Judiciary I - Civil Law Committee

Filed: 5/19/2005

 

 


 

 


 
09400HB3464ham001 LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3464

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3464 by replacing
3 everything after the enacting clause with the following:
 
4     "Section 5. The Title Insurance Act is amended by changing
5 Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14.1, 15,
6 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 and by adding
7 Sections 4.1, 21.1, 21.2, and 21.3 as follows:
 
8     (215 ILCS 155/2)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1402)
9     Sec. 2. Any corporation which has been or shall be
10 incorporated or qualified to do business under the Business
11 Corporation Act of 1983, as now or hereafter amended, or any
12 predecessor law for the purpose, in whole or part, of doing the
13 business of title insurance guaranteeing or insuring titles to
14 real estate, may transact such business during the time for
15 which it may be incorporated or qualified to do business in
16 this State, subject to the requirements of this Act.
17 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
18     (215 ILCS 155/3)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1403)
19     Sec. 3. As used in this Act, the words and phrases
20 following shall have the following meanings unless the context
21 requires otherwise:
22     (1) "Title insurance business" or "business of title
23 insurance" means:

 

 

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1         (A) Issuing as insurer or offering to issue as insurer
2     title insurance; and
3         (B) Transacting or proposing to transact one or more of
4     the following activities when conducted or performed in
5     contemplation of or in conjunction with the issuance of
6     title insurance;
7             (i) soliciting or negotiating the issuance of
8         title insurance;
9             (ii) guaranteeing, warranting, or otherwise
10         insuring the correctness of title searches for all
11         instruments affecting titles to real property, any
12         interest in real property, cooperative units and
13         proprietary leases, and for all liens or charges
14         affecting the same;
15             (iii) handling of escrows, settlements, or
16         closings;
17             (iv) executing title insurance policies;
18             (v) effecting contracts of reinsurance;
19             (vi) abstracting, searching, or examining titles;
20         or
21             (vii) issuing insured closing letters or closing
22         protection letters;
23         (C) Guaranteeing, warranting, or insuring searches or
24     examinations of title to real property or any interest in
25     real property, with the exception of preparing an
26     attorney's opinion of title; or
27         (D) Guaranteeing or warranting the status of title as
28     to ownership of or liens on real property and personal
29     property by any person other than the principals to the
30     transaction; or
31         (E) Doing or proposing to do any business substantially
32     equivalent to any of the activities listed in this
33     subsection, provided that the preparation of an attorney's
34     opinion of title pursuant to paragraph (1)(C) is not

 

 

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1     intended to be within the definition of "title insurance
2     business" or "business of title insurance".
3     (1.5) "Title insurance" means insuring, guaranteeing,
4 warranting, or indemnifying owners of real or personal property
5 or the holders of liens or encumbrances thereon or others
6 interested therein against loss or damage suffered by reason of
7 liens, encumbrances upon, defects in, or the unmarketability of
8 the title to the property; the invalidity or unenforceability
9 of any liens or encumbrances thereon; or doing any business in
10 substance equivalent to any of the foregoing. "Warranting" for
11 purpose of this provision shall not include any warranty
12 contained in instruments of encumbrance or conveyance. Title
13 insurance is a single line form of insurance, also known as
14 monoline. An attorney's opinion of title pursuant to paragraph
15 (1)(C) is not intended to be within the definition of "title
16 insurance".
17     (2) "Title insurance company" means any domestic company
18 organized under the laws of this State for the purpose of
19 conducting the business of title insurance guaranteeing or
20 insuring titles to real estate and any title insurance company
21 organized under the laws of another State, the District of
22 Columbia or foreign government and authorized to transact the
23 business of title insurance guaranteeing or insuring titles to
24 real estate in this State.
25     (3) "Title insurance agent" means a person, firm,
26 partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity
27 registered by a title insurance company and authorized by such
28 company to determine insurability of title in accordance with
29 generally acceptable underwriting rules and standards in
30 reliance on either the public records or a search package
31 prepared from a title plant, or both, and authorized in
32 addition to do any of the following: act as an escrow agent,
33 solicit title insurance, collect premiums, issue title
34 reports, binders or commitments to insure and policies in its

 

 

