215 ILCS 5/ Illinois Insurance Code.

(215 ILCS 5/421) (from Ch. 73, par. 1028)

Sec. 421. Declaration of purpose.

The purpose of this article is to regulate trade practices in the business of insurance in accordance with the intent of Congress as expressed in the Act of Congress of March 9, 1945 (Public Law 15, 79th Congress), by defining, or providing for the determination of, all such practices in this State which constitute unfair methods of competition or unfair or deceptive acts or practices and by prohibiting the trade practices so defined or determined.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/422) (from Ch. 73, par. 1029)

Sec. 422. Definitions.

When used in this Article, "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, association, corporation, society, order, firm, company, aggregation of individuals, reciprocal exchange, inter-insurer, Lloyds insurer, fraternal benefit society, and any other legal entity to which any article of this Code is applicable, or which is subject to examination, visitation or supervision by the Director under any provision of this Code or under any law of this State, or which is engaged or engaging in or proposing or attempting to engage in or is representing that it is doing an insurance or surety business in this State, or which is in process of organization for the purpose of doing such business, including agents, brokers, adjusters and solicitors.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/423) (from Ch. 73, par. 1030)

Sec. 423. Unfair methods of competition or unfair and deceptive acts or practices prohibited.

(1) No person shall engage in this State in any trade practice which is defined in this Article as, or determined pursuant to this Article to be an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance.

(2) No person domiciled in or resident of this State shall engage in any other State, Territory, Province, Possession, Country or District in which he is not licensed or otherwise authorized to transact business in any trade practice which is defined in this Article as, or determined pursuant to this Article to be an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice in the business of insurance.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 990.)

(215 ILCS 5/424) (from Ch. 73, par. 1031)

Sec. 424. Unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices defined. The following are hereby defined as unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance:

(1) The commission by any person of any one or more of the acts defined or prohibited by Sections 134, 143.24c, 147, 148, 149, 151, 155.22, 155.22a, 155.42, 236, 237, 364, 469, and 513b1 of this Code.

(2) Entering into any agreement to commit, or by any concerted action committing, any act of boycott, coercion or intimidation resulting in or tending to result in unreasonable restraint of, or monopoly in, the business of insurance.

(3) Making or permitting, in the case of insurance of the types enumerated in Classes 1, 2, and 3 of Section 4, any unfair discrimination between individuals or risks of the same class or of essentially the same hazard and expense element because of the race, color, religion, or national origin of such insurance risks or applicants. The application of this Article to the types of insurance enumerated in Class 1 of Section 4 shall in no way limit, reduce, or impair the protections and remedies already provided for by Sections 236 and 364 of this Code or any other provision of this Code.

(4) Engaging in any of the acts or practices defined in or prohibited by Sections 154.5 through 154.8 of this Code.

(5) Making or charging any rate for insurance against losses arising from the use or ownership of a motor vehicle which requires a higher premium of any person by reason of his physical disability, race, color, religion, or national origin.

(6) Failing to meet any requirement of the Unclaimed Life Insurance Benefits Act with such frequency as to constitute a general business practice.

(Source: P.A. 102-778, eff. 7-1-22.)

(215 ILCS 5/425) (from Ch. 73, par. 1032)

Sec. 425. Power of Director.

The Director shall have power to examine and investigate into the affairs of every person engaged in the business of insurance in this State and to examine and investigate into the affairs of any person domiciled in or resident of this State engaged in the business of insurance in any other State, Territory, Province, Possession, Country or District in which he is not licensed or otherwise authorized to transact business in order to determine whether such person has been or is engaged in any unfair method of competition or in any unfair or deceptive act or practice prohibited by Section 424.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 990.)

(215 ILCS 5/426) (from Ch. 73, par. 1033)

Sec. 426. Hearings.

(1) Whenever the Director shall have reason to believe that any such person has been engaged or is engaging in this State in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice defined in Section 424, or that any person domiciled in or resident of this State has been engaged or is engaging in any other State, Territory, Province, Possession, Country or District in which he is not licensed or otherwise authorized to transact business in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice defined in Section 424, and that a proceeding by him in respect thereto would be to the interest of the public, he shall issue and serve upon such person or persons domiciled in or resident of this State a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of a hearing thereon to be held at a time and place fixed in the notice, which shall not be less than 10 days after the date of the service thereof.

