Senate Bill 2148

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 83-17-251, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE ALL PROPERTY CASUALTY INSURANCE PRODUCERS WHO SELL FLOOD INSURANCE TO COMPLETE SATISFACTORILY AT LEAST TWO OF THEIR REQUIRED HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION IN FLOOD INSURANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 83-17-251, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

83-17-251. (1) Every individual seeking to be licensed as a life, health and accident insurance producer in the State of Mississippi, as a condition of issuance of an original license, must furnish the Commissioner of Insurance certification on a form prescribed by the commissioner that he or she has completed an approved prelicensing course of study for the line of insurance requested.

(2) The prelicensing course of study hours shall consist of no less than twenty-four (24) classroom hours for life and/or health/accident insurance or property and casualty insurance. Twelve (12) classroom hours are required on life only; and twelve (12) classroom hours are required for health/accident only.

(3) Every individual seeking annual renewal of life, health and accident licenses, or annual renewal of property and casualty licenses, shall complete satisfactorily twelve (12) hours of study in approved courses in his primary line of insurance during each twelve-month period except the initially licensed year. The individual may take an additional twelve (12) hours in his secondary line of insurance. Beginning January 1, 2008, all property casualty insurance producers who sell flood insurance shall complete satisfactorily at least two (2) of their required hours of study at each renewal period in flood insurance.

(4) The continuing educational requirements of this section shall not apply to:

(a) Any individual that is exempt from taking the written examination as provided in Section 83-17-39(1)(b), (c) and (e);

(b) Any individual that is licensed with a license limited to industrial life, industrial health and accident, small loan property, industrial fire and full-coverage auto;

(c) A person not a resident of this state who meets the continuing educational requirement in the state in which such person resides and Mississippi has a reciprocal agreement with that state; or

(d) Inactive agents as defined in Section 83-17-1.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.