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1 behalf, provided, however, the term "title insurance agent"
2 shall not include officers and salaried employees of any title
3 insurance company.
4     (4) "Producer of title business" is any person, firm,
5 partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity
6 engaged in this State in the trade, business, occupation or
7 profession of (i) buying or selling interests in real property,
8 (ii) making loans secured by interests in real property, or
9 (iii) acting as broker, agent, attorney, or representative of
10 natural persons or other legal entities that buy or sell
11 interests in real property or that lend money with such
12 interests as security.
13     (5) "Associate" is any firm, association, partnership,
14 corporation or other legal entity organized for profit in which
15 a producer of title business is a director, officer, or partner
16 thereof, or owner of a financial interest, as defined herein,
17 in such entity; any legal entity that controls, is controlled
18 by, or is under common control with a producer of title
19 business; and any natural person or legal entity with whom a
20 producer of title business has any agreement, arrangement, or
21 understanding or pursues any course of conduct the purpose of
22 which is to evade the provisions of this Act.
23     (6) "Financial interest" is any ownership interest, legal
24 or beneficial, except ownership of publicly traded stock.
25     (7) "Refer" means to place or cause to be placed, or to
26 exercise any power or influence over the placing of title
27 business, whether or not the consent or approval of any other
28 person is sought or obtained with respect to the referral.
29     (8) "Escrow Agent" means any title insurance company or any
30 title insurance agent, including independent contractors of
31 either, acting on behalf of a title insurance company which
32 receives deposits, in trust, of funds or documents, or both,
33 for the purpose of effecting the sale, transfer, encumbrance or
34 lease of real property to be held by such escrow agent until

 

 

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1 title to the real property that is the subject of the escrow is
2 in a prescribed condition. An escrow agent conducting closings
3 shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (1) through
4 (4) of subsection (e) of Section 16 of this Act.
5     (9) "Independent Escrowee" means any firm, person,
6 partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity,
7 other than a title insurance company or a title insurance
8 agent, which receives deposits, in trust, of funds or
9 documents, or both, for the purpose of effecting the sale,
10 transfer, encumbrance or lease of real property to be held by
11 such escrowee until title to the real property that is the
12 subject of the escrow is in a prescribed condition. Federal and
13 State chartered banks, savings and loan associations, credit
14 unions, mortgage bankers, banks or trust companies authorized
15 to do business under the Illinois Corporate Fiduciary Act,
16 licensees under the Consumer Installment Loan Act, real estate
17 brokers licensed pursuant to the Real Estate License Act of
18 2000, as such Acts are now or hereafter amended, when acting
19 pursuant to a listing or sale agreement, and licensed attorneys
20 when engaged in the attorney-client relationship are exempt
21 from the escrow provisions of this Act. "Independent Escrowee"
22 does not include employees or independent contractors of a
23 title insurance company or title insurance agent authorized by
24 a title insurance company to perform closing, escrow, or
25 settlement services.
26     (10) "Single risk" means the insured amount of any title
27 insurance policy, except that where 2 or more title insurance
28 policies are issued simultaneously covering different estates
29 in the same real property, "single risk" means the sum of the
30 insured amounts of all such title insurance policies. Any title
31 insurance policy insuring a mortgage interest, a claim payment
32 under which reduces the insured amount of a fee or leasehold
33 title insurance policy, shall be excluded in computing the
34 amount of a single risk to the extent that the insured amount

 

 

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1 of the mortgage title insurance policy does not exceed the
2 insured amount of the fee or leasehold title insurance policy.
3     (11) "Department" means the Department of Financial and
4 Professional Regulation Institutions.
5     (12) "Secretary" "Director" means the Secretary Director
6 of Financial and Professional Regulation Institutions.
7     (13) "Insured closing letter" or "closing protection
8 letter" means an indemnification or undertaking to a party to a
9 real estate transaction, from a principal such as a title
10 insurance company or similar entity, setting forth in writing
11 the extent of the principal's responsibility for intentional
12 misconduct or errors in closing the real estate transaction on
13 the part of a settlement agent, such as a title insurance agent
14 or other settlement service provider.
15 (Source: P.A. 91-159, eff. 1-1-00; 91-245, eff. 12-31-99;
16 92-16, eff. 6-28-01.)
 
17     (215 ILCS 155/4)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1404)
18     Sec. 4. Deposits.
19     (a) Before doing business in the State of Illinois, a Every
20 title insurance company must file with and have approved by the
21 Secretary cash or licensed or qualified to do business in this
22 State shall, within 30 days after the effective date of this
23 Act or within 30 days after incorporated or licensed to do
24 business, whichever is later, deposit with the Department, for
25 the benefit of the creditors of the company by reason of any
26 policy issued by it, bonds of the United States, this State or
27 any body politic of this State in amounts as specified in
28 subsection (b). The deposit is not to be otherwise pledged or
29 subject to distribution among creditors or stockholders until
30 all claims of escrow depositors, claims of policyholders, and
31 claims under reinsurance contracts have been paid in full or
32 discharged, reinsured, or otherwise assumed by a title
33 insurance company authorized to do business under this Act. The

 

 