(2) At the time and place fixed for such hearing, such person shall have an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel and to show cause why an order should not be made by the Director requiring such persons to cease and desist from the acts, methods or practices so complained of. Upon good cause shown, before the commencement of such hearing, the Director shall permit any person to intervene, appear and be heard at such hearing by counsel or in person.

(3) The Director, upon such hearing, may, and upon the request of any party shall, cause to be made a stenographic record of all the evidence and all the proceedings had at such hearing. If no stenographic record is made and if a judicial review is sought, the Director shall prepare a statement of the evidence and proceeding for use on review.

(Source: Laws 1967, p. 990.)

(215 ILCS 5/427) (from Ch. 73, par. 1034)

Sec. 427. Cease and desist orders and modifications thereof.

(1) If, after such hearing, the Director shall determine that the method of competition or the act or practice in question is defined in Section 424 and that the person complained of has engaged in such method of competition, act or practice in violation of this article, he shall reduce his findings to writing and shall issue and cause to be served upon the person charged with the violation an order requiring such person to cease and desist from engaging in such method of competition, act or practice.

(2) Until the expiration of the time allowed under Section 407 of this Code for filing a complaint for review if no such complaint has been duly filed within such time or, if a complaint for review has been filed within such time, then until the answer in the proceeding has been filed in the court, as provided in said section, the Director may at any time, upon such notice and in such manner as he shall deem proper, modify or set aside in whole or in part any order issued by him under this section.

(3) After the expiration of the time allowed for filing such a complaint for review if no such complaint has been duly filed within such time, the Director may at any time, after notice and opportunity for hearing, reopen and alter, modify or set aside, in whole or in part, any order issued by him under this section, whenever in his opinion conditions of fact or of law have so changed as to require such action or if the public interest shall so require.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/428) (from Ch. 73, par. 1035)

Sec. 428. Procedure on review. (1) To the extent that the order of the Director is affirmed, the court shall thereupon enter its own order commanding obedience to the terms of the order of the Director. If either party applies to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence, and shows to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material and that there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the proceeding before the Director, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the Director and to be adduced upon the hearing in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as to the court may seem proper. The Director, may modify his or her findings of fact, or make new findings by reason of the additional evidence so taken, and he or she shall file such modified or new findings as well as any modification of the original order reached as a result of hearing such additional evidence.

(2) A cease and desist order issued by the Director under Section 427 shall become final.

(a) Upon the expiration of the time allowed for filing a complaint for review if no such complaint has been duly filed within such time; but the Director may thereafter modify or set aside his or her order to the extent provided in Section 427 (2); or

(b) Upon the entry of a final decision, order or judgment of the court.

(3) No order of the Director under this Article or order of a court to enforce the same shall in any way relieve or absolve any person affected by such order from any liability under any other laws of this State.

(Source: P.A. 84-1308.)

(215 ILCS 5/429) (from Ch. 73, par. 1036)

Sec. 429. Procedure as to unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices which are not defined.

(1) Whenever the Director shall have reason to believe (a) that any person engaged in the business of insurance is engaging in this State in any method of competition or in any act or practice in the conduct of such business which is not defined in Section 424, as an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice or that any person domiciled in or resident of this State engaged in the business of insurance is engaging in any other state, territory, province, possession, country, or district in which he or she is not licensed or otherwise authorized to transact business in any method of competition or in any act or practice in the conduct of such business which is not defined in Section 424, as an unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or practice, and (b) that such method of competition is unfair or that such act or practice is unfair or deceptive, or (c) that such unfair method of competition or such unfair or deceptive act or practice violates any of the provisions of this Code or any other law of this State, or (d) that a proceeding by him or her in respect thereto would be to the interest of the public, he or she may issue and serve upon such person a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of a hearing thereon to be held at a time and place fixed in the notice, which shall not be less than 10 days after the date of the service thereof. Each such hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as the hearings provided for in Section 426. The Director shall, after such hearing, make a report in writing in which he or she shall state his or her findings as to the facts, and he or she shall serve a copy thereof upon such person.

(2) If such report charges a violation of this Article and if such method of competition, act, or practice has not been discontinued, the Director may, through the Attorney General of this State, at any time after the service of such report cause a complaint to be filed in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County or in the Circuit Court of this State within the county wherein the person resides or has his principal place of business, to enjoin and restrain such person from engaging in such method, act, or practice. The court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and shall have power to make and enter appropriate orders in connection therewith and to enter such orders as are ancillary to its jurisdiction or are necessary in its judgment to prevent injury to the public pendente lite.

