 |
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54 | 53 | | 1. 10 |
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55 | 54 | | (c) If a licensee's permit is not renewed 11 |
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56 | 55 | | within thirty (30) days of June 1 or is suspended or is revoked, then the 12 |
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57 | 56 | | licensee shall surrender to the commissioner: 13 |
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58 | 57 | | (1) Any existing nonfulfilled prepaid 14 |
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59 | 58 | | contracts; 15 |
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60 | 59 | | (2) Contract files; 16 |
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61 | 60 | | (3) Inventory reports; 17 |
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62 | 61 | | (4) In-force reports; and 18 |
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63 | 62 | | (5) Any other documentation pertaining 19 |
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64 | 63 | | to the administration of the licensee's prepaid funeral benefits business. 20 |
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65 | 64 | | (ii)(a) If the licensee's permit has lapsed, then 21 |
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66 | 65 | | the licensee shall surrender the documentation under subdivision 22 |
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67 | 66 | | (b)(6)(A)(i)(c) of this section within thirty (30) days of the date of the 23 |
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68 | 67 | | expiration of the permit. 24 |
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69 | 68 | | (b) If the licensee renews the licensee's 25 |
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70 | 69 | | permit, then at the time the renewal is approved, the commissioner shall 26 |
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71 | 70 | | return the documentation to the licensee. 27 |
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72 | 71 | | (iii)(a) If the licensee's permit is suspended, then 28 |
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73 | 72 | | the licensee shall surrender the documentation under subdivision 29 |
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74 | 73 | | (b)(6)(A)(i)(c) of this section within thirty (30) days of the date the 30 |
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75 | 74 | | commissioner's order is entered or within thirty (30) days after the deadline 31 |
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76 | 75 | | to appeal the commissioner's order. 32 |
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77 | 76 | | (b) At the end of the period of suspension, if 33 |
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78 | 77 | | no other action is taken against the licensee, then the commissioner shall 34 |
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79 | 78 | | return the documentation to the licensee. 35 |
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80 | 79 | | (c) If the permit is subsequently revoked, 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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81 | 80 | | |
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83 | 82 | | |
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84 | 83 | | |
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85 | 84 | | then the commissioner shall not return any documentation to the licensee. 1 |
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86 | 85 | | (iv) If the licensee's permit is revoked, then the 2 |
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87 | 86 | | licensee shall surrender the documentation under subdivision (b)(6)(A)(i)(c) 3 |
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88 | 87 | | of this section within thirty (30) days of the date the commissioner's order 4 |
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89 | 88 | | is entered or within thirty (30) days after the deadline to appeal the 5 |
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90 | 89 | | commissioner's order. 6 |
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91 | 90 | | (B) The licensee's failure to surrender all the 7 |
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92 | 91 | | documentation under subdivision (b)(6)(A)(i)(c) of this section if there has 8 |
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93 | 92 | | been a nonrenewal within thirty (30) days of June 1 of a permit, suspension, 9 |
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94 | 93 | | or revocation, shall subject the licensee to an administrative penalty of: 10 |
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95 | 94 | | (i) One thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation if 11 |
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96 | 95 | | the licensee fails to comply with the applicable thirty -day timeline to 12 |
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97 | 96 | | surrender the documentati on under this subdivision (b)(6); and 13 |
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98 | 97 | | (ii) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation if 14 |
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99 | 98 | | the licensee: 15 |
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100 | 99 | | (a) Fails to comply with the applicable 16 |
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101 | 100 | | thirty-day timeline to surrender the documentation under this subdivision 17 |
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102 | 101 | | (b)(6); and 18 |
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103 | 102 | | (b) The commissioner finds willful misconduct 19 |
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104 | 103 | | or a willful violation of this subdivision (b)(6). 20 |
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105 | 104 | | 21 |
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106 | 105 | | SECTION 3. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-119(a), concerning the annual report 22 |
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107 | 106 | | and annual report fee under the Arkansas Prepaid Funeral Benefits Law, is 23 |
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108 | 107 | | amended to read as follows: 24 |
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109 | 108 | | (a) Each organization shall file an annual report and an annual report 25 |
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110 | 109 | | fee with the Insurance Commissioner on or before March 15 of each year in 26 |
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111 | 110 | | such form as the commissioner may require, showing the: 27 |
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112 | 111 | | (1) Names or account The names or contract numbers, or both, of 28 |
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113 | 112 | | all persons with whom contracts for prepaid funeral benefits have been made 29 |
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114 | 113 | | prior to before January 1 of that year that had not been fully discharged on 30 |
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115 | 114 | | January 1; 31 |
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116 | 115 | | (2) Date The date of contract; 32 |
