Chapter 601

601.31(1)(mp) (mp) For each annual renewal of a license as a provider under s. 632.69 (2) (j), $250.

601.31(1)(mr) (mr) For initial issuance of a license as a broker under s. 632.69 (2) (b), $750.

601.31(1)(ms) (ms) For each annual renewal of a license as a broker under s. 632.69 (2) (j), $250.

601.31(1)(n) (n) For appointing, or renewing an appointment of, an agent under s. 628.11, $16 annually for resident agents or $30 annually for nonresident agents, unless the commissioner sets a higher fee by rule, to be paid at times and under procedures set by the commissioner.

601.31(1)(nm) (nm) For issuing a license as an individual navigator under s. 628.92 (1), unless the commissioner specifies a different amount by rule:

601.31(1)(nm)1. 1. Initial issuance, $75.

601.31(1)(nm)2. 2. Annual renewal, $35.

601.31(1)(np) (np) For registering as a navigator entity under s. 628.92 (2), unless the commissioner specifies a different amount by rule:

601.31(1)(np)1. 1. Initial registration, $100.

601.31(1)(np)2. 2. Annual renewal, $100.

601.31(1)(o) (o) For examination of an applicant for a license as an insurance intermediary, an amount to be set by the commissioner by rule.

601.31(1)(p) (p) For substituted service of process on the commissioner under s. 601.72, $10.

601.31(1)(q) (q) For a copy of a paper filed in the commissioner’s office, actual cost.

601.31(1)(r) (r) For preparation and furnishing of lists of insurers or intermediaries, actual cost.

601.31(1)(t) (t) For filing documents for examination preliminary to initial listing by the commissioner for surplus lines insurance under s. 618.41 (6) (d), $100.

601.31(1)(tc) (tc) For each annual listing by the commissioner for surplus lines insurance under s. 618.41 (6) (d), $500.

601.31(1)(w) (w) For initial issuance and for each annual renewal of a license as an administrator or pharmacy benefit manager under ch. 633, $100.

601.31(1)(x) (x)

601.31(1)(x)1. 1. For issuing approval to an organization to offer prelicensing or continuing education courses or programs for intermediaries under s. 628.04 (3), a fee to be set by the commissioner by rule, but not to exceed $500.

601.31(1)(x)2. 2. By organizations approved under subd. 1., for renewing the approval of such organizations, annually after the year in which the approval under subd. 1. is issued, an amount to be set and paid at times and under procedure set by the commissioner by rule, but not to exceed $100.

601.31(1)(x)3. 3. By organizations approved under subd. 1., for submitting, for initial approval or approval of any subsequent modification, each course for prelicensing or continuing education, a fee to be set by the commissioner by rule, but not to exceed $25 per credit hour.

601.31(1)(y) (y)

601.31(1)(y)1. 1. For certifying a copy of an annual statement, an examination report, a certificate of authority or articles and bylaws, or amendments to any of those documents, $10.

601.31(1)(y)2. 2. For a duplicate certification that is requested at the same time as the certification under subd. 1., $5.

601.31(1)(z) (z) For issuance of a registration as a public adjuster under s. 629.02 (2), $50.

601.31(1)(zb) (zb) For each renewal of a public adjuster registration under s. 629.02 (4), $50.

601.31(1)(zc) (zc) For registering for the public adjuster examination under s. 629.03 (1), $50.

601.31(2) (2) Town mutuals and insurers operating under subch. I of ch. 616 are exempt from all provisions of this section except sub. (1) (b), (c) and (q).

601.31(2m) (2m) An individual who is eligible for the veterans fee waiver program under s. 45.44 is not required to pay a fee under sub. (1) for the issuance to the individual of any license, certificate, or permit specified in sub. (1).

601.31(3) (3) The commissioner may not increase fees under sub. (1) (m) above the amounts in effect on March 25, 1988, except for the purpose of funding projected expenses for the office’s supervision of the insurance industry.