(3) A transcript of the proceedings before the Director including all evidence taken and the report and findings shall be filed with such complaint. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shall show, to the satisfaction of the court, that such additional evidence is material and there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the proceedings before the Director the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the Director and to be adduced upon the hearing in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as to the court may seem proper. The Director may modify his or her findings of fact or make new findings by reason of the additional evidence so taken, and he or she shall file such modified or new findings with the return of such additional evidence.

(4) If the court finds (a) that the method of competition complained of is unfair or that the act or practice complained of is unfair or deceptive, or (b) that such unfair method of competition or such unfair or deceptive act or practice is in violation of this Code or any other law of this State and (c) that the proceeding by the Director with respect thereto is to the interest of public and (d) that the findings of the Director are supported by the evidence, it shall enter an order enjoining and restraining the continuance of such method of competition, act, or practice.

(Source: P.A. 100-863, eff. 8-14-18.)

(215 ILCS 5/430) (from Ch. 73, par. 1037)

Sec. 430. Judicial review by intervenor. If the report of the Director does not charge a violation of this Article, then any party in interest who was an intervenor in the proceedings before the Director may within 35 days after the service of such report, cause a complaint to be filed in the Circuit Court of Sangamon County for a review of such report. Upon such review, the court shall have authority to issue appropriate orders and judgment in connection therewith, including, if the court finds that it is to the interest of the public, orders enjoining and restraining the continuance of any method of competition, act or practice which it finds, notwithstanding such report of the Director, constitutes a violation of this Article.

(Source: P.A. 79-1362.)

(215 ILCS 5/431) (from Ch. 73, par. 1038)

Sec. 431. Penalty. Any person who violates a cease and desist order of the Director under Section 427, after it has become final, and while such order is in effect, or who violates an order of the Circuit Court under Section 429, shall, upon proof thereof to the satisfaction of the court, forfeit and pay to the State of Illinois, a sum not to exceed $1,000, which may be recovered in a civil action, for each violation.

(Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)

(215 ILCS 5/432) (from Ch. 73, par. 1039)

Sec. 432. Provisions additional to existing law.

The powers vested in the Director by this Article shall be additional to any other powers to enforce any penalties, fines or forfeitures authorized by law with respect to the methods, acts and practices hereby declared to be unfair or deceptive.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/433) (from Ch. 73, par. 1040)

Sec. 433. Immunity from prosecution.

If any person shall ask to be excused from attending and testifying or from producing any books, papers, records, correspondence or other documents at any hearing on the ground that the testimony or evidence required of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture, and shall notwithstanding be directed to give such testimony or produce such evidence, he must none the less comply with such direction, but he shall not thereafter be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he may testify or produce evidence pursuant thereto, and no testimony so given or evidence produced shall be received against him upon any criminal action, investigation or proceeding, provided, however, that no such individual so testifying shall be exempt from prosecution or punishment for any perjury committed by him while so testifying and the testimony or evidence so given or produced shall be admissible against him upon any criminal action, investigation or proceeding concerning such perjury, nor shall he be exempt from the refusal, revocation or suspension of any license, permission or authority conferred, or to be conferred, pursuant to the insurance laws of this State. Any such individual may execute, acknowledge and file in the office of the Director a statement expressly waiving such immunity or privilege in respect to any transaction, matter or thing specified in such statement and thereupon the testimony of such person or such evidence into such transaction, matter or thing may be received or produced before any judge or justice, court, tribunal, grand jury or otherwise, and if so received or produced such individual shall not be entitled to any immunity or privilege on account of any testimony he may so give or evidence so produced.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/434) (from Ch. 73, par. 1041)

Sec. 434. Separability provision.

If any provision of this Article, or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, the remainder of the Article, and the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 734.)

(215 ILCS 5/Art. XXVIII heading) ARTICLE XXVIII. FINAL PROVISIONS

(215 ILCS 5/441) (from Ch. 73, par. 1053)

Sec. 441. General corporate powers.

(1) In order to carry out the purpose for which it is organized, each company under the laws of the State and subject to the provisions of this Code shall have

(a) perpetual succession by its corporate name unless a limited period of duration is stated in its articles of incorporation;

(b) power in its corporate name to sue and be sued, to contract and be contracted with, to own, hold, sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease and otherwise dispose of real and personal property;

(c) power to adopt by-laws not in conflict with the provisions of this Code, and to adopt and use a seal and to alter the same at pleasure;

(d) power to make donations in reasonable amounts for the public welfare or for charitable, scientific, religious or educational purposes;

(e) such other powers as shall be needful to accomplish the purposes of its organization.