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117 | 116 | | (3) Name If the prepaid contract is funded by cash or trust, 33 |
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118 | 117 | | the: 34 |
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119 | 118 | | (A) Name of the trustee holding the trust fund; and 35 |
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120 | 119 | | (4)(B) Amount in the trust fund under each contract on the 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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121 | 120 | | |
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122 | 121 | | 4 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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123 | 122 | | |
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124 | 123 | | |
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125 | 124 | | preceding December 31 .; and 1 |
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126 | 125 | | (4) If the prepaid contract is funded by an insurance policy or 2 |
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127 | 126 | | an annuity, the: 3 |
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128 | 127 | | (A) Information required under subdivisions (a)(1) and (2) 4 |
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129 | 128 | | of this section; 5 |
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130 | 129 | | (B) Name of the insurance company or third party 6 |
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131 | 130 | | administrator holding the insurance policy or annuity; 7 |
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132 | 131 | | (C) Insurance policy number; 8 |
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133 | 132 | | (D) Date the insurance policy or annuity is issued; and 9 |
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134 | 133 | | (E) Amount of the insurance policy or annuity. 10 |
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135 | 134 | | 11 |
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136 | 135 | | SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-119(d)(1), concerning the per -12 |
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137 | 136 | | contract fee under the Arkansas Prepaid Funeral Benefits Law, is amended to 13 |
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138 | 137 | | read as follows: 14 |
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139 | 138 | | (d)(1)(A)(i)(a) Effective for all prepaid funeral benefits contracts 15 |
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140 | 139 | | executed on and after April 1, 1997, each licensee selling a prepaid funeral 16 |
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141 | 140 | | benefits contract shall remit to the State Insurance Department a one -time, 17 |
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142 | 141 | | per-contract fee of not less than fiv e dollars ($5.00) for each prepaid 18 |
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143 | 142 | | funeral benefits contract, including any amendments thereto, entered into by 19 |
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144 | 143 | | the licensee, whether cash or trust funded or funded by an insurance policy 20 |
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145 | 144 | | or annuity contract, unless the per -contract fees are otherwise elim inated or 21 |
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146 | 145 | | suspended by the commissioner pursuant to a rule. 22 |
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147 | 146 | | (b) However, the per -contract fees once 23 |
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148 | 147 | | eliminated or suspended by rule of the commissioner may be reinstated by 24 |
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149 | 148 | | subsequent rule of the commissioner adopted upon a public hearing at a later 25 |
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150 | 149 | | date upon the commissioner's determination that these fees are essential and 26 |
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151 | 150 | | necessary to the operation of the Division of Prepaid Funeral Benefits of the 27 |
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152 | 151 | | State Insurance Department. 28 |
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153 | 152 | | (ii) On and after July 1, 2001, the commissioner 29 |
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154 | 153 | | shall then transfer from each per-contract fee remitted to the department, 30 |
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155 | 154 | | into the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Fund pursuant to this act 31 |
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156 | 155 | | a portion of the fee in an amount to be determined by rules of the 32 |
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157 | 156 | | commissioner and thereafter to be administered by the c ommissioner with 33 |
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158 | 157 | | advice from the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Board, pursuant to 34 |
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159 | 158 | | the provisions of under this subchapter. 35 |
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160 | 159 | | (B) The per-contract fees shall be remitted quarterly 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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161 | 160 | | |
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162 | 161 | | 5 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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163 | 162 | | |
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164 | 163 | | |
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165 | 164 | | annually to the department for each quarter month of the calendar year with a 1 |
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166 | 165 | | quarterly fee the annual report form as prescribed by the commissioner. 2 |
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167 | 166 | | (C) The fees shall be remitted to the department no later 3 |
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168 | 167 | | than forty-five (45) days after each quarter. 4 |
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169 | 168 | | 5 |
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170 | 169 | | SECTION 5. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-119(f)(1), concerning un used funds 6 |
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171 | 170 | | from fees under the Arkansas Prepaid Funeral Benefits Law, is amended to read 7 |
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172 | 171 | | as follows: 8 |
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173 | 172 | | (f)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 23 -40-107, if there are any 9 |
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174 | 173 | | unused funds from fees collected from organizations under subsections (c) and 10 |
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175 | 174 | | (d) of this section not disbursed for personal services, operating expenses, 11 |
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176 | 175 | | maintenance and operations, and support and improvements for the Division of 12 |