601.31 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1971 c. 125, 260, 307; 1975 c. 223, 371, 373, 374, 421; 1979 c. 102 ss. 63 to 65, 237; 1979 c. 261, 355; 1981 c. 20 ss. 1739 to 1748, 2202 (26) (a); 1981 c. 38, 314; 1983 a. 358; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 166; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 112; 1995 a. 27, 371, 396; 1999 a. 9, 155; 2003 a. 261, 302; 2007 a. 169; 2009 a. 28, 342, 344; 2011 a. 209, 226; 2013 a. 20, 271; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 129; 2021 a. 9.

601.31 Annotation Legislative Council Note on sub. (2), 1979: In addition to some editorial corrections, this provision has been amended to apply s. 601.31 (2) [(1) (b)] and (3) [(1) (c)] to former ch. 185 insurers, now operating under subch. I of ch. 616. It also applies s. 601.31 (2) [(1) (b)] and (3) [(1) (c)] to town mutuals. The exemption of fraternals in sub. (25) from certain fees is not justified and is deleted. [Bill 21-S]

601.32 601.32 Supervision of industry, supplementary fee.

601.32(1) (1) If the moneys credited to s. 20.145 (1) (g) 1. under other sections of the statutes prove inadequate for the office’s supervision of insurance industry program, the commissioner may increase any or all of the fees imposed by s. 601.31, or may in any year levy a special assessment on all domestic insurers, or both, for the general operation of that program.

601.32(2) (2) Any special assessment shall be in addition to all other taxes, fees, dues and charges and shall not exceed for any such company a maximum of 25 cents per $1,000 of gross premiums received by it during the preceding calendar year on direct insurance in this state, less returned premiums and cancellations.

601.32(3) (3) Any assessment made by the commissioner which is less than the maximum shall be prorated among said companies in the same proportion as if it were a maximum assessment. Any such assessment shall be paid to the commissioner on or before July 31 of each year.

601.32(4) (4) The commissioner may omit the levy of any assessment which would be smaller than the cost of processing and collecting it.

601.32 History History: 1975 c. 372 s. 41; 1977 c. 339; 1979 c. 102 ss. 66, 236 (4); 1983 a. 215; 2007 a. 20.

601.33 601.33 Exemption from taxation. Municipal insurance mutuals organized under s. 611.11 (4) are not subject to any taxes or fees except those imposed by ss. 601.31 and 601.32.

601.33 History History: 1977 c. 346.

subch. IV of ch. 601 SUBCHAPTER IV

POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER

601.41 601.41 General duties and powers.

601.41(1) (1) Duties. The commissioner shall administer and enforce chs. 600 to 655 and ss. 59.52 (11) (c), 66.0137 (4) and (4m), 100.203, and 120.13 (2) (b) to (g) and shall act as promptly as possible under the circumstances on all matters placed before the commissioner.

601.41(2) (2) Powers. The commissioner shall have all powers specifically granted to the commissioner, or reasonably implied in order to enable the commissioner to perform the duties imposed by sub. (1).

601.41(3) (3) Rules.

601.41(3)(a) (a) The commissioner shall have rule-making authority under s. 227.11 (2).

601.41(3)(b) (b) The commissioner may, without the consent of the attorney general as required under s. 227.21 (2), adopt standards of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners by incorporating by reference in rules promulgated by the commissioner any materials published, adopted, or approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, without reproducing the standards in full. The standards referred to in this paragraph do not include any model act or model regulation proposed or adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Any materials of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that are incorporated by reference in rules promulgated by the commissioner shall be obtainable from, and are only required to be kept on file at, the office, which shall be stated in any rule containing such an incorporation by reference. Nothing in this paragraph prohibits the commissioner from adopting standards of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners through incorporation by reference in rules in the manner provided under s. 227.21 (2).

601.41(4) (4) Enforcement proceedings.

