MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Senator(s) Hewes

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE ISSUANCE OF A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ENGAGING IN THE BUSINESS OF INSURANCE; TO REQUIRE NOTICE IN WRITING TO THE DONOR THAT A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY IS NOT INSURANCE AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO REGULATION BY THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER OR PROTECTED BY AN INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION; TO PROVIDE THAT A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION THAT ISSUES QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES SHALL NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE; TO AUTHORIZE THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE TO FINE ANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION WHICH FAILS TO PROVIDE THE REQUIRED NOTICE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE ISSUANCE OF A QUALIFIED CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF LAW WHICH REGULATE TRADE PRACTICES IN THE BUSINESS OF INSURANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Definitions.

(1) "Charitable gift annuity" means a transfer of cash or other property by a donor to a charitable organization in return for an annuity payable over one (1) or two (2) lives, under which the actuarial value of the annuity is less than the value of the cash or other property transferred and the difference in value constitutes a charitable deduction for federal tax purposes.

(2) "Charitable organization" means an entity described by:

(a) Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(c)(3)); or

(b) Section 170(c), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 170(c)).

(3) "Qualified charitable gift annuity" means a charitable gift annuity described in Section 501(m)(5), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501(m)(5)), and Section 514(c)(5), Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 514(c)(5)), that is issued by a charitable organization that on the date of the annuity agreement:

(a) Has a minimum of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents, or publicly traded securities, exclusive of the assets funding the annuity agreement; and

(b) Has been in continuous operation for at least three (3) years or is a successor or affiliate of a charitable organization that has been in continuous operation for at least three (3) years.

SECTION 2. Charitable gift annuity is not insurance.

(1) The issuance of a qualified charitable gift annuity does not constitute engaging in the business of insurance in this state.

(2) A charitable gift annuity issued before July 1, 2001, is a qualified charitable gift annuity for purposes of this act, and the issuance of that charitable gift annuity does not constitute engaging in the business of insurance in this state.

SECTION 3. Notice to donor.

(1) When entering into an agreement for a qualified charitable gift annuity, the charitable organization shall disclose to the donor in writing in the annuity agreement that a qualified charitable gift annuity is not insurance under the laws of this state and is not subject to regulation by the insurance commissioner or protected by an insurance guaranty association.

(2) The notice provisions required by this section must be in a separate paragraph in a print size no smaller than that employed in the annuity agreement generally.

SECTION 4. Notice to department.

(1) A charitable organization that issues qualified charitable gift annuities shall notify the commissioner in writing by the later of ninety (90) days after the effective date of this Act or the date on which it enters into the organization's first qualified charitable gift annuity agreement. The notice shall:

(a) Be signed by an officer or director of the organization;

(b) Identify the organization; and

(c) Certify that:

(i) The organization is a charitable organization; and

(ii) The annuities issued by the organization are qualified charitable gift annuities.

(2) The organization shall not be required to submit additional information except to determine appropriate penalties that may be applicable under Section 5 of this act.

SECTION 5. Effect of failure to provide required notice.

The failure of a charitable organization to comply with the notice requirements imposed under Section 3 or 4 of this act does not prevent a charitable gift annuity that otherwise meets the requirements of this act from constituting a qualified charitable gift annuity. The commissioner may enforce performance of the requirements of Sections 3 and 4 of this act by sending a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, demanding that the charitable organization comply with the requirements of Sections 3 and 4 of this act. The commissioner may fine the charitable organization in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) per qualified charitable gift annuity agreement issued until such time as the charitable organization complies with Sections 3 and 4 of this act.

SECTION 6. Not unfair or deceptive trade practice.

The issuance of a qualified charitable gift annuity does not constitute a violation of Sections 83-5-29 through 83-5-51 which regulate trade practices in the business of insurance.

SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2001.