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177 | 176 | | Prepaid Funeral Benefits, such the excess funds, if any, may be transferred 13 |
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178 | 177 | | to the Prepaid Funeral Contrac ts Recovery Program Fund to provide reparations 14 |
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179 | 178 | | to purchasers of prepaid funeral contracts who have purchased cash -funded, 15 |
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180 | 179 | | insurance-funded, or annuity-funded prepaid funeral contracts from 16 |
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181 | 180 | | organizations that have been: 17 |
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182 | 181 | | (A) Declared insolvent by a stat e or federal court of 18 |
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183 | 182 | | competent jurisdiction; or 19 |
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184 | 183 | | (B) Determined by either the commissioner or a state or 20 |
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185 | 184 | | federal court of competent jurisdiction to have fund account deficiencies. 21 |
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186 | 185 | | 22 |
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187 | 186 | | SECTION 6. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-122(a), concerning the cancellation 23 |
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188 | 187 | | or transfer of a prepaid contract under the Arkansas Prepaid Funeral Benefits 24 |
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189 | 188 | | Law, is amended to read as follows: 25 |
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190 | 189 | | (a) A purchaser may cancel or transfer a prepaid contract under this 26 |
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191 | 190 | | section, whether revocable or irrevocable, or whether cash-funded or funded 27 |
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192 | 191 | | by insurance or an annuity, at any time before performance of the contract by 28 |
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193 | 192 | | the seller, under the following conditions: 29 |
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194 | 193 | | (1) In the case of a cash-funded or trust-funded prepaid 30 |
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195 | 194 | | contract: 31 |
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196 | 195 | | (A) Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 32 |
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197 | 196 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser is entitled to receive a refund 33 |
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198 | 197 | | of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of all sums paid to the seller by 34 |
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199 | 198 | | the purchaser, not to exceed the contract price; 35 |
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200 | 199 | | (B) After the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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203 | 202 | | |
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204 | 203 | | |
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205 | 204 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser or, his or her representative if 1 |
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206 | 205 | | the purchaser is someone other than the prepaid contract beneficiary, the 2 |
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207 | 206 | | contract beneficiary's family member or responsible party as determined under 3 |
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208 | 207 | | § 20-17-102(d), is entitled to receive one hundred percent (100%) of the 4 |
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209 | 208 | | amount paid to the seller by the purchaser, not to exceed the contract price; 5 |
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210 | 209 | | or 6 |
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211 | 210 | | (C) If Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if 7 |
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212 | 211 | | the prepaid contract is irrevocable, the purchaser shall not have the right 8 |
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213 | 212 | | to a refund of any funds paid by him or her or proceeds paid to the seller 9 |
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214 | 213 | | but shall have the right to change the provider of the contract services and 10 |
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215 | 214 | | merchandise to a substitute provider, in which event the seller shall 11 |
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216 | 215 | | transfer to the substitute provider not less than one hundred percent (100%) 12 |
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217 | 216 | | of the amount paid to the seller by the purchaser, not to exceed the contract 13 |
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218 | 217 | | price; or 14 |
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219 | 218 | | (D)(i) After the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 15 |
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220 | 219 | | prepaid contract is irrevocable, the purchaser or, if the purchaser is 16 |
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221 | 220 | | someone other than the prepaid contract beneficiary, the contract 17 |
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222 | 221 | | beneficiary's family member or responsible party as determined under § 20-17-18 |
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223 | 222 | | 102(d), does not have the right to a refund of any funds paid by the 19 |
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224 | 223 | | purchaser or proceeds paid to the seller but does have the right to change 20 |
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225 | 224 | | the provider of the contract services and merchandise to a substitute 21 |
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226 | 225 | | provider. 22 |
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227 | 226 | | (ii) If a substitute provider is used under 23 |
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228 | 227 | | subdivision (a)(1)(D)(i) of this section, then the seller shall transfer to 24 |
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229 | 228 | | the substitute provider one hundred percent (100%) of the amount paid to the 25 |
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230 | 229 | | seller by the purchaser, not to exceed the contract price; 26 |
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231 | 230 | | (2) In the case of a prepaid contract funded by life insurance: 27 |
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232 | 231 | | (A) Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 28 |
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233 | 232 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser shall have the right to receive 29 |
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234 | 233 | | not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the cash surrender value of the 30 |