601.41(4)(a) (a) The commissioner shall issue such prohibitory, mandatory, and other orders as are necessary to secure compliance with the law. An order requiring remedial measures or restitution may include any of the following:

601.41(4)(a)1. 1. Remedial measures or restitution under s. 628.347 (5).

601.41(4)(a)2. 2. Remedial measures or restitution to enforce s. 611.72 or ch. 617, including seizure or sequestering of voting securities of an insurer owned directly or indirectly by a person who has acquired or who is proposing to acquire voting securities in violation of s. 611.72 or ch. 617.

601.41(4)(b) (b) On request of any person who would be affected by an order under par. (a), the commissioner may issue a declaratory order to clarify the person’s rights or duties.

601.41(5) (5) Informal hearings and public meetings. The commissioner may at any time hold informal hearings and public meetings, whether or not called hearings, for the purposes of investigation, the ascertainment of public sentiment, or informing the public. No effective rule or order may result from the hearing unless the requirements of ch. 227 are satisfied.

601.41(6) (6) Regulation of risk retention groups and risk purchasing groups.

601.41(6)(a) (a) The commissioner may by rule regulate the condition and conduct of risk retention groups and risk purchasing groups doing business in this state. The commissioner may by order prohibit a risk retention group or risk purchasing group from doing business in this state.

601.41(6)(b) (b) The regulation of risk retention groups and risk purchasing groups under ss. 601.72, 618.41, 618.415, 618.43, 628.02, 628.03 and 628.48 is in addition to any other provisions of chs. 600 to 655 which apply to risk retention groups or risk purchasing groups and does not authorize a risk retention group or risk purchasing group to do an insurance business except as permitted under chs. 600 to 655.

601.41(7) (7) Information and technical assistance to employees and former employees who lose health care coverage. The commissioner shall provide to employees and former employees who lose health care coverage under a group health insurance plan or self-insured health plan information and technical assistance regarding all of the following:

601.41(7)(a) (a) Any rights that the individuals may have under state or federal laws affecting health benefit plans, including laws that relate to portability or continuation coverage or conversion coverage under s. 632.897.

601.41(7)(b) (b) The availability of individual health benefit plans in the area in which the individual resides.

601.41(9) (9) Uniform claim processing form.

601.41(9)(a) (a) In this subsection, “health care provider” has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (p).

601.41(9)(b) (b) If the federal government has not developed by July 1, 2003, a uniform claim processing form that must be used by all health care providers for submitting claims to insurers and by all insurers for processing claims submitted by health care providers, the commissioner shall develop, by December 31, 2003, a uniform claim processing form for that purpose.

601.41(11) (11) Prelicensing training.

601.41(11)(a) (a) In this subsection:

601.41(11)(a)1. 1. “Instruction” means education, training, instruction, or other experience related to an occupation or profession.

601.41(11)(a)2. 2. “License” means a license, certificate, or permit issued by the commissioner under chs. 601 to 655 for an occupation or profession.

601.41(11)(b) (b) In connection with the issuance of a license, the commissioner shall count any relevant instruction that an applicant for a license has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), toward satisfying any requirements for instruction for that license, if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the instruction obtained by the applicant is substantially equivalent to the instruction required for the license.

601.41(12) (12) Fraudulent insurance acts.

601.41(12)(a) (a) No person may commit a fraudulent insurance act.

601.41(12)(b) (b) For purposes of this subsection, “fraudulent insurance act” includes knowingly presenting a false or fraudulent claim for payment of a loss or benefit or knowingly presenting false information in an application for insurance.

601.41(12)(c) (c) If, based on an investigation, the commissioner has a reasonable basis to believe that a violation of s. 943.20, 943.38, 943.39, 943.392, 943.395, 943.40, or any other criminal law has occurred, the commissioner may refer the results of the investigation to the department of justice or to the district attorney of the county in which the alleged violation occurred for prosecution.

