41-1085. AUTHORITY OF VENDORS OF PORTABLE ELECTRONICS. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the employees and authorized representatives of vendors may sell or offer portable electronics insurance to customers and shall not be subject to licensure as an insurance producer under the provisions of this chapter provided that:

(a) The vendor obtains a limited lines license to authorize its employees or authorized representatives to sell or offer portable electronics insurance pursuant to the provisions of this section;

(b) The insurer issuing the portable electronics insurance either directly supervises or appoints a supervising entity who shall supervise the administration of the program, to include development of a training program for employees and authorized representatives of the vendors concerning the applicable requirements of this chapter prior to the transaction of any personal electronics insurance. The training required by the provisions of this section shall comply with the following:

(i) The training shall be delivered to employees and authorized representatives of a vendor who are directly engaged in the activity of selling or offering portable electronics insurance;

(ii) The training may be provided in electronic form. However, if conducted in an electronic form, the supervising entity shall implement a supplemental education program regarding the portable electronics insurance product being offered or sold that is conducted and overseen by employees of the supervising entity that are licensed pursuant to this chapter;

(iii) Each employee and authorized representative shall receive basic instruction concerning the portable electronics insurance offered to customers and the disclosures required pursuant to section 41-1084, Idaho Code; and

(c) No employee or authorized representative of a vendor of portable electronics shall advertise, represent or otherwise hold himself out as a limited lines or other licensed insurance producer.

(2) The charges for portable electronics insurance coverage may be billed and collected by the vendor of portable electronics. Any charge to the enrolled customer for portable electronics insurance coverage that is not included in the cost associated with the purchase or lease of portable electronics or related services shall be separately itemized on the enrolled customer’s bill. If the portable electronics insurance coverage is included with the purchase or lease of portable electronics or related services, the vendor shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the enrolled customer that the portable electronics insurance coverage is included in the portable electronics or related services purchased. Vendors billing and collecting such charges shall not be required to maintain such funds in a segregated account, provided that the vendor is authorized by the insurer to hold such funds in a nonsegregated account and is required to remit such amounts to the supervising entity within sixty (60) days of receipt. All funds received by a vendor from an enrolled customer for the sale of portable electronics insurance shall be considered funds held in trust by the vendor in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of the insurer. Failure to do so is a violation of this section. Vendors may receive compensation for billing and collection services.

History:

[41-1085, added 2012, ch. 226, sec. 7, p. 622.]