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235 | 234 | | policy used to fund the prepaid contract, not to exceed the premium paid by 31 |
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236 | 235 | | the purchaser; 32 |
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237 | 236 | | (B) After the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 33 |
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238 | 237 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser, if the purchaser is someone 34 |
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239 | 238 | | other than the prepaid contract beneficiary, or his or her designee is 35 |
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240 | 239 | | entitled to receive not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the policy 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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243 | 242 | | |
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244 | 243 | | |
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245 | 244 | | proceeds paid to the seller, not to exceed the original face amount of the 1 |
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246 | 245 | | policy; or 2 |
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247 | 246 | | (C)(i) Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if 3 |
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248 | 247 | | the contract is irrevocable, the prepaid contract purchaser shall not have 4 |
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249 | 248 | | the right to a refund of any funds paid to the seller or the insurance 5 |
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250 | 249 | | company but shall have the right to change the provider of the prepaid 6 |
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251 | 250 | | contract services and merchandise to a substitute provider, in which event 7 |
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252 | 251 | | the seller shall assign or transfer to the substitute provider, as directed 8 |
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253 | 252 | | by the prepaid contract owner purchaser, the life insurance policy used to 9 |
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254 | 253 | | fund the prepaid contract or funds in an amount not less than one hundred 10 |
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255 | 254 | | percent (100%) of the cash surrender value of the policy used to fund the 11 |
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256 | 255 | | prepaid contract, not to exceed the premium paid by the purchaser. 12 |
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257 | 256 | | (ii) After the death of the contract beneficiary, if 13 |
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258 | 257 | | the contract is irrevocable, the seller shall transfer to the substitute 14 |
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259 | 258 | | provider not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the policy proceeds paid 15 |
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260 | 259 | | to the seller, not to exceed the original face amount of the policy; or 16 |
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261 | 260 | | (3) In the case of a prepaid contract funded by an annuity: 17 |
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262 | 261 | | (A) Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 18 |
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263 | 262 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser is entitled to receive a refund 19 |
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264 | 263 | | of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the annuity value, not to 20 |
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265 | 264 | | exceed the premium paid by the purchaser for the annuity funding the prepaid 21 |
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266 | 265 | | contract; 22 |
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267 | 266 | | (B) After the death of the contract beneficiary, if the 23 |
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268 | 267 | | prepaid contract is revocable, the purchaser, if the purchaser is someone 24 |
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269 | 268 | | other than the prepaid contract beneficiary, or his or her designee is 25 |
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270 | 269 | | entitled to receive not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the annuity 26 |
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271 | 270 | | proceeds received by the seller, not to exceed the premium paid by the 27 |
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272 | 271 | | purchaser; or 28 |
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273 | 272 | | (C)(i) Before the death of the contract beneficiary, if 29 |
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274 | 273 | | the prepaid contract is irrevocable, the purchaser shall not have the right 30 |
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275 | 274 | | to a refund of any funds paid to the seller but shall have the right to 31 |
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276 | 275 | | change the provider of the prepaid contract services and merchandise to a 32 |
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277 | 276 | | substitute provider, in which event the seller shall assign or transfer to 33 |
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278 | 277 | | the substitute provider, as directed by the contract owner purchaser, the 34 |
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279 | 278 | | annuity policy used to fund the prepaid contract, which shall be in an amount 35 |
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280 | 279 | | of not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the annuity value, not to 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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283 | 282 | | |
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284 | 283 | | |
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285 | 284 | | exceed the premium paid by the purchaser. 1 |
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286 | 285 | | (ii) After the death of the contract beneficiary, 2 |
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287 | 286 | | the seller shall transfer to the substitute provider not less than one 3 |
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288 | 287 | | hundred percent (100%) of the annuity proceeds received by the seller, not to 4 |
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289 | 288 | | exceed the premiums paid by the purchaser. 5 |
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290 | 289 | | 6 |
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291 | 290 | | SECTION 7. Arkansas Code § 23 -40-125 is amended to read as follows: 7 |
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292 | 291 | | 23-40-125. Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Fund — Created — 8 |
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293 | 292 | | Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Board — Established. 9 |
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294 | 293 | | (a) There is established within the State Insurance Department Prepaid 10 |
