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<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 31.04.22.03" title_num="31" subtitle_num="04" chapter_num="22" heading="Definitions.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Terms Defined.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Accounts” means all accounts associated with the principal agent’s title insurance business.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>“Appointment” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>“Certification” means a written statement signed by the principal agent that the information provided to the title insurer during the annual review is, to the best of the principal agent’s knowledge, information, and belief, full, complete, and truthful and that the principal agent has undertaken an adequate inquiry to make the required certification</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>“Claim” has the meaning set forth in COMAR 31.15.07.02B(2).</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>“Commissioner” means the Maryland Insurance Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>“Designated responsible licensed producer” means a licensed insurance producer who is:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Responsible for the principal agent’s compliance with insurance laws, rules, and regulations; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Listed as a designated or responsible licensed producer on:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>The principal agent’s uniform business entity application; or</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>The Association/Responsible Individual Designation form filed with the Commissioner.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(7)">
      <text>“Escrow” means the act or process of providing closing services or services under an escrow agreement by a title insurer or a principal agent.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(8)">
      <text>“Escrow account” means an account that contains or has contained trust money deposits or other money that a person entrusts to a title insurer or a principal agent to hold for the benefit of a buyer or borrower in a real estate transaction or for a beneficial owner, in connection with an escrow, settlement, closing, or title indemnification.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(9)">
      <text>“Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(10)">
      <text>“Insurance business” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(11)">
      <text>“Insurance producer” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(12)">
      <text>“Insurer” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(13)">
      <text>“Licensed insurance producer” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(14)">
      <text>“Licensee” means a title insurer, title insurance producer, or title insurance agency.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(15)">
      <text>“MAHT” means the Maryland Affordable Housing Trust established under the Housing and Community Development Article, §10-102, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(16)">
      <text>“Principal agent” means a title insurance producer appointed by the title insurer to act on behalf of the title insurer as described in Insurance Article, §10-121(k)(1)(i), Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(17)">
      <text>“Report” means the written report required under Insurance Article, §10-121(k), Annotated Code of Maryland, and containing the elements specified by the Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(18)">
      <text>“Review” means a review of the underwriting, claims, and escrow practices of each principal agent conducted by a title insurer or its designee.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(19)">
      <text>“Title agency” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §10-125, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(20)">
      <text>“Title insurance” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §1-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(21)">
      <text>“Title insurance producer” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §10-101, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(22)">
      <text>“Title insurer” means an insurer authorized by the Commissioner to conduct title insurance business in the State.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(23)">
      <text>“Trust money” has the meaning set forth in Insurance Article, §10-121, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(24)">
      <text>“Underwriting standards” has the meaning set forth in COMAR 31.04.16.02.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>