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1 cash, bonds, and securities so deposited may be exchanged for
2 other such securities. No such cash, bond, or security shall be
3 sold or transferred by the Secretary Director except on order
4 of the circuit court or as provided in subsection (d). As long
5 as the company depositing such securities remains solvent, the
6 company shall be permitted to receive from the Secretary
7 Director the interest on such deposit.
8     (b) The deposit required under subsection (a) must have a
9 then current value of $1,000,000. All deposits shall be held
10 for the benefit of any insured under a policy the title
11 insurance company issued or named party to a written escrow it
12 accepted. The deposit is not to be otherwise pledged or subject
13 to distribution among creditors or stockholders. Every title
14 insurance company shall deposit bonds or securities in the sum
15 of $50,000 plus $5,000 for each county, more than one, in which
16 the real estate, upon which such policies are issued, is
17 located, to maximum deposit of $500,000. Every title insurance
18 company guaranteeing or insuring titles to real estate in
19 counties having 500,000 or more inhabitants shall deposit
20 securities with the Department in the sum of $500,000. Any
21 title insurance company having deposited $500,000 in
22 securities with the Department shall be entitled to guarantee
23 or insure titles in any or all counties of the State.
24     (c) The Secretary Director may provide for custody of the
25 deposits such securities by any trust company or bank located
26 in this State and qualified to do business under the Corporate
27 Fiduciary Act, as now or hereafter amended. The compensation,
28 if any, of such custodian shall be paid by the depositing
29 company. When the required deposits deposit have has been made
30 by a title insurance company, the Secretary Director shall
31 certify that the company it has complied with the provisions of
32 this Section and is authorized to transact the business of
33 insuring and guaranteeing titles to real estate.
34     (d) If, at any time, a title insurance company causes shall

 

 

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1 at any time cause all of its unexpired policies, escrow
2 deposits, and reinsurance obligations in Illinois to be paid in
3 full, cancelled, discharged, or reinsured, or otherwise
4 assumed by another title insurance company and all of its
5 liabilities under such policies thereby to be extinguished, or
6 to be assumed by some surety or other responsible company
7 authorized to do business under this Act in this State, the
8 Secretary Director shall, upon on application of the such
9 company, verified by the oath of its president or secretary and
10 on being satisfied by an examination of its books and its
11 officers under oath that all of its policies are so paid in
12 full, cancelled, discharged, extinguished or reinsured, or
13 otherwise assumed, authorize the release of any bond or deposit
14 posted under this Section. deliver up to it such securities.
15     (e) The Secretary may revoke the certificate of authority
16 of a company that fails to maintain the deposit required by
17 this Section. The Secretary shall give notice of that
18 revocation to the company as provided by this Act, and during
19 the time of the revocation, the company may not conduct a title
20 insurance business. A company may complete contractual
21 obligations, such as issuing a policy where the obligations
22 have already been assumed. However, it may not solicit new
23 business, complete new searches or examinations, or close
24 transactions. A revocation shall not be set aside until a good
25 and sufficient deposit has been filed with the Secretary and
26 the company is otherwise in compliance with this Act
27 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
28     (215 ILCS 155/4.1 new)
29     Sec. 4.1. Minimum capital and surplus. Before doing
30 business in the State of Illinois, a title insurance company
31 must satisfy the Secretary that it has a minimum capital and
32 surplus of $2,000,000. The Secretary may provide the forms and
33 standards for this purpose by rule.
 

 

 

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1     (215 ILCS 155/5)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1405)
2     Sec. 5. Certificate of authority required. It is unlawful
3 shall not be lawful for any company to engage or to continue in
4 the business of title insurance guaranteeing or insuring titles
5 to real estate, without first procuring from the Secretary
6 Director a certificate of authority stating that the such a
7 company has complied with the requirements of Section 4 of this
8 Act. An insurer that transacts any class of insurance other
9 than title insurance anywhere in the United States is not
10 eligible for the issuance of a certificate of authority to
11 transact title insurance in this State nor for a renewal of a
12 certificate of authority. If any company shall fail to maintain
13 a deposit as required by this Act, the Director may revoke the
14 certificate of authority granted on behalf of such company. The
15 Director shall mail a copy of that revocation to the company
16 and during the time of such revocation the company shall not
17 conduct such business. A revocation shall not be set aside
18 until a good and sufficient deposit shall have been made with
19 the Department, fulfilling all the requirements of this Act.
20 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
21     (215 ILCS 155/6)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1406)
22     Sec. 6. Reinsurance.
23     (a) A title insurance company may obtain reinsurance for
24 all or any part of its liability under one or more of its title
25 insurance policies or reinsurance agreements and may also
26 reinsure title insurance policies issued by other title
27 insurance companies on risks located in this State or
28 elsewhere.
29     (b) A title insurance company licensed to do business in
30 this State shall retain at least $100,000 of primary liability
31 for policies it issues, unless a lesser sum is authorized by
32 the Secretary. A lesser sum may be retained at the request of

 

 

