(1) The purpose of a license issued under this code to a life agent is to authorize and enable the licensee actively and in good faith to engage in the insurance business as such an agent with respect to the general public and to facilitate the public supervision of such activities in the public interest, and not for the purpose of enabling the licensee to receive an unlawful rebate of premium in the form of commission or other compensation as an agent or enabling the licensee to receive commissions or other compensation based upon insurance solicited or procured by or through the licensee upon his or her own interests or upon those of other persons with whom he or she is closely associated in capacities other than as an insurance agent.

(2) The department shall not grant, renew, continue, or permit to exist any license or appointment of a life agent if it finds that such licensee or appointee obtained, or attempted to obtain, such license or appointment not for the purpose of holding himself or herself out to the general public as a life insurance agent but principally for the purpose of soliciting, negotiating, or procuring controlled business. As used in this section, “controlled business” means life insurance or annuity contracts covering himself or herself or family members; officers, directors, stockholders, partners, or employees of a business in which he or she or a family member is engaged; or the debtors of a firm, association, or corporation of which he or she is an officer, director, stockholder, partner, or employee.

(3) A violation of this section shall be deemed to exist, or be probable (as to an applicant for appointment), if the department finds that during a 12-month period the premium writings represented by such controlled business insurance contracts signed, issued, or sold by the licensee or appointee have been or, in the case of an applicant for appointment, probably will be under circumstances found by the department to exist, in excess of premium writings during the same period by the licensee or appointee or proposed licensee or appointee as represented by life insurance contracts to the general public other than the classes of persons classified as controlled business.

(4) This section shall not be deemed to prohibit the licensing and appointing of any person employed by or associated with a lending or financing institution or creditor, with respect to insurance only, under credit life or disability insurance policies which are subject to part IX of chapter 627, of borrowers from such institution.

History.—s. 288, ch. 59-205; s. 1, ch. 61-360; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 3, ch. 81-282; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 244(1st), 257, 807, 810, ch. 82-243; ss. 94, 206, 207, ch. 90-363; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 260, ch. 97-102.