PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 656

(I)       PROOF THAT THE AGENT OR BROKER HAS COMPLETED AT
LEAST 16 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE APPLICABLE RENEWAL
PERIOD; OR

(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 AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION
OR A BROKER'S CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION IN THE STATE; AND

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

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

(II) EACH AGENT OR BROKER WHO POSSESSES 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.

(5) IN EACH RENEWAL PERIOD, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ALLOW AN
AGENT OR BROKER TO RECEIVE UP TO 75% OF THE AGENT'S OR BROKER'S
CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENT FROM COURSES SPONSORED BY AN
INSURER.

(6) (5) IF CONTINUING EDUCATION IS REQUIRED, THE
COMMISSIONER MAY GRANT A WAIVER TO AN AGENT OR BROKER WHO:

(I) IS AT LEAST 70 YEARS OLD; OR

(II) HAS REQUESTED A WAIVER FOR OTHER REASONS THAT THE
COMMISSIONER DETERMINES 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.

(B) THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS ARE EXEMPT FROM THE CONTINUING
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THIS SECTION:

(1)      EMPLOYEES OF A HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION WHO
ARE EMPLOYED SOLELY TO SOLICIT MEMBERSHIP IN THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATION UNDER A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HEALTH MAINTENANCE
ORGANIZATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE;

(2)      ATTORNEYS AT LAW OF THE STATE WHO ARE QUALIFIED AS TITLE
INSURANCE AGENTS OR BROKERS AND WHO DO NOT HOLD A CERTIFICATE OF
QUALIFICATION IN ANY OTHER KIND OR SUBDIVISION OF INSURANCE; AND

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