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1 an insured for a particular policy. This subsection (b) applies
2 only to policies issued on or after the effective date of this
3 amendatory Act of the 94th General Assembly.
4 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
5     (215 ILCS 155/7)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1407)
6     Sec. 7. Investments.
7     (a) Subject to the specific provisions of this Section, the
8 Secretary Director may, after a notice and hearing, order a
9 domestic title insurance company to limit or withdraw from
10 certain investments, or discontinue certain investment
11 practices, to the extent the Secretary Director finds that such
12 investments or investment practices endanger the solvency of
13 the company. The Secretary Director may consider the general
14 investment provisions of the Illinois Insurance Code, as now or
15 hereafter amended, in exercising the authority granted under
16 this subsection (a).
17     (b) A domestic title insurance company may invest in title
18 plants. For determination of the financial condition of such
19 title insurance company, a title plant shall be treated as an
20 asset valued at actual cost except that the combined value of
21 all title plants owned shall be limited for asset valuation
22 purposes to 50% of the surplus as regards policyholders as
23 shown on the most recent annual statement of the title
24 insurance company.
25     (c) Any investment of a domestic title insurance company
26 acquired before the effective date of this Act and which, under
27 this Section, would be considered ineligible as an investment
28 on that date shall be disposed of within 2 years of the
29 effective date of this Act. The Secretary Director, upon
30 application and proof that forced sale of any such investment
31 would be contrary to the best interests of the title insurer or
32 its policyholders, may extend the period for disposal of the
33 investment for a reasonable time.

 

 

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1 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
2     (215 ILCS 155/8)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1408)
3     Sec. 8. Retained liability.
4     (a) The net retained liability of a title insurance company
5 for a single risk on property located in this State, whether
6 assumed directly or as reinsurance, may not exceed 50% of the
7 total surplus to policyholders as shown in the most recent
8 annual statement of the title insurance company on file with
9 the Department.
10     (b) The Secretary Director may waive the limitation of this
11 Section for a particular risk upon application of the title
12 insurance company and for good cause shown.
13 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
14     (215 ILCS 155/9)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1409)
15     Sec. 9. Impairment of capital; discontinuance of issuance
16 of new policies; penalty.
17     (a) Whenever the capital of any title insurance company
18 authorized to do business under this Act is shall be determined
19 by the circuit court, upon the application of the Secretary
20 Director, to be have become impaired to the extent of 25% of
21 its capital the same, or to have otherwise become unsafe, it
22 shall be the duty of the Secretary shall Director to cancel the
23 authority of the such company to do business.
24     (b) The Secretary Director shall give notice as provided by
25 this Act to the such company to discontinue doing business
26 issuing new policies until its such capital has been made good.
27 The title insurance company may continue to issue policies and
28 perform other actions that are required to complete contractual
29 obligations undertaken prior to the notice.
30     (c) Any officer or management employee who continues to
31 take orders for title insurance or close transactions issues a
32 new policy of title insurance on behalf of a such company after

 

 

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1 the such notice to discontinue doing business, and before its
2 until such capital has been made good, may shall, for each
3 offense, be fined as provided by this Act forfeit a sum not
4 exceeding $1,000.
5 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
6     (215 ILCS 155/10)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1410)
7     Sec. 10. Reserves. All title insurance companies
8 authorized to do business under this Act shall establish and
9 maintain reserves against unpaid losses and loss expenses. Upon
10 receiving notice from or on behalf of the insured of a title
11 defect, lien or adverse claim against the title of the insured
12 that may result in a loss or cause expense to be incurred in
13 the proper disposition of the claim, the title insurance
14 company shall determine the amount to be added to the reserve,
15 which amount shall reflect a careful estimate of the loss or
16 loss expense likely to result by reason of the claim. Reserves
17 required under this Section may be revised from time to time
18 and shall be redetermined at least once each year. A title
19 insurance company must maintain its reserves for losses
20 independent of any other form of insurance and therefore may
21 not issue other lines of insurance.
22 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
23     (215 ILCS 155/11)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1411)
24     Sec. 11. Statutory premium reserve.
25     (a) A domestic title insurance company shall establish and
26 maintain a statutory premium reserve computed in accordance
27 with this Section. The reserve shall be reported as a liability
28 of the title insurance company in its financial statements. The
29 statutory premium reserve shall be maintained by the title
30 insurance company for the protection of holders of title
31 insurance policies. Except as provided in this Section, assets
32 equal in value to the statutory premium reserve are not subject

 

 

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1 to distribution among creditors or stockholders of the title
2 insurance company until all claims of policyholders or claims
3 under reinsurance contracts have been paid in full, and all
4 liability on the policies or reinsurance contracts has been
5 paid in full and discharged, or lawfully reinsured, or
6 otherwise assumed by another title insurance company
7 authorized to do business under this Act.
8     (b) A foreign or alien title insurance company authorized
9 to do business under this Act shall maintain at least the same
10 reserves on title insurance policies issued on properties
11 located in this State as are required of domestic title
12 insurance companies.
13     (c) The statutory premium reserve shall consist of:
14         (1) the amount of the statutory premium reserve on
15     January 1, 1990; and
16         (2) a sum equal to 12 1/2 cents for each $1,000 of net
17     retained liability under each title insurance policy on a
18     single risk written on properties located in this State
19     after January 1, 1990.
20     (d) Amounts placed in the statutory premium reserve in any
21 year in accordance with this Section shall be deducted in
22 determining the net profit of the title insurance company for
23 that year.
24     (e) A title insurance company shall release from the
25 statutory premium reserve a sum equal to 10% of the amount
26 added to the reserve during a calendar year on July 1 of each
27 of the 5 years following the year in which the sum was added,
28 and shall release from the statutory premium reserve a sum
29 equal to 3 1/3% of the amount added to the reserve during that
30 year on each succeeding July 1 until the entire amount for that
31 year has been released. The amount of the statutory premium
32 reserve or similar premium reserve maintained before January 1,
33 1990, shall be released in accordance with the law in effect
34 before January 1, 1990.

