{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-1131.12","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 31-1131.12","heading":"License denial, nonrenewal, suspension, or revocation.","body":"(a)\nThe Commissioner may refuse to issue an insurance producer license; place an insurance producer on probation; suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an insurance producer’s license; levy a civil penalty in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; issue subpoenas and administer oaths; or take any combination of these actions if an insurance producer or an applicant for an insurance producer license:\n(1)\nProvides incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information in the license application;\n(2)\nViolates any insurance laws or any regulation, subpoena, or order of the Commissioner or of another state’s insurance commissioner;\n(3)\nObtains, or attempts to obtain, a license through misrepresentation or fraud;\n(4)\nImproperly withholds, misappropriates, or converts any monies or properties received in the course of doing insurance business;\n(5)\nIntentionally misrepresents the terms of an actual or proposed insurance contract or application for insurance;\n(6)\nIs convicted of a felony;\n(7)\nAdmits committing, or is found to have committed, any insurance unfair trade practice or fraud;\n(8)\nUses fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices, or demonstrates incompetence, untrustworthiness, or financial irresponsibility in the conduct of business in the District or elsewhere;\n(9)\nHas an insurance producer license, or its equivalent, denied, suspended, or revoked in any state or territory of the United States, province of Canada, or other foreign country;\n(10)\nForges another’s name to an application for insurance or to any document related to an insurance transaction;\n(11)\nImproperly uses notes or any other reference material to complete, or otherwise cheats on, an examination for an insurance license;\n(12)\nKnowingly accepts insurance business from an individual who is not licensed;\n(13)\nFails to comply with an administrative or court order imposing a child support obligation;\n(14)\nFails to pay District income tax or comply with any administrative or court order directing payment of District income tax;\n(15)\nRepealed; or\n(16)\nIs found to have misrepresented satisfactory completion of, or improperly used notes or other reference material to complete, or otherwise cheats on, an examination in a prelicensure or continuing education course.\n\n(a-1)\nIn addition to the reasons set forth in subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner may place a business entity insurance producer on probation; suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a business entity insurance producer’s license; or levy a civil penalty against a business entity insurance producer if:\n(1)\nOne or more of the partners, officers, or managers acting on behalf of the business entity knew or should have known of the occurrence of a license violation;\n(2)\nThe violation was not reported to the Commissioner; and\n(3)\nCorrective action was not taken.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nExcept as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Commissioner shall not place an insurance producer on probation; suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew an insurance producer’s license; or levy a civil penalty against an insurance producer without first providing the following notice and opportunity for hearing to the applicant or licensee. The Commissioner shall notify the applicant or licensee, in writing, of the proposed action and the reason for the proposed action. The Commissioner shall also inform the applicant or licensee, in writing, that the applicant or licensee may, within 30 days after the date of the Commissioner’s notice, request a hearing to determine whether the proposed action should be taken. If a hearing is requested, the Commissioner, or a designee of the Commissioner, shall hold the hearing within 30 days after the date of receipt by the Commissioner of the written request, and the Commissioner shall not, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, take the proposed action before the close of the hearing.\n(2)\n(A)\nIf the Commissioner determines that further transaction of business by a producer would be hazardous to the public or the policyholders or creditors of the producer, the Commissioner may revoke or suspend the license of the producer without giving notice or prior opportunity for a hearing; provided, that the Commissioner shall provide to the producer the opportunity for a hearing within 30 days after the effective date of the order of the revocation or suspension.\n(B)\nThe Commissioner may refuse to issue an initial insurance producer license without giving notice or prior opportunity for a hearing; provided, that the Commissioner shall provide to the applicant the opportunity for a hearing within 30 days after the date of the denial.\n(3)\nIn a hearing under this subsection, the Commissioner may administer oaths to witnesses and issue subpoenas for witnesses and documents. A witness testifying falsely under oath shall be subject to the penalties of perjury. The Commissioner’s authority to issue subpoenas shall not be limited to hearings if the Commissioner determines that the issuance of a subpoena is useful or necessary to protect the public interest. If a person refuses to obey a subpoena issued by the Commissioner, the Commissioner may petition the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (“Superior Court”) to enforce the subpoena, and the Superior Court may issue an order requiring the person to appear and testify before the Commissioner or produce documents. A person failing to obey the Superior Court’s order may be held in contempt of court.\n\n(c)\nRepealed.\n\n(d)\nIn addition to or in lieu of any applicable denial of renewal, suspension, or revocation of a license, the Commissioner may, after a hearing, take any of the following actions:\n(1)\nImpose a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000; or\n(2)\nRequire restitution to any person who has suffered financial injury or damage as a result of the violation of the license.\n\n(d-1)\nA person affected or aggrieved by an order, ruling, proceeding, or action of the Commissioner, or any person acting on behalf of the Commissioner, under this section may contest the validity of the same in any court of competent jurisdiction by appeal or through any other appropriate proceedings. In any proceeding or appeal, the Commissioner shall not be:\n(1)\nTaxed with any costs;\n(2)\nRequired to give any supersedeas bond or security for costs or damages;\n(3)\nSubject to suit or action or liable for any judgment or decree for any damages, loss, or injury claimed by any person on any appeal taken; or\n(4)\nRequired to make any deposit for costs or pay for any service to the clerks of any court or to any marshal of the United States, except as may be inconsistent with law.\n\n(e)\nNotwithstanding the revocation, surrender, or lapse of a license, the Commissioner may enforce the provisions of, and impose any penalty or remedy authorized by, this chapter or any other District law relating to insurance against any person who is under investigation for or charged with a violation of this chapter or any other District law relating to insurance.","path":["Title 31. Insurance and Securities.","Chapter 11A. Insurance Producers."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/31-1131.12","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"497cc7c42f9f15d5f008e77a3d9cfaa4cad7adcb312bdde14885598e25919697","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-1131.11","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-31-1131.13"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}