(1) An insurer shall perform a comparison of its in-force policies, annuities and retained asset accounts issued in this state against a death master file, on at least a semiannual basis, to identify potential death master file matches.

(a) An insurer may comply with the requirements of this section by using the full death master file once annually and using the death master file update files for the remaining comparisons in that year.

(b) Nothing in this section shall limit the insurer from requesting a valid death certificate as part of any claims validation process.

(2) If an insurer obtains knowledge of the death of a person, then the insurer shall within ninety (90) days:

(a) Complete a good-faith effort, which shall be documented by the insurer, to confirm the death of the person against other available records and information;

(b) Review its records to determine whether the deceased person had purchased any other products with the insurer;

(c) Determine whether benefits may be due in accordance with any applicable policy, annuity or retained asset account issued or assumed by the insurer; and

(d) If the beneficiary or other authorized representative has not communicated with the insurer within the ninety-day period, take reasonable steps, which shall be documented by the insurer, to locate and contact the beneficiary or beneficiaries or other authorized representative on any such policy, annuity or retained asset account, including, but not limited to, sending the beneficiary information regarding the insurer’s claims process, including the need to provide an official death certificate if applicable under the policy, annuity or retained asset account.

(e) In the event the insurer is unable to confirm the death of a person following a death master file match, an insurer may consider such policy, annuity or retained asset account to be in force in accordance with its terms.

(3) An insurer shall not be required to do the comparison under this section or take the steps described in this section with respect to policies, annuities or retained asset accounts issued and delivered prior to July 1, 2015.

(4) To the extent permitted by law, an insurer may disclose minimum necessary personal information about a person or beneficiary to a person who the insurer reasonably believes may be able to assist the insurer in locating the beneficiary or a person otherwise entitled to payment of the policy, annuity or retained asset account proceeds.

(5) An insurer or its service provider shall not charge any beneficiary or other authorized representative for any fees or costs associated with a death master file search or verification of a death master file match conducted pursuant to this section.

(6) The benefits from a policy, annuity or retained asset account, plus any applicable accrued contractual interest shall first be payable to the designated beneficiaries or owners and in the event said beneficiaries or owners cannot be found, shall escheat to the state as unclaimed property pursuant to Section 89-12-7. Interest payable under Section 83-7-6 shall not be payable as unclaimed property under Section 89-12-7(1) or (3).

(7) The Commissioner of Insurance shall have exclusive authority and jurisdiction on behalf of the State Treasurer to examine the records of insurers to determine if they have complied with the Mississippi escheat and unclaimed property laws, and may adopt such rules and regulations as may be reasonably necessary to implement the provisions of Sections 83-7-301 through 83-7-313.

(8) The Commissioner of Insurance may, in his or her reasonable discretion, make an order:

(a) Limiting an insurer’s death master file comparisons required under subsection (1) to the insurer’s electronic searchable files or approving a plan and timeline for conversion of the insurer’s files to electronic searchable files;

(b) Exempting an insurer from the death master file comparisons required under subsection (1) or permitting an insurer to perform such comparisons less frequently than semiannually upon a demonstration of financial hardship by the insurer; or

(c) Phasing-in compliance with this section according to a plan and timeline approved by the Commissioner of Insurance.

(9) A violation of Sections 83-7-301 through 83-7-313 shall be subject to the penalty provisions set forth in Section 83-5-17, as well as other penalty provisions under applicable law. Nothing herein shall be construed to create or imply a private cause of action for a violation of Sections 83-7-301 through 83-7-313.