 

 

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1     (f) This reserve is independent of the deposit requirements
2 of Section 4 of this Act.
3 (Source: P.A. 86-239; 87-1151.)
 
4     (215 ILCS 155/12)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1412)
5     Sec. 12. Examinations; compliance.
6     (a) The Secretary Director or his authorized
7 representative shall have the power and authority, and it shall
8 be his duty, to cause to be visited and examined annually any
9 title insurance company doing business under this Act, and to
10 verify and compel a compliance with the provisions of law
11 governing it as he may by law exercise in relation to trust
12 companies.
13     (b) The Secretary Director or his authorized agent shall
14 have power and authority to compel compliance with the
15 provisions of this Act and shall, only upon the showing of good
16 cause, require any title insurance company to take all legal
17 means to obtain the appropriate records of its registered
18 agents and make them available for examination audit at a time
19 and place designated by the Secretary Director. Expenses
20 incurred in the course of such examinations audits will be the
21 responsibility of the title insurance company. In the event
22 that a present or former registered agent or its successor
23 refuses or is unable to cooperate with a title insurance
24 company in furnishing the records requested by the Secretary or
25 his or her authorized agent, then the Secretary or his or her
26 authorized agent shall have the power and authority to obtain
27 those records directly from the registered agent.
28 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
29     (215 ILCS 155/13)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1413)
30     Sec. 13. Annual statement.
31     (a) Each title insurance company shall file with the
32 Department during the month of March of each year, a statement

 

 

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1 under oath, of the condition of such company on the
2 thirty-first day of December next preceding disclosing the
3 assets, liabilities, earnings and expenses of the company. The
4 report shall be in such form and shall contain such additional
5 statements and information as to the affairs, business, and
6 conditions of the company as the Secretary Director may from
7 time to time prescribe or require.
8     (b) By June 1 of each year, a title insurance company must
9 file with the Department a copy of its most recent audited
10 financial statements.
11 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
12     (215 ILCS 155/14)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1414)
13     Sec. 14. Fees.
14     (a) Every title insurance company and every independent
15 escrowee subject to this Act shall pay the following fees:
16         (1) for filing the original application for a
17     certificate of authority and receiving the deposit
18     required under this Act, $500;
19         (2) for the certificate of authority, $10;
20         (3) for every copy of a paper filed in the Department
21     under this Act, $1 per folio;
22         (4) for affixing the seal of the Department and
23     certifying a copy, $2; and
24         (5) for filing the annual statement, $50.
25     (b) Each title insurance company shall pay, for all of its
26 title insurance agents subject to this Act for filing an annual
27 registration of its agents, an amount equal to $3 for each
28 policy issued by all of its agents in the immediately preceding
29 calendar year.
30 (Source: P.A. 93-32, eff. 7-1-03.)
 
31     (215 ILCS 155/14.1)
32     Sec. 14.1. Financial Institutions Fund. All moneys

 

 

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1 received by the Department of Financial and Professional
2 Regulation Institutions under this Act shall be deposited in
3 the Financial Institutions Fund created under Section 6z-26 of
4 the State Finance Act.
5 (Source: P.A. 88-13.)
 
6     (215 ILCS 155/15)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1415)
7     Sec. 15. Retaliatory provisions; fees. Whenever the
8 existing or future laws of any State or country shall require
9 of title insurance companies incorporated or organized under
10 the laws of this State, as a condition precedent to their
11 transacting in such other State or country the business of
12 title insurance guaranteeing or insuring titles to real estate,
13 compliance with laws, rules, regulations or prohibitions more
14 onerous or burdensome than those imposed under this Act by this
15 State on foreign title insurance companies transacting such
16 business in this State, or shall require any deposit of
17 securities or other obligations in such State or country for
18 the protection of policyholders, or otherwise, in excess of the
19 amounts required of foreign title insurance companies by this
20 Act, or shall require of Illinois title insurance companies
21 doing such business in such State or country, the payment of
22 penalties, fees, charges or taxes greater than the aggregate
23 for like purposes imposed by the laws of this State upon such
24 foreign title insurance companies, then such laws, rules,
25 regulations, and prohibitions of said other State or country
26 shall apply to title insurance companies incorporated or
27 organized under the laws of such State or country doing
28 business in this State, and all such companies, doing business
29 in this State, shall be required to make deposits with the
30 Department, and to pay to the Department penalties, fees,
31 charges, and taxes at least in amounts equal to those required
32 in the aggregate for like purpose of Illinois companies doing
33 such business in such State or country.

