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<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="4-112" title_number="4" title_name="General Requirements for Insurers" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Certificates of Authority">
  <level label="a">
    <text>A certificate of authority expires on the first June 30 after its effective date unless it is renewed as provided in this section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>At least 2 months before a certificate of authority expires, the Commissioner shall mail to the holder of the certificate of authority, at the last known address of the holder, or by electronic means in accordance with § 2–116 of this article:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>a renewal application form; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>a notice that states:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the date on which the current certificate of authority expires;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the date by which the Commissioner must receive the renewal application for the renewal to be issued and mailed before the certificate of authority expires; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the amount of the renewal fee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Before a certificate of authority expires, the holder of the certificate of authority may renew it for an additional 1-year term, if the holder:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>otherwise is entitled to a certificate of authority;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>files with the Commissioner a renewal application on the form that the Commissioner provides; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>pays to the Commissioner the appropriate renewal fee required by § 2-112 of this article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Commissioner shall renew the certificate of authority of each holder who meets the requirements of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a certificate holder pays the applicable renewal fee before the certificate of authority expires, the certificate of authority remains in effect until the Commissioner renews or refuses to renew the certificate of authority.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An insurer shall mail, or send by electronic means in accordance with § 2–116 of this article, a renewal application and the applicable renewal fee on or before June 30. An insurer that fails to renew its certificate of authority on or before June 30 may forfeit:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>$500 for each day from July 1 through July 10;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>$1,000 for each day from July 11 through July 31; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>$5,000 for each day after July 31.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In addition to the provisions imposed under paragraph (1) of this subsection, an insurer that fails to renew its certificate of authority on or before June 30 in the previous year shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>renew its certificate of authority on or before June 1 of the current year; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>forfeit $3,000 if the insurer fails to renew its certificate of authority on or before June 30 in the current year.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>In addition to the monetary penalties imposed under this subsection, on July 1 of each year, for each insurer that fails to file its renewal application and continuation fee on or before June 30, the Commissioner may:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>order that the insurer cease and desist from engaging further from the writing of insurance in this State in accordance with § 4–114 of this subtitle; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>issue an order to require the insurer to show cause why it should be allowed to continue to engage in the insurance business in the State.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>In determining the amount of any financial penalty or forfeiture to be imposed under this section, the Commissioner:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>shall consider the following factors:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the seriousness of the violation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the good faith of the violator;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the violator’s history of previous violations;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the deleterious effect of the violation on the public and the insurance industry; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the assets of the violator; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>may determine the appropriate amount of the penalty or forfeiture.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
