§ 38a-397 — Portable electronics insurance.

Connecticut § 38a-397

• Jurisdiction: Connecticut
• Title 38a: Insurance
• Ch. 700: Property and Casualty Insurance

Text

(a) As used in this section: (1) “Portable electronics insurance” means insurance coverage for the repair or replacement of a portable electronic device because of loss, theft, inoperability due to mechanical failure, malfunction, damage or other similar causes of loss. “Portable electronics insurance” does not include (A) an extended warranty, as defined in section 42-260 , (B) an insurance policy covering a seller's or manufacturer's obligations under a warranty, or (C) a homeowners, renter's or other insurance policy that includes coverage similar to portable electronics insurance; (2) “Portable electronic device” means any self-contained, easily carried electronic equipment for personal use for communicating, viewing, listening, recording, playing video games, computing or global positioning, including a cellular or satellite telephone, paging device, personal global positioning system unit, portable computer, audio listening or audio recording device, video viewing or video recording device, digital camera, portable video game system, telephone answering machine, docking or charging station for any portable electronic device, and other similar device. “Portable electronic device” includes accessories for and services related to the use of such devices; (3) “Buyer” means a person who leases or purchases a portable electronic device; (4) “Enrolled buyer” means a buyer who elects coverage under a portable electronics insurance policy; (5) “Insurance producer” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-702a ; (6) “Insurer” has the same meaning as provided in section 38a-1 ; (7) “Location” means any physical location in this state or any Internet web site or call center site directed at residents of this state; (8) “Portable electronics transaction” means the lease or sale of a portable electronic device by a seller to a buyer; (9) “Seller” means a person in the business of direct or indirect portable electronics transactions; and (10) “Supervising entity” means a business entity licensed as an insurer in this state and authorized to write personal or commercial risk insurance business in this state or an insurance producer licensed in this state, appointed by an insurer to supervise such insurer's portable electronics insurance program. (b) (1) No seller shall offer or sell portable electronics insurance in this state without obtaining a portable electronics insurance license from the Insurance Commissioner as set forth in this subsection, except that a seller offering or selling portable electronics insurance in this state prior to October 1, 2014, may continue to offer or sell such insurance while the application from the Insurance Commissioner is pending and during the application process. Any such license issued by the commissioner shall be in force until January thirty-first of each even-numbered year unless sooner suspended or revoked. (2) Such license shall authorize any employee or authorized representative of such seller to offer or sell portable electronics insurance at each location where the seller engages in portable electronics transactions. No such employee or authorized representative shall be required to be licensed under chapter 701a, provided: (A) The seller obtains and maintains such portable electronics insurance license; (B) The insurer issuing a portable electronics insurance policy to the seller or a supervising entity of such insurer supervises the administration of the seller's portable electronics insurance program; and (C) No such employee or authorized representative holds himself or herself out as a licensed insurance producer. (3) (A) (i) Any seller seeking to obtain a portable electronics insurance license shall submit an initial sworn application to the Insurance Department on a form prescribed by the Insurance Commissioner. Such application shall include (I) the name, residence address and other information as said commissioner may require for an employee or an officer of the seller that is designated by such seller as the individual responsible for the seller's compliance with this section. If the seller derives more than fifty per cent of its revenue from the sale of portable electronics insurance, the seller shall include the name, residence address and other information as said commissioner may require of all the seller's shareholders who are directly or indirectly the beneficial owner of ten per cent or more of any class of security of such seller, and of all its officers and directors, and (II) the address of the applicant's home office. Such application shall be accompanied by the fees set forth in section 38a-11 . Each portable electronics insurance license shall be valid for two years. (ii) Any seller seeking to renew a portable electronics insurance license shall submit to the Insurance Department any changes to the initial application and any other information the Insurance Commissioner may require and the renewal fee set forth in section 38a-11 . (B) Any seller offering or selling portable electronics insurance in this state prior to October 1, 2014, shall apply for a portable electronics insurance license not later than ninety days after the Insurance Commissioner makes the application