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295 | 294 | | Trust Fund an account to be known as the “Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery 11 |
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296 | 295 | | Program Fund”, hereinafter “fund” . 12 |
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297 | 296 | | (b) No money is to be appropriated from this fund for any purpose 13 |
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298 | 297 | | except for expenses and payment of claims of the Prepaid Funeral Contracts 14 |
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299 | 298 | | Recovery Program at the direction of the Insurance Commissioner and the 15 |
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300 | 299 | | Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Board. 16 |
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301 | 300 | | (c) The fund shall be invested under the direction of the commissioner 17 |
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302 | 301 | | and the Treasurer of State, with advice from the Chief Fiscal Officer of the 18 |
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303 | 302 | | State as needed from time to time. 19 |
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304 | 303 | | (d)(1) All income derived through investment of the fund, inc luding, 20 |
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305 | 304 | | but not limited to, fees, interest, and dividends shall be credited as 21 |
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306 | 305 | | investment income to the fund and deposited therein. 22 |
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307 | 306 | | (2) All income derived from fund transfers, subrogation awards, 23 |
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308 | 307 | | grants, orders or judgments of restitution, refunds, volu ntary reimbursements 24 |
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309 | 308 | | or restitution, and gifts shall be credited as investment income to the fund 25 |
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310 | 309 | | and deposited therein. 26 |
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311 | 310 | | (e) Further, all moneys deposited into the fund shall not be subject 27 |
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312 | 311 | | to any deduction, tax, levy, or any other type of assessment exc ept as may be 28 |
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313 | 312 | | provided in this subchapter. 29 |
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314 | 313 | | (f)(1) The fund shall be administered by the commissioner , with advice 30 |
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315 | 314 | | from the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program Board, hereinafter 31 |
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316 | 315 | | “board”. 32 |
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317 | 316 | | (2) The purpose of the fund is to reimburse purchasers of 33 |
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318 | 317 | | preneed funeral contracts who have suffered financial loss as a result of the 34 |
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319 | 318 | | impairment, insolvency, business interruption, or improper inactivity of a 35 |
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320 | 319 | | prepaid funeral organization licensed in this state under this chapter. 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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321 | 320 | | |
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323 | 322 | | |
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324 | 323 | | |
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325 | 324 | | (g)(1) From the fee for each preneed funeral contract as required by § 1 |
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326 | 325 | | 23-40-119(d)(1)(A) and from any funds transferred to the fund pursuant to § 2 |
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327 | 326 | | 23-40-119(f)(1), the commissioner with board advice and consultation shall 3 |
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328 | 327 | | administer the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program program. 4 |
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329 | 328 | | (2) The commissioner may suspend fees or unused funds transfers 5 |
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330 | 329 | | or deposits into the fund at any time and for any period for which the 6 |
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331 | 330 | | commissioner determines that a sufficient amount is available to meet likely 7 |
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332 | 331 | | disbursements and to maintain an ade quate reserve in compliance with a rule 8 |
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333 | 332 | | of the commissioner. 9 |
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334 | 333 | | (h) The commissioner with board assistance shall adopt procedures 10 |
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335 | 334 | | governing management of the fund, the presentation and processing of 11 |
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336 | 335 | | applications for reimbursement, and subrogation or assignm ent of the rights 12 |
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337 | 336 | | of any reimbursed applicant. 13 |
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338 | 337 | | (i)(1) The commissioner may expend moneys in the fund for the 14 |
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339 | 338 | | following purposes: 15 |
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340 | 339 | | (A) To make reimbursements on approved applications; and 16 |
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341 | 340 | | (B) To pay related expenses involved in operating the 17 |
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342 | 341 | | program as permitted under state law. 18 |
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343 | 342 | | (2) Reimbursements from the fund shall be made only to the 19 |
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344 | 343 | | extent to which such losses are not bonded or otherwise covered, protected, 20 |
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345 | 344 | | or reimbursed, and only after the applicant has complied with all applicable 21 |
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346 | 345 | | rules of the fund. 22 |
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347 | 346 | | (j)(1) The commissioner , or his or her representatives, shall 23 |
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348 | 347 | | investigate all applications made and may reject or allow the claims, in 24 |
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349 | 348 | | whole or in part, to the extent that moneys are available in the fund. 25 |
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350 | 349 | | (2) The commissioner may approve on e (1) application that 26 |
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351 | 350 | | includes more than one (1) reparation claim for the benefit of purchasers of 27 |
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352 | 351 | | prepaid contracts of a licensee ordered liquidated under § 23 -40-123, as part 28 |
