(A)

(1) The superintendent of insurance shall issue a resident insurance agent license to an individual applicant whose home state is Ohio upon submission of a completed application and payment of any applicable fee required under this chapter, if the superintendent finds all of the following:

(a) The applicant is at least eighteen years of age.

(b) The applicant has not committed any act that is a ground for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license under section 3905.14 of the Revised Code.

(c) If required under section 3905.04 of the Revised Code, the applicant has completed a program of insurance education for each line of authority for which the applicant has applied.

(d) If required under section 3905.04 of the Revised Code, the applicant has passed an examination for each line of authority for which the applicant has applied.

(e) Any applicant applying for variable life-variable annuity line of authority is registered with the financial industry regulatory authority (FINRA) as a registered representative after having passed at least one of the following examinations administered by the FINRA: the series 6 examination, the series 7 examination, the series 63 examination, the series 66 examination, or any other FINRA examination approved by the superintendent.

(f) If required under section 3905.051 of the Revised Code, the applicant has consented to a criminal records check and the results of the applicant's criminal records check are determined to be satisfactory by the superintendent.

(g) The applicant is a United States citizen or has provided proof of having legal authorization to work in the United States.

(h) The applicant is of good reputation and character, is honest and trustworthy, and is otherwise suitable to be licensed.

(2) The superintendent shall issue a resident insurance agent license to a business entity applicant upon submission of a completed application and payment of any applicable fees required under this chapter if the superintendent finds all of the following:

(a) Except as provided under division (C)(2) of section 3905.062 or division (C)(2) of section 3905.063 of the Revised Code, the applicant either is domiciled in Ohio or maintains its principal place of business in Ohio.

(b) The applicant has designated a licensed insurance agent who will be responsible for the applicant's compliance with the insurance laws of this state.

(c) The applicant has not committed any act that is a ground for the denial, suspension, or revocation of a license under section 3905.14 of the Revised Code.

(d) Any applicant applying for a portable electronics insurance license line of authority satisfies the requirements of division (C)(1) of section 3905.062 of the Revised Code or any applicant applying for a self-service storage insurance license line of authority satisfies the requirements of division (C)(1) of section 3905.063 of the Revised Code.

(e) The applicant has submitted any other documents requested by the superintendent.

(B) An insurance agent license issued pursuant to division (A) of this section shall state the licensee's name, the license number, the date of issuance, the date the license expires, the line or lines of authority for which the licensee is qualified, and any other information the superintendent deems necessary.

A licensee may be qualified for any of the following lines of authority:

(1) Life, which is insurance coverage on human lives, including benefits of endowment and annuities, and may include benefits in the event of death or dismemberment by accident and benefits for disability income;

(2) Accident and health, which is insurance coverage for sickness, bodily injury, or accidental death, and may include benefits for disability income;

(3) Property, which is insurance coverage for the direct or consequential loss or damage to property of any kind;

(4) Casualty, which is insurance coverage against legal liability, including coverage for death, injury, or disability or damage to real or personal property;

(5) Personal lines, which is property and casualty insurance coverage sold to individuals and families for noncommercial purposes;

(6) Variable life and variable annuity products, which is insurance coverage provided under variable life insurance contracts and variable annuities;

(7) Credit, which is limited line credit insurance;

(8) Title, which is insurance coverage against loss or damage suffered by reason of liens against, encumbrances upon, defects in, or the unmarketability of, real property;

(9) Surety bail bond, which is the authority set forth in sections 3905.83 to 3905.95 of the Revised Code;

(10) Portable electronics insurance, which is a limited line described in section 3905.062 of the Revised Code;

(11) Self-service storage insurance, which is a limited line described in section 3905.063 of the Revised Code;

(12) Travel insurance, which is a limited line described in section 3905.064 of the Revised Code;

(13) Any other line of authority designated by the superintendent.

(C)

(1) An individual seeking to renew a resident insurance agent license shall apply biennially for a renewal of the license on or before the last day of the licensee's birth month. A business entity seeking to renew a resident insurance agent license shall apply biennially for a renewal of the license on or before the date determined by the superintendent. The superintendent shall send a renewal notice to all licensees at least one month prior to the renewal date.

Applications shall be submitted to the superintendent on forms prescribed by the superintendent. Each application shall be accompanied by a biennial renewal fee. The superintendent also may require an applicant to submit any document reasonably necessary to verify the information contained in the renewal application.

(2) To be eligible for renewal, an individual applicant shall complete the continuing education requirements pursuant to section 3905.481 of the Revised Code prior to the renewal date.

(3) If an applicant submits a completed renewal application, qualifies for renewal pursuant to divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, and has not committed any act that is a ground for the refusal to issue, suspension of, or revocation of a license under section 3905.14 of the Revised Code, the superintendent shall renew the applicant's resident insurance agent license.

(D) If an individual or business entity does not apply for the renewal of the individual or business entity's license on or before the license renewal date specified in division (C)(1) of this section, the individual or business entity may submit a late renewal application along with all applicable fees required under this chapter prior to the first day of the second month following the license renewal date.

(E) A license issued under this section that is not renewed on or before its renewal date pursuant to division (C) of this section or its late renewal date pursuant to division (D) of this section automatically is suspended for nonrenewal on the first day of the second month following the renewal date. If a license is suspended for nonrenewal pursuant to this division, the individual or business entity is eligible to apply for reinstatement of the license within the twelve-month period following the date by which the license should have been renewed by complying with the reinstatement procedure established by the superintendent and paying all applicable fees required under this chapter.

(F) A license that is suspended for nonrenewal that is not reinstated pursuant to division (E) of this section automatically is canceled unless the superintendent is investigating any allegations of wrongdoing by the agent or has initiated proceedings under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. In that case, the license automatically is canceled after the completion of the investigation or proceedings unless the superintendent revokes the license.

(G) An individual licensed as a resident insurance agent who is unable to comply with the license renewal procedures established under this section and who is unable to engage in the business of insurance due to military service, a long-term medical disability, or some other extenuating circumstance may request an extension of the renewal date of the individual's license. To be eligible for such an extension, the individual shall submit a written request with supporting documentation to the superintendent. At the superintendent's discretion, the superintendent may not consider a written request made after the renewal date of the license.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 169, §1, eff. 6/21/2018.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 430, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.68, HB 250, §1, eff. 3/22/2012.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.18, HB 300, §1, eff. 5/26/2010.

Effective Date: 09-01-2002 .

Related Legislative Provision: See 128th General AssemblyFile No.18, HB 300, §6 .

See 128th General AssemblyFile No.18, HB 300, §3 .