 

 

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1 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
2     (215 ILCS 155/16)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1416)
3     Sec. 16. Title insurance agents.
4     (a) No person, firm, partnership, association, corporation
5 or other legal entity shall act as or hold itself out to be a
6 title insurance agent unless duly registered by a title
7 insurance company with the Secretary Director.
8     (b) Each application for registration shall be made on a
9 form specified by the Secretary Director and prepared in
10 duplicate by each title insurance company which the agent
11 represents. The title insurance company shall retain the copy
12 of the application and forward the original to the Secretary
13 Director with the appropriate fee.
14     (c) Every applicant for registration, except a firm,
15 partnership, association or corporation, must be 18 years or
16 more of age.
17     (d) Registration shall be made annually by a filing with
18 the Secretary Director; supplemental registrations for new
19 title insurance agents to be added between annual filings shall
20 be made from time to time in the manner provided by the
21 Secretary Director; registrations shall remain in effect
22 unless revoked or suspended by the Secretary Director or are
23 voluntarily withdrawn by the registrant or the title insurance
24 company.
25     (e) Funds deposited in connection with any escrows,
26 settlements, or closings shall be deposited in a separate
27 fiduciary trust account or accounts in a bank or other
28 financial institution insured by an agency of the federal
29 government unless the instructions provide otherwise. The
30 funds shall be the property of the person or persons entitled
31 thereto under the provisions of the escrow, settlement, or
32 closing and shall be segregated by escrow, settlement, or
33 closing in the records of the escrow agent. The funds shall not

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 18 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 be subject to any debts of the escrowee and shall be used only
2 in accordance with the terms of the individual escrow,
3 settlement, or closing under which the funds were accepted.
4     Interest received on funds deposited with the escrow agent
5 in connection with any escrow, settlement, or closing shall be
6 paid to the depositing party unless the instructions provide
7 otherwise.
8     The escrow agent shall maintain separate records of all
9 receipts and disbursements of escrow, settlement, or closing
10 funds.
11     The escrow agent shall comply with any rules adopted by the
12 Secretary pertaining to escrow, settlement, or closing
13 transactions.
14 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
15     (215 ILCS 155/17)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1417)
16     Sec. 17. Independent escrowees.
17     (a) Every independent escrowee shall be subject to the same
18 certification and deposit requirements to which title
19 insurance companies are subject under Section 4 of this Act.
20     (b) No person, firm, corporation or other legal entity
21 shall hold itself out to be an independent escrowee unless it
22 has been issued a certificate of authority by the Secretary
23 Director.
24     (c) Every applicant for a certificate of authority, except
25 a firm, partnership, association or corporation, must be 18
26 years or more of age.
27     (d) Every certificate of authority shall remain in effect
28 one year unless revoked or suspended by the Secretary Director
29 or voluntarily surrendered by the holder.
30     (e) An independent escrowee may engage in the escrow,
31 settlement, or closing business, or any combination of such
32 business, and operate as an escrow, settlement, or closing
33 agent, provided that:

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 19 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1         (1) Funds deposited in connection with any escrow,
2     settlement, or closing shall be deposited in a separate
3     fiduciary trust account or accounts in a bank or other
4     financial institution insured by an agency of the federal
5     government unless the instructions provide otherwise. Such
6     funds shall be the property of the person or persons
7     entitled thereto under the provisions of the escrow,
8     settlement, or closing and shall be segregated by escrow,
9     settlement or closing in the records of the independent
10     escrowee. Such funds shall not be subject to any debts of
11     the escrowee and shall be used only in accordance with the
12     terms of the individual escrow, settlement or closing under
13     which the funds were accepted.
14         (2) Interest received on funds deposited with the
15     independent escrowee in connection with any escrow,
16     settlement or closing shall be paid to the depositing party
17     unless the instructions provide otherwise.
18         (3) The independent escrowee shall maintain separate
19     records of all receipt and disbursement of escrow,
20     settlement or closing funds.
21         (4) The independent escrowee shall comply with any
22     rules or regulations promulgated by the Secretary Director
23     pertaining to escrow, settlement or closing transactions.
24     (f) The Secretary Director or his authorized
25 representative shall have the power and authority to visit and
26 examine at any time any independent escrowee certified under
27 this Act and to verify and compel compliance with the
28 provisions of this Act.
29     (g) A title insurance company or title insurance agent, not
30 qualified as an independent escrowee, may act in the capacity
31 of an escrow agent when it is supplying an abstract of title,
32 grantor-grantee search, tract search, lien search, tax
33 assessment search, or other limited purpose search to the
34 parties to the transaction even if it is not issuing a title

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 20 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 insurance commitment or title insurance policy. A title
2 insurance agent may act as an escrow agent only when
3 specifically authorized in writing on forms prescribed by the
4 Secretary Director by a title insurance company that has duly
5 registered the agent with the Secretary Director and only when
6 notice of the authorization is provided to and receipt thereof
7 is acknowledged by the Secretary Director. The authority
8 granted to a title insurance agent may be limited or revoked at
9 any time by the title insurance company.
10 (Source: P.A. 91-159, eff. 1-1-00.)
 
