S-1575               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 4274

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1985 Regular Session

By Senators Metcalf, Deccio and Rasmussen

Read first time 2/8/85 and referred to Committee on Financial Institutions.

AN ACT Relating to insurance; and amending RCW 48.17.150.

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

        Sec. 1.  Section .17.15, chapter 79, Laws of 1947 as last amended by section 7, chapter 269, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 48.17.150 are each amended to read as follows:

          (1) To qualify for an agent's or broker's license an applicant must otherwise comply with this code therefor and must

          (a) be eighteen years of age or over, if an individual;

          (b) be a bona fide resident of and actually reside in this state, or if a corporation, be other than an insurer and maintain a lawfully established place of business in this state, except as provided in RCW 48.17.330;

          (c) be empowered to be an agent or broker, as the case may be, under its members' agreement, if a firm, or by its articles of incorporation, if a corporation;

          (d) complete such minimum educational requirements for the issuance of an agent's license for the kinds of insurance specified in RCW 48.17.210 as may be required by regulation issued by the commissioner;

          (e) successfully pass any examination as required under RCW 48.17.110;

           (f) be a trustworthy person;

           (g) not intend to use or use the license for the purpose principally of writing controlled business, as defined in RCW 48.17.080;

(h) if for an agent's license, be appointed as its agent by one or more authorized insurers, subject to issuance of the license; and

(i) if for broker's license, have had at least two years experience either as an agent, solicitor, adjuster, general agent, broker, or as an employee of insurers or representatives of insurers, and special education or training of sufficient duration and extent reasonably to satisfy the commissioner that he possesses the competence necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of broker.

          (2) The commissioner shall by regulation establish minimum continuing education requirements for the renewal or reissuance of a license to an agent or a broker:  PROVIDED, That the commissioner shall require that continuing education courses will be made available on a state-wide basis in order to ensure that persons residing in all geographical areas of this state will have a reasonable opportunity to attend such courses.  The continuing education requirements shall be appropriate to the license for the kinds of insurance specified in RCW 48.17.210:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That the continuing education requirements may be waived by the commissioner for good cause shown:  AND PROVIDED FURTHER, That no continuing education may be required for agents or brokers who are sixty-five years of age or older.

          (3) If the commissioner finds that the applicant is so qualified and that the license fee has been paid, he shall issue the license.  Otherwise, the commissioner shall refuse to issue the license.