(a)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, no person shall act or represent himself, herself, or itself as a travel administrator for travel insurance in this state unless that person:

(1)  Is a licensed property and casualty insurance producer in this state for activities permitted under that producer license; or

(2)  Holds a valid managing general agent license in this state.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 27-79.1-9

  • person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
  • Travel administrator: means a person who directly or indirectly underwrites, collects charges, collateral, or premiums from, or adjusts or settles claims on residents of this state, in connection with travel insurance, except that a person shall not be considered a travel administrator if that person's only actions that would otherwise cause it to be considered a travel administrator are among the following:

    (i)  A person working for a travel administrator to the extent that the person's activities are subject to the supervision and control of the travel administrator;

    (ii)  An insurance producer selling insurance or engaged in administrative and claims-related activities within the scope of the producer's license;

    (iii)  A travel retailer offering and disseminating travel insurance and registered under the license of a limited lines travel insurance producer in accordance with this chapter;

    (iv)  An individual adjusting or settling claims in the normal course of that individual's practice or employment as an attorney at law and who does not collect charges or premiums in connection with insurance coverage; or

    (v)  A business entity that is affiliated with a licensed insurer while acting as a travel administrator for the direct and assumed insurance business of an affiliated insurer. See Rhode Island General Laws 27-79.1-3

  • Travel insurance: means insurance coverage for personal risks incident to planned travel, including:

    (i)  Interruption or cancellation of trip or event;

    (ii)  Loss of baggage or personal effects;

    (iii)  Damages to accommodations or rental vehicles;

    (iv)  Sickness, accident, disability, or death occurring during travel;

    (v)  Emergency evacuation;

    (vi)  Repatriation of remains; or

    (vii)  Any other contractual obligations to indemnify or pay a specified amount to the traveler upon determinable contingencies related to travel as approved by the commissioner. See Rhode Island General Laws 27-79.1-3

(b)  A travel administrator and its employees are exempt from the licensing requirements of chapter 10 of Title 27 for travel insurance it administers.

(c)  An insurer is responsible for the acts of a travel administrator administering travel insurance underwritten by the insurer, and is responsible for ensuring that the travel administrator maintains all books and records relevant to the insurer to be made available by the travel administrator to the commissioner upon request.

History of Section.
P.L. 2019, ch. 44, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 51, § 2.