S-1935.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6039

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senator West

Read first time 03/03/97.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Imposing fines or regulatory assessments under the insurance code.

    AN ACT Relating to any fine or regulatory assessment imposed in an enforcement action under the insurance code; and amending RCW 48.05.185.

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

    Sec. 1.  RCW 48.05.185 and 1980 c 102 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    After hearing or with the consent of the insurer and in addition to or in lieu of the suspension, revocation, or refusal to renew any certificate of authority the commissioner may levy a fine upon the insurer in an amount not less than two hundred fifty dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars.  The order levying such fine shall specify the period within which the fine shall be fully paid and which period shall not be less than fifteen nor more than thirty days from the date of such order.  Upon failure to pay any such fine when due the commissioner shall revoke the certificate of authority of the insurer if not already revoked, and the fine shall be recovered in a civil action brought in behalf of the commissioner by the attorney general.  Any fine ((so)) or regulatory assessment imposed in an enforcement action under this title shall be collected by the attorney general on behalf of the state and shall be paid ((by the commissioner)) to the state treasurer for the account of the general fund.

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