Sec. 4. (a) Each applicant for a certificate of authority as a public adjuster shall file with the commissioner of insurance an application therefor on forms furnished by the commissioner of insurance, which application shall set forth:

(1) the name and address of the applicant, and if the applicant be a corporation, the name and address of each of its officers and directors;

(2) whether the person is applying as a resident or nonresident;

(3) whether any license or certificate of authority as insurance producer, broker, public adjuster, or independent adjuster has been issued previously by the commissioner of insurance of the state of Indiana or by the insurance department of any other state, any territorial possession of the United States, or any foreign country to the applicant; and

(4) the business or employment in which the applicant has been engaged for the five (5) years next preceding the date of the application, and the name and address of such business and the name or names and addresses of the applicant's employer or employers.

(b) An application for any certificate of authority must be signed and verified under oath by the applicant.

(c) An annual fee of fifty dollars ($50) is to be paid to the commissioner of insurance by the applicant for such public adjuster's certificate of authority before the application or annual renewal thereof is granted. However, the commissioner may, by rule adopted under IC 4-22-2, change the amount of the fee to an amount necessary to pay all of the direct and indirect costs of administering this chapter. Fees collected shall be used by the department to administer this chapter.

(d) Every public adjuster's certificate of authority shall expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which the same shall have been issued, but if an application for the renewal of such certificate shall have been filed with the commissioner of insurance before January 1 of any year, the certificate of authority sought to be renewed shall continue in full force and effect until the issuance by the commissioner of insurance of the new certificate applied for or until five (5) days after the commissioner of insurance shall have refused to issue such new certificate and shall have served notice of such refusal on the applicant therefor. Service of such notice shall be made by registered mail directed to the applicant at the place of business specified in the application.

(e) The applicant shall file with the commissioner of insurance a surety bond in a sum equal to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) payable to the state of Indiana and conditioned on the principal's faithful performance and discharge of the principal's duties under this title and under any rule of the department of insurance. The bond must be renewed annually.

As added by P.L.257-1983, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.178-2003, SEC.29.