11     (215 ILCS 155/18)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1418)
12     Sec. 18. No referral payments; kickbacks.
13     (a) Application of this Section is limited to residential
14 properties of 4 or fewer units, at least one of which units is
15 occupied or to be occupied by an owner, legal or beneficial.
16     (b) No title insurance company, independent escrowee, or
17 title insurance agent may issue a title insurance policy to, or
18 provide services to an applicant if it knows or has reason to
19 believe that the applicant was referred to it by any producer
20 of title business or by any associate of such producer, where
21 the producer, the associate, or both, have a financial interest
22 in the title insurance company, independent escrowee, or title
23 insurance agent to which business is referred unless the
24 producer has disclosed to any party paying for the products or
25 services, or his representative, the financial interest of the
26 producer of title business or associate referring the title
27 business and a disclosure of an estimate of those charges to be
28 paid as described in Section 19. Such disclosure must be made
29 in writing on forms prescribed by the Secretary Director prior
30 to the time that the commitment for title insurance is issued.
31 The title insurance company, independent escrowee, or title
32 insurance agent shall maintain the disclosure forms for a
33 period of 3 years.

 

 

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1     (c) Each title insurance company, independent escrowee,
2 and title insurance agent shall file with the Secretary
3 Director, on forms prescribed by the Secretary Director,
4 reports setting forth the names and addresses of those persons,
5 if any, who have had a financial interest in the title
6 insurance company, independent escrowee, or title insurance
7 agent during the calendar year, who are known or reasonably
8 believed by the title insurance company, independent escrowee,
9 or title insurance agent to be producers of title business or
10 associates of producers.
11         (1) Each title insurance company and independent
12     escrowee shall file the report required under this
13     subsection with its application for a certificate of
14     authority and at any time there is a change in the
15     information provided in the last report.
16         (2) Each title insurance agent shall file the report
17     required under this subsection with its title insurance
18     company for inclusion with its application for
19     registration and at any time there is a change in the
20     information provided in its last report.
21         (3) Each title insurance company, independent
22     escrowee, or title insurance agent doing business on the
23     effective date of this Act shall file the report required
24     under this subsection within 90 days after such effective
25     date.
26 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
27     (215 ILCS 155/19)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1419)
28     Sec. 19. Secretary powers; pricing. Nothing contained in
29 this Act shall be construed as giving any authority to the
30 Secretary Director to set or otherwise adjust the fees charged
31 to the parties to the transaction for:
32         (1) issuing a title insurance policy, including any
33     service charge or administration fee for the issuance of a

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 22 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1     title insurance policy;
2         (2) abstracting, searching and examining title;
3         (3) preparing or issuing preliminary reports, property
4     profiles, commitments, binders, or like product;
5         (4) closing fees, escrow fees, settlement fees, and
6     like charges.
7 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
8     (215 ILCS 155/20)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1420)
9     Sec. 20. Rules and regulations. The Secretary Director
10 shall rely upon federal regulations and opinion letters and may
11 adopt rules and regulations as needed to implement and
12 interpret the provisions of this Act.
13 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
14     (215 ILCS 155/21)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1421)
15     Sec. 21. Regulatory action.
16     (a) The Secretary Director may refuse to grant, and may
17 suspend or revoke, any certificate of authority, registration,
18 or license issued pursuant to this Act or may impose a fine for
19 a violation of this Act if he determines that the holder of or
20 applicant for such certificate, registration or license:
21         (1) has intentionally made a material misstatement or
22     fraudulent misrepresentation in relation to a matter
23     covered by this Act;
24         (2) has misappropriated or tortiously converted to its
25     own use, or illegally withheld, monies held in a fiduciary
26     capacity;
27         (3) has demonstrated untrustworthiness or incompetency
28     in transacting the business of guaranteeing titles to real
29     estate in such a manner as to endanger the public;
30         (4) has materially misrepresented the terms or
31     conditions of contracts or agreements to which it is a
32     party;

