98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2869

 

Introduced 2/4/2014, by Sen. Antonio Muņoz

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act
5 ILCS 120/1.02  from Ch. 102, par. 41.02

    Creates the Insurance Advancement Corporation Act. Creates the Illinois Insurance Advancement Corporation as a non-profit corporation organized under the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 and qualifying under the Internal Revenue Code as an organization exempt from taxation. Provides that the Corporation shall be established for the purpose of receiving and disbursing funds from public and private sources to be used to retain Illinois domestic insurance companies and further bolster the overall well-being of the Illinois insurance competitive marketplace. Provides that the Corporation shall collaborate with the Department of Insurance, but the Corporation shall not be considered, in whole or in part, an agency, political subdivision, or instrumentality of the State. Sets forth provisions concerning the governance, operations, duties and responsibilities, and oversight of the Corporation and the Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund. Amends the Open Meetings Act to include in the definition of "meeting" the respective parts or portions of deliberations or meetings of the Board of Directors of the Corporation to the extent that such deliberations or meetings address the utilization of public funding. Effective immediately.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning regulation.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Insurance Advancement Corporation Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings; purpose.
7    (a) The General Assembly finds the following:
8        (1) Pursuant to the McCarran-Ferguson Act (15 U.S.C.
9    Section 1011), the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and
10    the U.S. territories regulate the business of insurance.
11    The Director of Insurance is charged under Section 401 of
12    the Illinois Insurance Code with the rights, powers, and
13    duties appertaining to the enforcement and execution of all
14    of the insurance laws of the State of Illinois.
15        (2) The Director of Insurance licenses, regulates,
16    examines, and if appropriate, disciplines individuals and
17    entities engaged in the business of insurance in Illinois.
18    The Director of Insurance's responsibilities include, but
19    are not limited to, all aspects of insurance company
20    solvency, the conduct of agents, brokers, and companies,
21    the collection of insurance taxes and assessments, and more
22    broadly, the authority to regulate any individual or
23    company involved with the management, distribution, sales,

 

 

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1    or marketing of insurance or insurance-related matters in
2    Illinois.
3        (3) The Director of Insurance is the sole regulator of
4    all aspects of the business of insurance in Illinois, an
5    industry that collected over $66,000,000,000 in
6    Illinois-based premium volume, and protects nearly every
7    Illinois business and resident on any given day.
8        (4) A robust insurance market is important to the
9    Illinois economy and both the public and private sectors
10    have a shared interest in promoting the strength and
11    intensity of the market.
12    (b) It is the purpose of this Act to execute insurance
13advancement policy in Illinois by means of a collaboration
14between government and private industry.
 
15    Section 10. Definitions. In this Act:
16    "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Illinois
17Insurance Advancement Corporation.
18    "Chairperson" means the Board Chair of the Illinois
19Insurance Advancement Corporation.
20    "Chief Executive Officer" means the Chief Executive
21Officer of the Illinois Insurance Advancement Corporation.
22    "Corporation" means the Illinois Insurance Advancement
23Corporation.
 
24    Section 15. Creation.

 

 

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1    (a) There is created the Illinois Insurance Advancement
2Corporation as a not-for-profit corporation organized under
3the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986 and
4qualifying under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code
5as an organization exempt from taxation. Unless otherwise
6provided in this Section, the Corporation is subject to the
7provisions of the General Not For Profit Corporation Act of
81986. The Corporation shall be established for the purpose of
9receiving and disbursing funds from public and private sources
10to be used to retain Illinois domestic insurance companies and
11further bolster the overall well-being of the Illinois
12insurance competitive marketplace.
13    (b) The Corporation shall collaborate with the Department
14of Insurance, but the Corporation shall not be considered, in
15whole or in part, an agency, political subdivision, or
16instrumentality of the State.
17    (c) The Corporation shall have the power to (1) accept
18grants, loans, and appropriations from the federal government
19and the State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, to be
20used for the operating expenses of the Corporation and (2)
21enter into any agreements with the federal government or the
22State, or any agency or instrumentality thereof, in relation to
23those grants, loans, or appropriations.
24    (d) Except as provided in this Act, the Corporation shall
25not be required to comply with any requirements that apply to a
26State agency or political subdivision and shall not exercise

 

 

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1any sovereign power of the State.
2    (e) The Corporation does not have the authority to pledge
3the credit of the State, and the State shall not be liable for
4the debts or obligations of the Corporation. All debts and
5obligations of the Corporation shall be payable solely from the
6Corporation's funds.
7    (f) The Corporation shall be established, maintained, and
8operated so that donations and bequests to it qualify as tax
9deductible under State income tax laws and under Section
10501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
11    (g) The Corporation shall be established to execute
12insurance advancement policy in Illinois by means of
13collaborations between government and private industry.
 
