Ch. 656                                    1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(II) PROOF THAT THE AGENT OR BROKER HAS COMPLETED AT
LEAST 8 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE APPLICABLE RENEWAL
PERIOD AND AN AFFIDAVIT THAT, OVER THE PREVIOUS 25 CONSECUTIVE YEARS,
THE AGENT OR BROKER CONTINUALLY:

1.       HAS HELD AN AGENTS CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION
OR A BROKER'S CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION IN THIS STATE; AND

2.       HAS BEEN EMPLOYED IN THE SELLING OF INSURANCE IN
THIS STATE.

(4) (I) TO PROMOTE THE EDUCATION LEVEL OF AGENTS AND
BROKERS, THE CONTINUING EDUCATION SHALL BE OBTAINED IN THE KIND OR
SUBDIVISION OF INSURANCE FOR WHICH THE AGENT OR BROKER HAS RECEIVED A
CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION.

(II) EVERY AGENT OR BROKER POSSESSING A CERTIFICATE OF
QUALIFICATION TO SELL HEALTH INSURANCE AND WHO SELLS LONG-TERM CARE
INSURANCE SHALL RECEIVE CONTINUING EDUCATION THAT DIRECTLY RELATES
TO LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE.

[(4)] (5) In each renewal period, the Commissioner[:

(i) Shall] SHALL permit an agent or broker to receive up to
three-fourths of the agent's or broker's continuing education requirement from a course
or courses sponsored by an insurance company or companies[; and

(ii) May permit an agent or broker to receive all of the agent's or
broker's continuing education requirement from a course or courses sponsored by an
insurance company or companies].

(6) (5) IF CONTINUING EDUCATION IS REQUIRED, THE
COMMISSIONER MAY GRANT A WAIVER TO:

(I) AN AGENT OR BROKER WHO IS 70 YEARS OR OLDER; OR

(II) AN AGENT OR BROKER WHO HAS REQUESTED A WAIVER FOR
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES REASONS THAT ARE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER
TO WARRANT THE WAIVER.

(6) AN INSURER MAY NOT PROHIBIT ONE OF ITS AGENTS FROM
OBTAINING CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FROM ANY COURSE APPROVED BY
THE COMMISSIONER.

[(c) An agent's certificate of qualification may not be renewed if for a period of 2
years prior to the time of renewal the agent lias had no appointments from insurers doing
business in this State.]

(D) THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE , CONTINUING
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED UNDER THIS SECTION:

(1) EMPLOYEES OF HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE
EMPLOYED SOLELY TO SOLICIT MEMBERSHIP IN THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE

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