33-2-308. Evidence of insurance -- changes -- penalty. - Montana Statutes

     33-2-308. Evidence of insurance -- changes -- penalty. (1) Upon placing surplus lines insurance, the surplus lines insurance producer shall promptly issue or deliver to the insured or the producing insurance producer evidence of the insurance, consisting either of the policy as issued by the insurer or, if the policy is not then available, a cover note or certificate of insurance signed or countersigned by the insurance producer. The cover note or certificate must show the subject, coverage, conditions, and term of the insurance, the premium charged and taxes collected from the insured, and the name and address of the insurer. If a direct risk is assumed by more than one insurer, the cover note or certificate must state the name and address and proportion of the entire direct risk assumed by each insurer.
     (2) If after the issuance and delivery of any cover note or certificate there is a change as to the identity of the insurers or the proportion of the direct risk assumed by the insurer as stated in the original cover note or certificate or in any other material respect as to the insurance coverage evidenced by the cover note or certificate, the surplus lines insurance producer shall promptly issue or deliver to the insured a substitute cover note or certificate accurately showing the current status of the coverage and the insurers responsible under the coverage.
     (3) If a policy issued by the insurer is not available upon placement of the insurance and the surplus lines insurance producer has issued and delivered a cover note or certificate as provided in subsection (2), upon request by the insured, the surplus lines insurance producer shall as soon as reasonably possible procure from the insurer its policy evidencing the insurance and deliver the policy to the insured in replacement of the cover note or certificate previously issued.
     (4) A surplus lines insurance producer who knowingly or negligently issues or delivers a false cover note or certificate of insurance or fails promptly to notify the insured of a material change with respect to the insurance by delivery to the insured of a substitute cover note or certificate as provided in subsection (2) is guilty of a violation of this code and upon conviction is subject to the penalties provided by 33-1-104 or to any greater applicable penalty otherwise provided by law.
     (5) A surplus lines insurance producer may not issue or deliver an evidence of insurance or purport to insure or represent that insurance will be or has been written by an eligible surplus lines insurer unless the surplus lines insurance producer has authority from the insurer to cause the risk to be insured or has received information from the insurer in the regular course of business that the insurance has been granted.

     History: En. Sec. 192, Ch. 286, L. 1959; R.C.M. 1947, 40-3417; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 537, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 285, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1081, Ch. 56, L. 2009.