Appointment of independent insurance producers; jurisdiction; hearing; violation; administrative orders and procedures; evidence

Sec. 6. (a) An insurance company that issues property or casualty insurance shall not discriminate in the appointment of an independent insurance producer on the basis of race, color, national origin, or gender. (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the department has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate any complaints of discrimination in the appointment of independent insurance producers in violation of subsection (a). (c) If the commissioner of the department determines after a hearing that an insurance company has violated subsection (a), the commissioner may order one (1) of the following remedies: (1) Payment of a civil penalty of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each violation. (2) Suspension or revocation of the insurance company's certificate of authority if the commissioner determines that the violation was willful or wanton and that similar violations have been committed by that company with a frequency that constitutes a general business practice. (3) Any other remedy agreed to by the department and the insurance company. (d) Any determination made by the commissioner under this section is subject to IC 4-21.5. (e) Findings of the department under this section may not be considered as evidence in any civil action other than an appeal as provided under IC 4-21.5.