House Bill 1231

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE PROCEEDS OF A LIFE INSURANCE POLICY BECOME DUE AS OF THE DATE OF THE DEATH OF THE INSURED; TO REQUIRE INSURERS ADMITTED TO TRANSACT LIFE INSURANCE IN THIS STATE TO PAY INTEREST ON PROCEEDS OF CERTAIN LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH INTEREST SHALL BE COMPUTED FROM THE INSURED'S DEATH UNTIL THE DATE OF PAYMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Proceeds of a life insurance policy shall become due as of the date of the death of the insured. Each insurer admitted to transact life insurance in this state shall pay interest on proceeds or payments under any policy of life insurance payable to a beneficiary residing in this state or to a beneficiary under a policy issued in this state or to a beneficiary under a policy insuring a person resident in this state at the time of death.

(2) Interest payable under subsection (1) of this section shall be computed from the insured's death until the date of payment and shall be computed at the rate of interest guaranteed by the policy or at the current rate of interest applicable to death proceeds left on deposit with the insurer under an interest settlement option or at the current rate of interest payable on dividends left on deposit with the insurer, whichever is greater. For proof of death received by the insurer more than three hundred sixty-five (365) days after death, interest is computed from the date the insurer receives proof of death.

(3) This section shall be applicable to any such policy where proceeds have not been paid before the effective date of this act.

(4) This section shall not apply:

(a) When the total death proceeds payable by an insurer on account of the death of an insured person is less than Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00); or

(b) When death proceeds result from insurance written under Section 83-53-1 et seq.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.