33-37-6. Cooperation with Commissioner mandated; penalties for failure to cooperate.

Any officer, manager, director, trustee, owner, employee, or agent of any insurer or any other persons with authority over or in charge of any segment of the insurer’s affairs shall cooperate with the Commissioner in any proceeding under this chapter or any investigation preliminary to the proceeding. The term ‘‘person’’ as used in this Code section shall include any person who exercises control directly or indirectly over activities of the insurer through any holding company or other affiliate of the insurer. ‘‘To cooperate’’ shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:#

1. (1)

   To reply promptly in writing to any inquiry from the Commissioner requesting such a reply; and#

2. (2)

   To make available to the Commissioner any books, accounts, documents, or other records or information or property of or pertaining to the insurer and in his possession, custody, or control.#

No person shall obstruct or interfere with the Commissioner in the conduct of any delinquency proceeding or any investigation preliminary or incidental thereto.#

This Code section shall not be construed to abridge otherwise existing legal rights, including the right to resist a petition for liquidation or other delinquency proceedings or other orders.#

Any person included within subsection (a) of this Code section who fails to cooperate with the Commissioner, or any person who obstructs or interferes with the Commissioner in the conduct of any delinquency proceeding or any investigation preliminary or incidental thereto, or who violates any order the Commissioner issued validly under this chapter may:#

1. (1)

   Be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $10,000.00 or to undergo imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or both; or#

2. (2)

   After a hearing, be subject to the imposition by the Commissioner of a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000.00 and shall be subject further to the revocation or suspension of any insurance licenses issued by the Commissioner.#