(a) (1) As prescribed in this chapter, the commissioner shall have the administrative authority to assess penalties against issuers, brokers, agents, and other entities engaged in the business of insurance or any other person or entity for violations of this article.

(2) Upon a showing of a violation of this article in any civil action, a court may also assess the penalties prescribed in this chapter.

(3) Whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe or determines after a public hearing that any issuer, agent, broker, or other person or entity engaged in the business of insurance, has violated this article he or she shall make and serve upon the issuer, broker, or other person or entity a notice of hearing. The notice shall state the commissioner’s intent to assess the administrative penalties, the time and place of the hearing, and the conduct, condition, or ground upon which the commissioner is holding the hearing and assessing the penalties. The hearing shall occur within 30 days after the notice is served. Within 30 days after the hearing the commissioner shall issue an order specifying the amount of penalties to be paid. The penalties resulting from the hearing shall be paid to the Insurance Fund.

(4) The powers vested in the commissioner by this section shall be additional to any and all powers and remedies vested in the commissioner by law.

(b) (1) Any broker, agent, or other person or entity engaged in the business of insurance, other than an issuer, who violates this article is liable for administrative penalties of no less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for the first violation.

(2) Any broker, agent, other person, or other entity engaged in the business of insurance, other than an issuer, who engages in practices prohibited by this chapter a second or subsequent time or who commits a knowing violation of this article, is liable for administrative penalties of no less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and no more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each violation.

(3) Any issuer who violates this article is liable for administrative penalties of no less than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the first violation.

(4) Any issuer who violates this article with a frequency as to indicate a general business practice or commits a knowing violation of this article, is liable for administrative penalties of no less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and no more than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) for each violation.

(c) (1) Actions for injunctive relief, penalties in the amounts specified in subdivision (a), damages, restitution, and all other remedies provided for in law, may be brought in superior court by the Attorney General, district attorney, or city attorney on behalf of the people of the State of California.

(2) The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff who establishes a violation of this article.

(d) In addition to any other applicable penalties, the commissioner may require issuers, agents, brokers, or other persons or entities violating any provision of this article or regulations promulgated pursuant to this article, to cease marketing in this state any Medicare supplement policy or certificate or may require the issuer, agent, broker, or other person or entity to take such actions as are necessary to comply with the provisions of this article, or both.

(e) Any person who knowingly or intentionally violates any provision of this article is guilty of a public offense punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.

(f) (1) The requirements and remedies provided by this article are in addition to any other remedies provided by law.

(2) If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this article are severable.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 213. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.)