A. As used in this section:

(1) "certificate of insurance" means any document or instrument prepared or issued by an insurer or insurance producer as evidence of property or casualty insurance coverage, but excludes an insurance policy, insurance binder, policy endorsement or automobile insurance identification or information card; and

(2) "insurance producer" means a person required to be licensed pursuant to the laws of New Mexico to sell, solicit or negotiate property or casualty insurance.

B. A person shall not prepare, issue or require the issuance of a certificate of insurance on property, operations or risks located in New Mexico unless an insurer or an agent of an insurer has filed the certificate of insurance form with the superintendent at least sixty days before its proposed effective date. The superintendent shall review any filing made pursuant to this subsection within sixty days of the filing date. The superintendent shall prohibit the use of a certificate of insurance form if the form:

(1) is unfair, misleading or deceptive;

(2) violates public policy; or

(3) violates any law, including any rule promulgated by the superintendent.

C. If the superintendent prohibits a certificate of insurance form during the sixty-day review period, the superintendent shall give the insurer written notice of the disapproval, stating the grounds for disapproval. After the expiration of the sixty-day review period, a filing shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section to become effective unless prohibited pursuant to this section.

D. An individual insurer shall not be required to file a certificate of insurance form if that form is:

(1) the current edition of a standard certificate of insurance form that is promulgated by the association for cooperative operations research and development, the American association of insurance services or the insurance services office and that is filed with and approved by the superintendent pursuant to Subsection E of this section; or

(2) a certificate of insurance form whose content and wording are specifically provided for by federal law or regulation or a law or rule of New Mexico.

E. The superintendent shall review any filing made pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of this section within sixty days of the filing date. A filing made pursuant to Paragraph (1) of Subsection D of this section shall not be used until approved by the superintendent. The superintendent shall approve any form if the superintendent finds that it complies with the Insurance Code. After the expiration of the sixty-day review period, a filing shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section to become effective unless disapproved pursuant to this subsection.

F. A filing submitted pursuant to this section shall be filed electronically. The superintendent may designate an entity to receive the electronic filings submitted pursuant to this section.

G. A certificate of insurance is not an insurance policy and does not affirmatively or negatively amend, extend or alter the coverage afforded by the policy to which the certificate of insurance refers. A certificate of insurance shall not confer to any person new or additional rights beyond the express provisions of the insurance policy to which it refers.

H. A person shall not:

(1) alter or modify a certificate of insurance form filed with the superintendent; or

(2) prepare, issue or require the issuance of a certificate of insurance that:

(a) contains any false or misleading information concerning the insurance policy to which the certificate of insurance refers; or

(b) purports to affirmatively or negatively alter, amend or extend the coverage provided by the insurance policy to which the certificate of insurance refers.

I. A contract number or description in a certificate of insurance shall not indicate that the insurance policy complies with the insurance or indemnification requirements of a contract. A person shall not certify in a certificate of insurance that the insurance policy to which it refers complies with the insurance or indemnification requirements of a contract.

J. An insurer or insurance producer shall notify a person of the cancellation or nonrenewal of or material change to an insurance policy only if that person has the right to notice pursuant to the terms of the insurance policy or an endorsement to an insurance policy. The insurance policy or endorsement to an insurance policy shall govern the terms and conditions of the notice. A certificate of insurance shall not alter the terms and conditions of the notice.

K. The provisions of this section apply to all certificates of insurance issued in connection with property, operations or risks in New Mexico, regardless of the location of the policyholder, insurer, insurance producer or person requiring the issuance of a certificate of insurance.

L. A certificate of insurance or any other document or correspondence prepared, issued or required in violation of this section shall be void.

History: Laws 2013, ch. 100, § 2.

Effective dates. — Laws 2013, ch. 100, § 3 made Laws 2013, ch. 100, § 2 effective July 1, 2013.