Section 83-5-45 - Insurance business practices regulated; procedure as to unfair methods of competition and unfair practices which are not defined; funding of agency expenses; deposit of monies into State General Fund(1) Whenever the commissioner shall have reason to believe that any person engaged in the business of insurance is engaging in this state in any method of competition or in any act or practice in the conduct of such business which is not defined in Section 83-5-35, that such method of competition is unfair or that such act or practice is unfair or deceptive, and that a proceeding by him in respect thereto would be to the interest of the public, he may issue and serve upon such person a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of a hearing thereon to be held at a time and place fixed in the notice, which shall not be less than ten (10) days after the date of the service thereof. Each such hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as the hearings provided in Section 83-5-39. The commissioner shall, after such hearing, make a report in writing in which he shall state his findings as to the facts, and he shall serve a copy thereof upon such person.(2) If such report charges a violation of Sections 83-5-29 through 83-5-51, and if such method of competition, act or practice has not been discontinued, the commissioner may, through the Attorney General of this state, at any time after thirty (30) days after the service of such report, cause a petition to be filed in the circuit court of this state within the district wherein the person resides, or has his principal place of business, to enjoin and restrain such person from engaging in such method, act or practice. The court shall have jurisdiction of the proceeding and shall have power to make and enter appropriate orders in connection therewith and to issue such writs as are ancillary to its jurisdiction or are necessary in its judgment to prevent injury to the public pendente lite.(3) A transcript of the proceedings before the commissioner, including all evidence taken and the report and findings, shall be filed with such petition. If either party shall apply to the court for leave to adduce additional evidence and shall show, to the satisfaction of the court, that such additional evidence is material and there were reasonable grounds for the failure to adduce such evidence in the proceeding before the commissioner, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the commissioner and to be adduced upon the hearing in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as to the court may seem proper. The commissioner may modify his findings of fact or make new findings by reason of the additional evidence so taken, and he shall file such modified or new findings with the return of such additional evidence.(4) If the court finds that the method of competition complained of is unfair or that the act or practice complained of is unfair or deceptive, that the proceeding by the commissioner with respect thereto is to the interest of the public, and that the findings of the commissioner are supported by substantial evidence, it shall issue its order enjoining and restraining the continuance of such method of competition, act or practice.(5) In addition to, or in lieu of, filing, through the Attorney General, a petition for a cease and desist order, the commissioner may, after a hearing in accordance with subsection (1), impose an administrative fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) per violation, which shall be deposited into the special fund in the State Treasury designated as the "Insurance Department Fund."(6) From and after July 1, 2016, the expenses of this agency shall be defrayed by appropriation from the State General Fund and all user charges and fees authorized under this section shall be deposited into the State General Fund as authorized by law.(7) From and after July 1, 2016, no state agency shall charge another state agency a fee, assessment, rent or other charge for services or resources received by authority of this section.Codes, 1942, 5649-09; Laws, 1956, ch. 329, 9;Laws, 1997, ch. 410 5, eff. 7/1/1997.Amended by Laws, 2016, ch. 459, SB 2362, 23, eff. 7/1/2016.