for such license available. On and after October 1, 2014, a seller seeking to offer or sell portable electronics insurance in this state shall obtain such license prior to offering or selling such insurance in this state. (c) At each location where a seller offers or sells portable electronics insurance to buyers, such seller shall make available to prospective buyers brochures or other written materials that contain all of the following: (1) A disclosure that portable electronics insurance may duplicate insurance coverage already provided by a buyer's homeowners, renter's or other insurance policy; (2) A statement that enrollment in portable electronics insurance is not required for a buyer to lease or purchase a portable electronics device; (3) (A) The identity of the insurer issuing the portable electronics insurance policy, (B) the identity of the supervising entity of such insurer, if any, (C) the amount of any applicable deductible and a summary of how such deductible is to be paid, (D) a summary of the insurance policy benefits, and (E) a summary of key terms and conditions of such insurance policy, including, but not limited to, whether, under such insurance policy, portable electronic devices may be repaired or replaced with similar make and model reconditioned or nonoriginal manufacturer parts or equipment; (4) A summary of the process for filing a claim, including a description of how to return portable electronic devices and the maximum fee applicable if the buyer fails to comply with any equipment return requirements; and (5) A statement that a buyer enrolled in a portable electronics insurance policy may cancel the insurance certificate at any time and that the person paying the premium will receive a refund of or a credit for any applicable unearned premium. (d) (1) If portable electronics insurance is included at no additional charge with the lease or purchase of a portable electronic device, the seller shall clearly and conspicuously disclose, in writing, to the buyer that such insurance is included at no additional charge with the lease or purchase of a portable electronic device. (2) A seller may bill for and collect premium payments for portable electronics insurance policies, provided: (A) Any premium payment that is not included in the cost of the lease or purchase of a portable electronic device is itemized separately on the enrolled buyer's invoice; and (B) The seller remits such premium payment to the insurer issuing such insurance policy not later than sixty days after the seller receives such payment. Such insurer shall not cancel an enrolled buyer's certificate on the basis of nonpayment of premium if such enrolled buyer timely pays such premium to the seller. (3) A seller shall not be required to maintain premium payments collected pursuant to this subsection in a segregated account if such insurer authorizes the seller to commingle such payments. All such premium payments collected shall be held by the seller in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of such insurer. (4) A seller may receive compensation from such insurer for such billing and collection services, as agreed to by such insurer and such seller. (e) (1) A portable electronics insurance policy shall not be issued, sold or offered for sale unless such insurance policy is issued by an insurer authorized to write such line of business in this state. Such insurance policy may be issued as a group policy or a master commercial inland marine policy to a seller for its enrolled buyers. An insurer authorized to issue a portable electronics insurance policy in this state shall file a copy of the form for such policy in accordance with subsection (c) of section 38a-676 . (2) An insurer that issues portable electronics insurance policies and does not directly supervise the administration of a seller's portable electronics insurance program shall appoint a supervising entity and shall provide the name and contact information of such supervising entity to the Insurance Commissioner and to any seller that offers or sells such insurance policy to buyers. (3) The supervising entity shall maintain a registry of seller locations in this state that are authorized to offer or sell such insurer's portable electronics insurance policies in this state. Upon request by the Insurance Commissioner with at least ten days' notice, such supervising entity shall make such registry available during the regular business hours of such supervising entity to said commissioner or said commissioner's designee for inspection and examination. (f) (1) An enrolled buyer may cancel a portable electronics insurance certificate at any time. Such cancellation may be (A) oral to the seller at the location where such enrolled buyer elected such coverage or to a telephone number specified for such purpose, or (B) in writing, which writing shall be sent by United States mail or electronic means to (i) the insurer that issued such insurance policy if such enrolled buyer pays the premium to such insurer, or (ii) the seller if such seller collects the premium payment for such insurance policy. Not later than three days after a seller receives a cancellation, such seller shall notify, or forward such cancellation to, the supervising entity or the insurer that issued such insurance policy if such insurer has not appointed a supervising entity. The supervising