(2) Such power shall be exercised subject to the provisions and restrictions of this Code and other laws of this State.

(3) No conveyance or transfer by or to any company of property, real or personal, of any kind or description, shall be invalid or fail because in making such conveyance or transfer or in acquiring such property, real or personal, the company, its board of directors, trustees or other governing body, or any of its officers, acting within the scope of the actual or apparent authority given to them by its board of directors, trustees or other governing body, have in so doing exceeded any of the purposes or powers of the company.

(Source: Laws 1959, p. 151.)

(215 ILCS 5/442) (from Ch. 73, par. 1054)

Sec. 442. Validation of illegally issued policies.

Any contract or policy of insurance or any application, endorsement or rider form used in connection therewith issued in violation of any section of this Code requiring certain provisions to be inserted therein or the inclusion of provisions prohibited, or issued without submitting same for approval by the Director in accordance with section 143, shall nevertheless be held valid but shall be construed in accordance with the requirements of the section that the said policy, application, endorsement or rider violates, and when any provision in such contract, application, endorsement or rider is in conflict with any provision of this Code, the rights, and obligations of the company thereunder shall not be less favorable to the holder of the contract and the beneficiary or annuitant thereunder than is required by the provisions of this Code applicable thereto.

(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)

(215 ILCS 5/443) (from Ch. 73, par. 1055)

Sec. 443. Reciprocity.

The policies of a company, not organized under the laws of this State, may contain any provision which the law of the state or country under which the company is organized prescribes shall be in such policies when issued in this State, and the policies of such insurance company organized under the laws of this State may, when issued or delivered in any other state or country, contain any provisions required by the laws of the state or country in which the same are issued, anything in this Code to the contrary notwithstanding.

(Source: Laws 1937, p. 696.)

(215 ILCS 5/444) (from Ch. 73, par. 1056)

Sec. 444. Retaliation.

(1) Whenever the existing or future laws of any other state or country shall require of companies incorporated or organized under the laws of this State as a condition precedent to their doing business in such other state or country, compliance with laws, rules, regulations, and prohibitions more onerous or burdensome than the rules and regulations imposed by this State on foreign or alien companies, or shall require any deposit of securities or other obligations in such state or country, for the protection of policyholders or otherwise or require of such companies or agents thereof or brokers the payment of penalties, fees, charges, or taxes greater than the penalties, fees, charges, or taxes required in the aggregate for like purposes by this Code or any other law of this State, of foreign or alien companies, agents thereof or brokers, then such laws, rules, regulations, and prohibitions of said other state or country shall apply to companies incorporated or organized under the laws of such state or country doing business in this State, and all such companies, agents thereof, or brokers doing business in this State, shall be required to make deposits, pay penalties, fees, charges, and taxes, in amounts equal to those required in the aggregate for like purposes of Illinois companies doing business in such state or country, agents thereof or brokers. Whenever any other state or country shall refuse to permit any insurance company incorporated or organized under the laws of this State to transact business according to its usual plan in such other state or country, the director may, if satisfied that such company of this State is solvent, properly managed, and can operate legally under the laws of such other state or country, forthwith suspend or cancel the license of every insurance company doing business in this State which is incorporated or organized under the laws of such other state or country to the extent that it insures in this State against any of the risks or hazards which are sought to be insured against by the company of this State in such other state or country.

(2) The provisions of this Section shall not apply to residual market or special purpose assessments or guaranty fund or guaranty association assessments, both under the laws of this State and under the laws of any other state or country, and any tax offset or credit for any such assessment shall, for purposes of this Section, be treated as a tax paid both under the laws of this State and under the laws of any other state or country.

(3) The terms "penalties", "fees", "charges", and "taxes" in subsection (1) of this Section shall include: the penalties, fees, charges, and taxes collected on a cash basis under State law and referenced within Article XXV exclusive of any items referenced by subsection (2) of this Section, but including any tax offset allowed under Section 531.13 of this Code; the aggregate Illinois corporate income taxes paid under Sections 601 and 803 of the Illinois Income Tax Act during the calendar year for which the retaliatory tax calculation is being made, less the recapture of any Illinois corporate income tax cash refunds to the extent that the amount of tax refunded was reported as part of the Illinois basis in the calculation of the retaliatory tax for a prior tax year, provided that such recaptured refund shall not exceed the amount necessary for equivalence of the Illinois basis with the state of incorporation basis in such tax year, and after any tax offset allowed under Section 531.13 of this Code; income or personal property taxes imposed by other states or countries; penalties, fees, charges, and taxes of other states or countries imposed for purposes like those of the penalties, fees, charges, and taxes specified in Article XXV of this Code exclusive of any item referenced in subsection (2) of this Section; and any penalties, fees, charges, and taxes required as a franchise, privilege, or licensing tax for conducting the business of insurance whether calculated as a percentage of income, gross receipts, premium, or otherwise.

