58-7-37. Background of incorporators and proposed management personnel.

(a) Before a license is issued to a new domestic insurance company, each key person must furnish the Commissioner a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints. The applicant's fingerprints shall be certified by an authorized law enforcement officer. The fingerprints of every applicant shall be forwarded to the State Bureau of Investigation for a search of the applicant's criminal history record file, if any. If warranted, the State Bureau of Investigation shall forward a set of the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a national criminal history record check. An applicant shall pay the cost of the State and any national criminal history record check of the applicant.

(b) As used in this section, "key person" means a proposed officer, director, or any other individual who will be in a position to influence the operating decisions of a domestic insurance company.

(c) The Commissioner may refuse to approve the formation or initial license of a new domestic insurance company under this Article if, after notice to the applicant and an opportunity for a hearing, the Commissioner finds as to the incorporators or other key person any one or more of the following conditions:

(1) Any untrue material statement regarding the background or experience of any incorporator or other key person;

(2) Violation of, or noncompliance with, any insurance laws, or of any rule or order of the Commissioner or of a commissioner of another state by any incorporator or other key person;

(3) Obtaining or attempting to obtain the license through misrepresentation or fraud;

(4) An incorporator or other key person has been convicted of a felony;

(5) An incorporator or other key person has been found to have committed any unfair trade practice or fraud;

(6) An incorporator or other key person has used fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices, or has acted in a manner that is incompetent, untrustworthy, or financially irresponsible; or

(7) An incorporator or other key person has held such a position in another insurance company that has had its license suspended or revoked by any state.

(d) If the Commissioner disapproves of the formation or initial license, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant and advise the applicant in writing of the reasons for the disapproval. Within 30 days after receipt of notification, the applicant may make written demand upon the Commissioner for a hearing to determine the reasonableness of the Commissioner's action. The hearing shall be scheduled within 30 days after the date of receipt of the written demand.

(e) For the purposes of investigation under this section, the Commissioner shall have all the power conferred by G.S. 58-2-50 and other applicable provisions of this Chapter.

(f) The Commissioner may adopt rules to set standards for obtaining background information on each incorporator or other key person of a proposed new domestic insurance company.