entity shall notify, or forward such cancellation to, the insurer that issued such insurance policy. Such insurer shall refund or arrange for credit any applicable unearned premium to be provided, not later than sixty days after receiving such notice or cancellation, to the person who paid the premium. (2) (A) An insurer may cancel, terminate or change the terms and conditions of a portable electronics insurance policy only upon providing at least thirty days' written notice, sent by United States mail or electronic means, to the seller policyholder and enrolled buyers. If the insurer changes the terms and conditions of such insurance policy, such insurer shall provide the seller policyholder with a revised insurance policy or endorsement and each enrolled buyer with a revised certificate, endorsement, updated brochure or other materials that indicate a change in the terms and conditions of such insurance policy and a summary of the material changes. (B) An insurer may cancel, with at least fifteen days' written notice, sent by United States mail or electronic means to the seller policyholder and enrolled buyers: (i) A portable electronics insurance policy for nonpayment of premium by the seller policyholder or a portable electronics insurance certificate for nonpayment of premium by an enrolled buyer. Such seller policyholder or enrolled buyer may continue the coverage and avoid the effect of the cancellation by payment in full at any time prior to the effective date of cancellation. If an enrolled buyer timely made a payment to the seller pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, such insurer shall not cancel such enrolled buyer's certificate for nonpayment of premium; or (ii) A portable electronics insurance certificate for fraud or material misrepresentation by the enrolled buyer in obtaining such insurance coverage or in the presenting of a claim thereunder. (C) An insurer may cancel a portable electronics insurance certificate, effective immediately, (i) if an enrolled buyer ceases to have an active service with the seller, or (ii) for exhaustion of the aggregate limit of liability, if any, of such insurance coverage, provided the insurer sends written notice of such cancellation by United States mail or electronic means to such enrolled buyer not later than thirty days after such buyer exhausts such limit. If such notice is not timely sent, coverage shall continue notwithstanding the aggregate limit of liability until the insurer sends such notice of cancellation to such enrolled buyer. (3) A seller may terminate a portable electronics insurance policy at any time, provided such seller provides at least thirty days' written notice prior to such termination, by United States mail or electronic means, to the insurer issuing such insurance policy or to the supervising entity of such insurer and to each enrolled buyer, of such termination and the effective date of such termination. (4) (A) Any written notices or correspondence sent pursuant to this subsection or otherwise required by law shall be sent to, as applicable, (i) the enrolled buyer at such enrolled buyer's last known mailing address or electronic mail address on file with the insurer or the seller, (ii) the insurer at such insurer's mailing address or electronic mail address specified for such purpose, or (iii) the seller at such seller's mailing address or electronic mail address specified for such purpose. For purposes of this subsection, the provision of an enrolled buyer's electronic mail address by such enrolled buyer to the insurer or the seller shall be deemed consent by such enrolled buyer to receive such notices or correspondence by electronic mail. (B) Each insurer or seller that sends a written notice or correspondence pursuant to this subsection shall maintain proof that such notice or correspondence was sent for not less than three years after such notice or correspondence was sent. (C) A supervising entity may send a written notice or correspondence pursuant to this subsection on behalf of the insurer or a seller for which the insurer has issued a portable electronics insurance policy. Such supervising entity shall maintain proof that such notice or correspondence was sent for not less than three years after such notice or correspondence was sent. (g) The Insurance Commissioner may: (1) Refuse to issue or renew, for cause, after notice and hearing, a portable electronics insurance license. Any person aggrieved by the action of the commissioner in disapproving or refusing to renew a portable electronics license may appeal therefrom in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183 , except venue for such appeal shall be in the judicial district of New Britain; and (2) Suspend or revoke a portable electronics insurance license and impose a fine in addition to or in lieu of suspension or revocation, in accordance with section 38a-774 . In addition, in lieu of suspension or revocation, the commissioner may issue a cease and desist order suspending the privilege of offering or selling portable electronics insurance at specific locations of a seller or by specific employees or authorized representatives of such seller.

Legislative History

(P.A. 14-64, S. 1; P.A. 15-187, S. 1.) History: P.A. 15-187 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re duration of license in Subdiv. (1) and make a technical change.