Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1627

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved May 28, 1971.

CHAPTER 755
(Senate Bill 143)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Sections 12 and
55A of Article 48A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1968 Re-
placement Volume), as amended, title "Insurance Code," subtitles
"Definitions and General Provisions," and "Insurers: Authoriza-
tion and General Requirements," respectively, to change the maxi-
mum fine for willful violation of Article 48A; to lower the mini-
mum and raise the maximum penalties which the Commissioner
may impose for violations of Article 48A; to add restitution to the
remedies which the Commissioner may require; and to make
the imposition of a penalty and the requirement for restitution
additional as well as alternative to revocation or suspension.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Sections 12 and 55A of Article 48A of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume), as amended, title "Insur-
ance Code," subtitles "Definitions and General Provisions," and
"Insurers: Authorization and General Requirements," respectively,
be and they are hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to
read as follows:

12.

Each willful violation of any provision of this article, with respect
to which violation a greater penalty is not provided by other appli-
cable laws of this State, shall, in addition to any administrative
penalty otherwise applicable thereto, upon conviction in a court of
competent jurisdiction of this State be punishable by a fine of not
more than one hundred thousand dollars [($1,000)] ($100,000).

55A.

In lieu of or in addition to revocation or suspension of an insurer's
certificate of authority the Commissioner may (1) impose a penalty
of not less than [one thousand] one hundred dollars [($1,000)]
($100) or more than [twenty-five] fifty thousand dollars [($25,000)]
($50,000) for each violation of this Article on any insurer whose
certificate of authority is subject to revocation or suspension under
the provisions of this article, and (2) require that restitution be made
by such insurer to any person who has suffered financial injury or
damage as a result of such violation.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1971.

Approved May 28, 1971.