(4) Nothing contained in this Section or Section 409 or Section 444.1 is intended to authorize or expand any power of local governmental units or municipalities to impose taxes, fees, or charges.

(5) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 10 of the New Markets Development Program Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-1169, eff. 1-9-15.)

(215 ILCS 5/444.1) (from Ch. 73, par. 1056.1)

Sec. 444.1. Payment of retaliatory taxes.

(1) Every foreign or alien company doing insurance business in this State shall pay the Director the retaliatory tax determined in accordance with Section 444.

(2) (a) All companies subject to the provisions of this Section shall make an annual return for the preceding calendar year on or before March 15 setting forth such information on such forms as the Director may reasonably require. Payments of quarterly installments of the taxpayer's total estimated retaliatory tax for the current calendar year shall be due on or before April 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 of such year, except that all companies transacting insurance business in this State whose annual tax for the immediately preceding calendar year was less than $5,000 shall make only an annual return. Failure of a company to make the annual payment, or to make the quarterly payments, if required, of at least one-fourth of either (i) the total tax paid during the previous calendar year or (ii) 80% of the actual tax for the current calendar year shall subject it to the penalty provisions set forth in Section 412 of this Code.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection, the retaliatory tax liability of companies under Section 444 of this Code for the calendar year ended December 31, 1997 shall be determined in accordance with this amendatory Act of 1998 and shall include in the aggregate comparative tax burden for the State of Illinois, any tax offset allowed under Section 531.13 of this Code and any income taxes paid for the year 1997 under subsections (a) through (d) of Section 201 of the Illinois Income Tax Act after any tax offset allowed under Section 531.13 of this Code.

(i) Any annual retaliatory tax returns and payments made for the year ended December 31, 1997 and any quarterly installments of the taxpayer's total estimated 1998 retaliatory tax liability paid prior to the effective date of this Amendatory Act of 1998 that do not include the items specified by subsection (1) of this Section shall be amended and restated, at the taxpayer's election, on forms prepared by the Director so as to provide for the inclusion of such items. An amended and restated return for the year ended December 31, 1997 filed under this subparagraph shall treat any payment of estimated privilege taxes under Section 409 as in effect prior to October 23, 1997 as a payment of estimated retaliatory taxes for the year ended December 31, 1997.

(ii) Any overpayment resulting from such amended return and restated tax liability shall be allowed as a credit against any subsequent privilege or retaliatory tax obligations of the taxpayer.

(iii) In the year 1999 and thereafter all companies shall make annual and quarterly installments of their estimated tax as provided by paragraph (a) of this subsection.

(3) Any tax payment made under this Section and any tax returns prepared in compliance with Section 410 shall give full consideration to the impact of any future reduction in or elimination of a taxpayer's liability under Section 409, whether such reduction or elimination is due to an operation of law or an Act of the General Assembly.

(4) Any foreign or alien taxpayer who makes, under protest, a tax payment required by Section 409 shall, at the time of payment, file a retaliatory tax return sufficient to disclose the full amount of retaliatory taxes which would be due and owing for the tax period in question if the protest were upheld. Notwithstanding the provisions of the State Officers and Employees Money Disposition Act or any other laws of this State, the protested payment, to the extent of the retaliatory tax so disclosed, shall be deposited directly in the General Revenue Fund; and the balance of the payment, if any, shall be deposited in a protest account pursuant to the provisions of the aforesaid Act, as now or hereafter amended.

(5) The failure of a company to make the annual payment or to make the quarterly payments, if required, of at least one-fourth of either (i) the total tax paid during the preceding calendar year or (ii) 80% of the actual tax for the current calendar year shall subject it to the penalty provisions set forth in Section 412 of this Code.

(6) This Section is subject to the provisions of Section 10 of the New Markets Development Program Act.

(Source: P.A. 95-1024, eff. 12-31-08.)