17:45-17. Penalty for violation; recovery; misrepresentation by employee or agent a misdemeanor

Any mutual benefit association of this or any other State, country or province which shall have violated any of the provisions of, or shall have neglected, failed or refused to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter, except the failure to file an annual statement, shall be liable to a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500.00), to be sued for and collected by the commissioner in a civil action in the name of the State. Each such penalty when recovered shall be paid by the commissioner into the State treasury for the use of the State.

Any officer, agent, employee or member of any such association doing business in this State who shall issue, circulate or cause or permit to be circulated, any estimate, illustration, circular of any sort misrepresenting the terms of any certificate issued by such association or any other association authorized to transact business under this chapter, misrepresent the benefits or advantages promised thereby, use any name or title of any certificate or class of certificates misrepresenting the true nature thereof, solicit, negotiate or effect the sale of any benefit contract or membership certificate of any mutual benefit association which shall have neglected, failed or refused to procure a certificate of authority as provided for by the provisions of this chapter, or accept any dues, contributions, fees, assessments or thing of value of any kind in consideration for such benefit contract or membership certificate on behalf of such association, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Amended by L.1953, c. 17, p. 277, s. 160.