14    Section 20. Governance.
15    (a) The bylaws of the Corporation shall provide for its
16governance and its efficient management. In providing for its
17governance, the bylaws of the Corporation shall provide for or
18address the following:
19        (1) A Board of Directors to govern the Corporation. The
20    Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be composed of
21    9 members, including the Director of Insurance. The
22    Director of Insurance shall appoint the following 8
23    members:
24            (A) two people who have professional experience in
25        finance or investment banking;

 

 

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1            (B) two people who have professional experience
2        working for an Illinois domestic mutual company;
3            (C) two people who have professional experience as
4        insurance producers;
5            (D) one person who has professional experience in
6        small business development;
7            (E) one person who has a demonstrated background in
8        consumer advocacy.
9        (2) The Director shall serve as the Chairperson.
10    (b) Members are not entitled to compensation for their
11services, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred
12in connection with the performance of their duties as members
13from the funds of the Corporation.
14    (c) The membership of the Board should reflect the ethnic,
15cultural, and geographic diversity of the State.
16    (d) Members of the Board shall be appointed for terms of 4
17years, and until their successor is appointed. Of the initial
18terms of the 8 members appointed by the Director of Insurance,
192 shall serve until the third Monday in January 2016, 3 shall
20serve until the third Monday in January 2017, and 3 shall serve
21until the third Monday in January 2018. All successors to the
22original appointments shall hold office for a term of 4 years
23commencing the third Monday in January of the year in which
24their term commences, except in the case of an appointment to
25fill a vacancy. Vacancies occurring among the members shall be
26filled for the remainder of the unexpired term.

 

 

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1    (e) A member of the Board may be removed from office by the
2Director of Insurance for incompetence, neglect of duty, or
3malfeasance in office.
4    (f) Five voting members of the Board constitute a quorum.
5The affirmative vote of 5 members is necessary for any action
6taken by the Board. A vacancy in membership does not impair the
7right of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties
8of the Corporation.
9    (g) Meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the
10Chairperson or when 2 members so request in writing. The Board
11shall meet at least once per quarter.
12    (h) The Board shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer to
13manage the Corporation's daily operations and shall delegate
14such powers and responsibilities to the Chief Executive Officer
15as may be necessary for the Corporation's efficient operation.
16    (i) The Corporation may employ such personnel as may be
17necessary for the efficient performance of the duties assigned
18to the Corporation. All such personnel shall be considered
19employees of a private, nonprofit corporation and shall be
20exempt from the personnel requirements imposed on State
21agencies and political subdivisions.
22    (j) The bylaws of the Corporation shall provide for the
23financial operations of the Corporation, including the
24authority to receive and expend funds from public and private
25sources and to use its property, money, or other resources for
26the purposes of the Corporation.

 

 

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1    (k) The Board shall develop a budget, which shall be
2submitted to the General Assembly as a part of the Department
3of Insurance's budget request.
 
4    Section 25. Operations.
5    (a) The members of the Board of Directors of the
6Corporation shall develop an insurance advancement strategy
7for the State. By no later than January 1, 2016 and by January
81 of each year thereafter, the Corporation shall make
9modifications to the insurance advancement strategy as the
10modifications are warranted by changes in economic and
11marketplace conditions or by other factors, including changes
12in policy. In preparing the strategy and in making
13modifications to the strategy, the Corporation shall take
14cognizance of the special economic attributes of the various
15component areas of the State and needs of consumers.
16    (b) In preparing the strategy or modifications to the
17strategy, the Corporation shall work with the Department of
18Insurance and any boards or commissions whose programs and
19activities significantly affect insurance activity in the
20State, as appropriate. The directors of the agencies, boards,
21and commissions shall provide assistance to the Corporation as
22deemed appropriate.
23    (c) In preparing the strategy or modifications to the
24strategy, the Department of Insurance shall consult with local
25organizations, local elected officials, community-based

 

 

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1organizations, industry representatives, and other
2organizations whose programs and activities significantly
3affect the Illinois insurance industry.
4    (d) The insurance advancement development strategy shall
5identify goals for the next calendar year and shall include a
6set of metrics that will be used to gauge and assess the extent
7to which the Department of Insurance and the Corporation
8achieve those goals.
9    (e) The strategy shall be presented to the Governor, the
10President of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the
11Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority
12Leader of the House of Representatives on or before February 1,
132016 and on or before February 1 of each year thereafter.
14    (f) The strategy shall be published and made available to
15the public in both paper and electronic media, on the
16Corporation's Internet website, and by any other method which
17the Board deems appropriate.
 
