Chapter 3938 | Certificates Of Insurance Act

Section 3938.01 | Definitions.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

(A) This chapter may be cited as the "Certificates of Insurance Act."

(B) As used in this chapter:

(1) "Certificate of insurance" means a document or instrument, regardless of how titled or described, that is prepared or issued by an insurer or insurance agent licensed under Chapter 3905. of the Revised Code to verify the existence of property or casualty insurance coverage. "Certificate of insurance" includes a document issued to a person as verification of the existence of coverage under a master policy. "Certificate of insurance" does not include a policy of insurance, insurance binder, policy endorsement, or automobile identification card, or any document used to provide proof of financial responsibility for purposes of Chapter 4509. of the Revised Code.

(2) "Certificate holder" means any person, other than a policyholder, that requests, obtains, or possesses a certificate of insurance.

(3) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and includes a limited liability company, the state, and all political subdivisions, authorities, agencies, boards, and commissions of the state.

Section 3938.02 | Nature of certificate.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

A certificate of insurance is not a policy of insurance and does not affirmatively or negatively amend, extend, or alter the coverage afforded by the policy to which the certificate of insurance refers. A certificate of insurance shall not confer to any person new or additional rights beyond what the referenced policy of insurance expressly provides.

Section 3938.03 | Language prohibited.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

(A) A certificate of insurance shall not include language that does either of the following:

(1) Is unfair, misleading, or deceptive or that violates public policy;

(2) Violates any law or any rule adopted by the superintendent of insurance.

(B) A certificate of insurance shall not guarantee that the policy of insurance referenced in the certificate complies with the requirements for a policy of property or casualty insurance under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code. The inclusion of a contract number or policy description in a certificate of insurance is not proof of such a guarantee.

Section 3938.04 | False information; alteration of policy.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

No person shall do either of the following:

(A) Prepare, issue, request, or require a certificate of insurance that contains any false or misleading information concerning the policy of insurance referenced in the certificate of insurance;

(B) Prepare, issue, request, or require a certificate of insurance that affirmatively or negatively alters, amends, or extends the coverage provided by the policy of insurance referenced in the certificate of insurance.

Section 3938.05 | Right to notice of cancellation or nonrenewal of insurance policy.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

A certificate holder shall be entitled to notice of cancellation or nonrenewal or any similar notice concerning a policy of insurance only if the certificate holder is named within the policy or any endorsement to the policy and the policy or endorsement requires notice to be provided to the certificate holder. The terms and conditions of the notice, including the required timing of the notice, are governed by the policy of insurance and cannot be altered by a certificate of insurance.

Section 3938.06 | Applicability of chapter.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all certificates of insurance issued in connection with property and casualty risks located in this state, regardless of where the policyholder, insurer, insurance agent, or person requesting the certificate of insurance is located.

Section 3938.07 | Issuance in violation of chapter.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

A certificate of insurance that is issued in violation of this chapter shall be void.

Section 3938.08 | Violation; penalty.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

(A) No person shall fail to comply with sections 3938.01 to 3938.07 of the Revised Code. If the superintendent of insurance determines that any person has violated sections 3938.01 to 3938.07 of the Revised Code, the superintendent may take one or more of the following actions:

(1) Issue an order requiring the person to cease and desist from the actions constituting the violation;

(2) Assess a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars per violation.

(B) The superintendent may investigate the activities of any person the superintendent reasonably believes has engaged in or is engaging in an act or practice prohibited by this chapter.

(C) Before imposing a penalty under division (A) of this section, the superintendent shall give the person notice and opportunity for a hearing as described in Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(D) The superintendent shall deposit any penalties assessed under division (A) of this section into the state treasury to the credit of the department of insurance operating fund created in section 3901.021 of the Revised Code.

Section 3938.09 | Rules.

• Effective: March 23, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 259 - 131st General Assembly

The superintendent of insurance may adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code as necessary to implement this chapter.