601.41(13) (13) Interstate regulatory reviews; consultant contracts. Notwithstanding ss. 16.70 to 16.78, the commissioner may enter into a contract for the services of a consultant if all of the following apply:

601.41(13)(a) (a) The office and the insurance department of another state are coordinating a review on a regulatory matter.

601.41(13)(b) (b) The other state’s insurance department has already procured the services of the consultant.

601.41 History History: 1977 c. 339 s. 43; 1979 c. 89, 102, 177; 1983 a. 358 s. 14; 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 182 s. 57; 1987 a. 247; 1989 a. 187 s. 29; 1989 a. 201, 336; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 27, 51, 252; 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2001 a. 16, 65, 109; 2003 a. 261, 302; 2005 a. 74, 249; 2007 a. 170; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 120; 2013 a. 20; 2023 a. 19, 212.

601.41 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also Ins, Wis. adm. code.

601.41 Annotation Sub. (4) gives the commissioner the authority to issue not only prohibitory and mandatory orders, but also other orders as are necessary to secure compliance with the law. There is no limitation on the nature of the other orders except that they be necessary to secure compliance with the law. Sub. (4) permitted the order of refunds when the commissioner determined that a company violated the law by selling its contracts without a certificate of authority. Homeward Bound Services, Inc. v. Office of the Insurance Commissioner, 2006 WI App 208, 296 Wis. 2d 481, 724 N.W. 2d 380, 05-1781.

601.41 Annotation Why process consumer complaints? A case study of the office of the commissioner of insurance of Wisconsin. Whitford, Kimball, 1974 WLR 639.

601.415 601.415 Miscellaneous duties. The duties listed in this section are in addition to other duties imposed under chs. 600 to 655. Failure to list a specified power, duty or function of the commissioner in this section does not affect the validity of the power, duty or function.

601.415(1) (1) Joint survey committee on retirement systems. The commissioner or an experienced actuary in the office designated by the commissioner shall serve as a member of the joint survey committee on retirement systems under s. 13.50.

601.415(2) (2) Group insurance board. The commissioner shall serve as a member of the group insurance board under s. 15.165 (2).

601.415(3) (3) Wisconsin retirement board. The commissioner or the deputy commissioner, chief legal counsel, or chief financial regulator in the office designated by the commissioner shall serve as a member of the Wisconsin retirement board under s. 15.165 (3) (b).

601.415(5) (5) Cooperation with department of administration. The commissioner shall cooperate with the department of administration in placing insurance under s. 16.865 (4).

601.415(7) (7) Determination of variable interest rate adjustments. The commissioner shall approve indexes for variable interest rate adjustments under s. 138.055 (4) (c).

601.415(8) (8) Long-Term Care Partnership Program. The commissioner shall provide the certifications required under s. 49.45 (31) (b) 5. and shall cooperate with the department of health services in approving the training program under s. 49.45 (31) (c) for agents who sell long-term care insurance policies.

601.415(9) (9) Consumer credit law. The commissioner shall cooperate with the division of banking in the administration of ch. 424, shall determine the method for computation of refunds under s. 424.205, shall approve forms, schedules of premium rates and charges under s. 424.209 and shall issue rules or orders of compliance to insurers under s. 424.602.

601.415(10) (10) Petroleum product storage remedial action program rules. The commissioner shall promulgate the rules required under s. 292.63 (1m).

601.415(11) (11) Amendments to Own Risk and Solvency Assessment Guidance Manual. The commissioner shall, in his or her discretion, adopt amendments made after April 18, 2014, by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to the guidance manual, as defined in s. 622.03 (1). Any such amendments made by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners become effective in this state if adopted by the commissioner by order after giving 30 days’ notice to insurers of the changes proposed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. If one or more insurers request a hearing on the proposed changes during the 30-day period, the commissioner shall hold a hearing to determine whether the commissioner will, in his or her discretion, adopt one or more of the changes made by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.