18    Section 30. Duties and responsibilities.
19    (a) The Board of Directors of the Corporation and the Chief
20Executive Officer shall determine the activities and
21priorities of the Corporation within the general parameters of
22the duties and responsibilities described in this Act.
23    (b) The Corporation shall, to the extent that its bylaws
24provide and within its public purpose, do all of the following:
25        (1) Consult with the Department of Insurance in the

 

 

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1    creation of the comprehensive strategic plan provided for
2    in Section 25 of this Act for insurance advancement.
3        (2) Maintain and develop data and research that is
4    beneficial to insurance advancement in this State.
5        (3) Develop and implement effective marketing and
6    promotional programs for the Department of Insurance and
7    other related State programs that may be beneficial to
8    insurance business development in the State.
9        (4) Formulate and pursue programs for encouraging the
10    location of new insurance companies in the State and for
11    retaining and fostering the growth of existing insurance
12    companies.
13        (5) Solicit the involvement of the private sector,
14    including support and funding, for business development
15    initiatives in the State.
16        (6) Encourage, stimulate, and support the development
17    and expansion of the State's insurance industry.
 
18    Section 35. Oversight.
19    (a) When engaged in activities that utilize public funding,
20the Corporation shall comply with the provisions of this
21Section.
22    (b) An annual audit of the Corporation performed by a
23certified public accountant in accordance with generally
24accepted accounting principles shall be filed with the office
25of the Auditor General and made available to the public.

 

 

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1    (c) The respective parts or portions of deliberations or
2meetings of the Board of Directors of the Corporation that
3address the utilization of public funding shall be conducted in
4accordance with the Open Meetings Act.
5    (d) Minutes of the parts or portions of meetings conducted
6in accordance with subsection (c) of this Section shall be
7subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
 
8    Section 40. Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund.
9    (a) The Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund is hereby
10created as a fund outside of the State treasury to be used
11exclusively for the Illinois Insurance Advancement Corporation
12to provide funding for the operation and administration of the
13Corporation in carrying out the purpose authorized in this Act.
14    (b) The Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund shall be funded
15by an initial transfer of $2,500,000 from the Illinois
16Insurance Financial and Corporate Regulatory Fund and an
17initial transfer of $2,500,000 from the Illinois Insurance
18Producer Regulatory Fund.
 
19    Section 45. Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund; uses. The
20moneys deposited into the Illinois Insurance Advancement Fund
21shall be used only to (i) develop and implement effective
22marketing and promotional programs for the Department of
23Insurance and other related State programs that may be
24beneficial to insurance business development in the State; (ii)

 

 

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1formulate and pursue programs for encouraging the location of
2new insurance companies in the State and for retaining and
3fostering the growth of existing insurance companies; (iii)
4solicit the involvement of the private sector, including
5support and funding, for business development initiatives in
6the State; and (iv) encourage, stimulate, and support the
7development and expansion of the State's insurance industry.
 
8    Section 900. The Open Meetings Act is amended by changing
9Section 1.02 as follows:
 
10    (5 ILCS 120/1.02)  (from Ch. 102, par. 41.02)
11    Sec. 1.02. For the purposes of this Act:
12    "Meeting" means any gathering, whether in person or by
13video or audio conference, telephone call, electronic means
14(such as, without limitation, electronic mail, electronic
15chat, and instant messaging), or other means of contemporaneous
16interactive communication, of a majority of a quorum of the
17members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing
18public business or, for a 5-member public body, a quorum of the
19members of a public body held for the purpose of discussing
20public business. "Meeting" includes the respective parts or
21portions of deliberations or meetings of the Board of Directors
22of the Illinois Insurance Advancement Corporation to the extent
23that such deliberations or meetings address the utilization of
24public funding.

 

 

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1    Accordingly, for a 5-member public body, 3 members of the
2body constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of 3 members
3is necessary to adopt any motion, resolution, or ordinance,
4unless a greater number is otherwise required.
5    "Public body" includes all legislative, executive,
6administrative or advisory bodies of the State, counties,
7townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school
8districts and all other municipal corporations, boards,
9bureaus, committees or commissions of this State, and any
10subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing including but not
11limited to committees and subcommittees which are supported in
12whole or in part by tax revenue, or which expend tax revenue,
13except the General Assembly and committees or commissions
14thereof. "Public body" includes tourism boards and convention
15or civic center boards located in counties that are contiguous
16to the Mississippi River with populations of more than 250,000
17but less than 300,000. "Public body" includes the Health
18Facilities and Services Review Board. "Public body" does not
19include a child death review team or the Illinois Child Death
20Review Teams Executive Council established under the Child
21Death Review Team Act, an ethics commission acting under the
22State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, or the Illinois
23Independent Tax Tribunal.
24(Source: P.A. 96-31, eff. 6-30-09; 97-1129, eff. 8-28-12.)
 
25    Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26becoming law.