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353 | 352 | | of a plan to arrange for another licensee to assume the obligations of the 29 |
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354 | 353 | | licensee being liquidated, if: 30 |
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355 | 354 | | (A) The commissioner finds that the plan is reasonable and 31 |
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356 | 355 | | is in the best interests of the contract beneficiaries; and 32 |
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357 | 356 | | (B) The plan is approved by a court. 33 |
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358 | 357 | | (k)(1) In the event reimbursement is made to an applicant unde r this 34 |
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359 | 358 | | section, the commissioner, on behalf of the state, shall be subrogated in the 35 |
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360 | 359 | | reimbursed amount and may bring any action the commissioner deems advisable 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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361 | 360 | | |
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362 | 361 | | 10 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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363 | 362 | | |
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364 | 363 | | |
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365 | 364 | | for the program against any person, including a prepaid licensee. 1 |
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366 | 365 | | (2) The commissioner may e nforce any claims that the program, on 2 |
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367 | 366 | | behalf of the state, may have for restitution or otherwise and may employ and 3 |
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368 | 367 | | compensate consultants, agents, legal counsel, accountants, and any other 4 |
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369 | 368 | | persons that the commissioner deems appropriate. Payments shall b e made from 5 |
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370 | 369 | | the fund for such services. 6 |
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371 | 370 | | (l)(1) There is created the Prepaid Funeral Contracts Recovery Program 7 |
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372 | 371 | | Board. 8 |
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373 | 372 | | (2)(A) Members of the board shall consist of no fewer than five 9 |
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374 | 373 | | (5) nor more than nine (9) members of various licensed Arkansas prepa id 10 |
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375 | 374 | | funeral organizations, including one (1) consumer member selected from the 11 |
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376 | 375 | | Arkansas public at large. 12 |
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377 | 376 | | (B) The members of the board shall be selected by member 13 |
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378 | 377 | | licensees, subject to approval of the commissioner. 14 |
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379 | 378 | | (C)(i) Each member of the board may serve up to two (2) 15 |
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380 | 379 | | consecutive four-year terms. 16 |
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381 | 380 | | (ii) Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the 17 |
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382 | 381 | | remaining period of the term by a majority vote of the remaining board 18 |
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383 | 382 | | members, subject to approval of the commissioner. 19 |
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384 | 383 | | (D) In approving selecti ons to the board, the commissioner 20 |
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385 | 384 | | shall consider, among other things, whether all member licensees are fairly 21 |
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386 | 385 | | represented. 22 |
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387 | 386 | | (m)(1) The board shall assist the commissioner and come under the 23 |
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388 | 387 | | immediate supervision of the commissioner and shall be subject t o the 24 |
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389 | 388 | | applicable provisions of the laws of this state. 25 |
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390 | 389 | | (2) The fund, as well as board action, shall be is subject to 26 |
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391 | 390 | | examination and regulation by the commissioner. 27 |
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392 | 391 | | (3)(A)(2)(A) The board commissioner, or his or her 28 |
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393 | 392 | | representatives, shall prepare and submit to the commissioner each year, not 29 |
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394 | 393 | | later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the program's fiscal year, a 30 |
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395 | 394 | | financial report in a form approved by the commissioner and a report of 31 |
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396 | 395 | | program activities during the preceding fiscal year. 32 |
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397 | 396 | | (B) Upon request of a licensed prepaid funeral 33 |
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398 | 397 | | organization in this state, the commissioner shall provide the member prepaid 34 |
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399 | 398 | | funeral organization with a copy of the report. 35 |
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400 | 399 | | (n)(m) There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of 36 As Engrossed: S3/7/23 SB97 |
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401 | 400 | | |
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402 | 401 | | 11 03-07-2023 10:15:42 ANS105 |
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403 | 402 | | |
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404 | 403 | | |
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405 | 404 | | action of any nature sh all arise against any member of the board, the 1 |
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406 | 405 | | commissioner, or his or her representatives, agents, or employees for any act 2 |
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407 | 406 | | or omission by them in the performance of their powers and duties under this 3 |
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408 | 407 | | chapter, or in its administration, dispensation, handl ing, or collection of 4 |
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409 | 408 | | funds for the program. 5 |
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410 | 409 | | 6 |
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411 | 410 | | /s/D. Wallace 7 |
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412 | 411 | | 8 |
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413 | 412 | | 9 |
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