(a) A person applying for a resident license shall make application to the Insurance Commissioner on the Uniform Application or on forms prescribed by the Commissioner for license types and lines of authority not available on the Uniform Application and declare under penalty of refusal, suspension or revocation of the license that the statements made in the application are true, correct and complete to the best of the individual’s knowledge and belief. Before approving the application, the Insurance Commissioner shall find that the individual:
(1) Is at least 18 years of age;
(2) Has not committed any act that is a ground for denial, suspension, or revocation set forth in § 1712 of this title;
(3) Has paid the fees set forth in Chapter 7 of this title;
(4) Has successfully passed the examinations for the lines of authority for which the person has applied, unless specifically exempted from such examination by this chapter; and
(5) If applying for a resident producer license, is a resident of Delaware or works for a business entity that is licensed to conduct the business of insurance in Delaware and maintains a physical location in Delaware that is open to the public and from which such business is conducted. An applicant may not use registered agent services or a Delaware postal box in order to establish the residency requirements set forth in this paragraph.
(b) (1) Any person applying for a resident license, whether a resident applicant or a nonresident applicant that has declared Delaware to be the person’s home state, shall submit fingerprints and other necessary information to the State Bureau of Identification in order to obtain all of the following:
a. A report of the person’s entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Bureau of Identification Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.
b. A report of the person’s entire federal criminal history from the Federal Bureau of Investigation pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544(28 U.S.C. § 534, note) or a statement that the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s records contain no such information relating to that person.
(2) The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Department shall be the screening point for the receipt of federal criminal history reports required by paragraph (b)(1)b. of this section.
(3) The State Bureau of Identification shall forward all information obtained under this subsection to the Department.
(4) A person required to obtain criminal history reports under this subsection is responsible for any costs associated with obtaining the criminal history reports.
(c) Every applicant for a license as an apprentice adjuster or apprentice property damage appraiser must file with the Commissioner a certification from one holding a license as an adjuster or property damage appraiser in which said holder of the license assumes responsibility for the applicant’s training and for all actions undertaken by the applicant pursuant to the requested license.
(d) Every applicant for a license as an insurance producer for the line of variable annuity must hold a license as a life insurance agent and must be registered with the National Association of Security Dealers.
(e) All premiums, return premiums or other funds received in any manner by a licensee or a surplus lines broker shall be held in a fiduciary capacity and shall be accounted for by such licensee or surplus lines broker. The licensee or surplus lines broker shall, in the ordinary course of business, pay the funds to the insured or the insured’s assignee, insurer, insurance premium finance company or agent entitled to the payment.
(f) A business entity acting as an insurance producer, adjuster or appraiser is required to obtain a license pursuant to this chapter. Application shall be made using the Uniform Business Entity Application or on forms prescribed by the Commissioner for license types and lines of authority not available on the Uniform Business Entity Application. Before approving the application, the Insurance Commissioner shall find that:
(1) The business entity has paid the fees set forth in Chapter 7 of this title; and
(2) The business entity has designated a licensed producer, adjuster or appraiser, as applicable, responsible for the business entity’s compliance with the insurance laws, rules and regulations of this State. If the license of a business entity’s designated responsible licensee is no longer active (whether due to expiration, suspension, revocation or otherwise), the license of such business entity shall be immediately suspended until such time as a designated responsible licensee in good standing is designated as such business entity’s responsible producer, adjuster or appraiser, as applicable.
(g) The Insurance Commissioner may require any documents reasonably necessary to verify the information contained in an application.
(h) Each insurer that sells, solicits or negotiates any form of limited line credit insurance shall provide to each individual whose duties will include selling, soliciting or negotiating limited line credit insurance a program of instruction that may be approved by the Insurance Commissioner.
(i) No resident of Canada may be licensed as an adjuster pursuant to this section or may designate Delaware as the adjuster’s home state, unless such person has successfully passed the adjuster examination and has complied with other applicable portions of this section.
(j) A business entity applying for a license as an adjuster for portable electronic insurance claims shall submit such application on a form as prescribed by the Commissioner. The Commissioner is authorized, at all times, to require the applicant to disclose the names and addresses of all executive officers and directors of the applicant and of all executive officers and directors of entities owning and any individuals owning, directly or indirectly, 51% or more of the outstanding voting securities of the applicant. The Commissioner is further authorized, at all times, to require the applicant to obtain their criminal histories from their state of residence. The Commissioner may, in the exercise of the Commissioner’s discretion, refuse to issue a license to the applicant if not satisfied that their conduct meets the standards of this chapter. Any nonresident business entity applicant whose home-state requirements comply with all of these provisions of this subsection shall not be required to submit this material.