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 23 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1         (5) has paid any commissions, discounts or any part of
2     its premiums, fees or other charges to any person in
3     violation of any State or federal law or regulations or
4     opinion letters issued under the federal Real Estate
5     Settlement Procedures Act of 1974; or
6         (6) has failed to comply with the deposit and reserve
7     requirements of this Act or any other requirements of this
8     Act.
9     (b) In every case where a registration or certificate is
10 suspended or revoked, or an application for a registration or
11 certificate or renewal thereof is refused, the Secretary
12 Director shall serve notice of his action, including a
13 statement of the reasons for his action, as provided by this
14 Act. When a notice of suspension or revocation of a certificate
15 of authority is given to a title insurance company, the
16 Secretary shall also notify all the registered agents of that
17 title insurance company of the Secretary's action. either
18 personally or by registered or certified mail. Service by mail
19 shall be deemed completed if such notice is deposited in the
20 post office, postage paid, addressed to the last known address
21 specified in the application for the certificate or
22 registration of such holder or registrant.
23     (c) In the case of a refusal to issue or renew a
24 certificate or accept a registration, the applicant or
25 registrant may request in writing, within 30 days after the
26 date of service, a hearing. In the case of a refusal to renew,
27 the expiring registration or certificate shall be deemed to
28 continue in force until 30 days after the service of the notice
29 of refusal to renew, or if a hearing is requested during that
30 period, until a final order is entered pursuant to such
31 hearing.
32     (d) The suspension or revocation of a registration or
33 certificate shall take effect upon service of notice thereof.
34 The holder of any such suspended registration or certificate

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 24 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 may request in writing, within 30 days of such service, a
2 hearing.
3     (e) In cases of suspension or revocation of registration
4 pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary Director may, in the
5 public interest, issue an order of suspension or revocation
6 which shall take effect upon service of notification thereof.
7 Such order shall become final 60 days from the date of service
8 unless the registrant requests in writing, within such 60 days,
9 a formal hearing thereon. In the event a hearing is requested,
10 the order shall remain temporary until a final order is entered
11 pursuant to such hearing.
12     (f) Hearing shall be held at such time and place as may be
13 designated by the Secretary Director either in the City of
14 Springfield, the City of Chicago, or in the county in which the
15 principal business office of the affected registrant or
16 certificate holder is located.
17     (g) The suspension or revocation of a registration or
18 certificate or the refusal to issue or renew a registration or
19 certificate shall not in any way limit or terminate the
20 responsibilities of any registrant or certificate holder
21 arising under any policy or contract of title insurance to
22 which it is a party. No new contract or policy of title
23 insurance may be issued, nor may any existing policy or
24 contract to title insurance be renewed by any registrant or
25 certificate holder during any period of suspension or
26 revocation of a registration or certificate.
27     (h) The Secretary Director may issue a cease and desist
28 order to a title insurance company, agent, or other entity
29 doing business without the required license or registration,
30 when in the opinion of the Secretary Director, the company,
31 agent, or other entity is violating or is about to violate any
32 provision of this Act or any law or of any rule or condition
33 imposed in writing by the Department.
34     The Secretary Director may issue the cease and desist order

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 25 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 without notice and before a hearing.
2     The Secretary Director shall have the authority to
3 prescribe rules for the administration of this Section.
4     If it is determined that the Secretary Director had the
5 authority to issue the cease and desist order, he may issue
6 such orders as may be reasonably necessary to correct,
7 eliminate or remedy such conduct.
8     Any person or company subject to an order pursuant to this
9 Section is entitled to judicial review of the order in
10 accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Review
11 Law.
12     The powers vested in the Secretary Director by this Section
13 are additional to any and all other powers and remedies vested
14 in the Secretary Director by law, and nothing in this Section
15 shall be construed as requiring that the Secretary Director
16 shall employ the powers conferred in this Section instead of or
17 as a condition precedent to the exercise of any other power or
18 remedy vested in the Secretary Director.
19 (Source: P.A. 89-601, eff. 8-2-96.)
 
20     (215 ILCS 155/21.1 new)
21     Sec. 21.1. Receiver and involuntary liquidation.
22     (a) The Secretary's proceedings under this Section shall be
23 the exclusive remedy and the only proceedings commenced in any
24 court for the dissolution of, the winding up of the affairs of,
25 or the appointment of a receiver for a title insurance company.
26     (b) If the Secretary, with respect to a title insurance
27 company, finds that (i) its capital is impaired or it is
28 otherwise in an unsound condition, (ii) its business is being
29 conducted in an unlawful, fraudulent, or unsafe manner, (iii)
30 it is unable to continue operations, or (iv) its examination
31 has been obstructed or impeded, the Secretary may give notice
32 to the board of directors of the title insurance company of his
33 or her finding or findings. If the Secretary's findings are not

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 26 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 corrected to his or her satisfaction within 60 days after the
2 company receives the notice, the Secretary shall take
3 possession and control of the title insurance company, its
4 assets, and assets held by it for any person for the purpose of
5 examination, reorganization, or liquidation through
6 receivership.
7     If, in addition to making a finding as provided in this
8 subsection (b), the Secretary is of the opinion and finds that
9 an emergency that may result in serious losses to any person
10 exists, the Secretary may, in his or her discretion, without
11 having given the notice provided for in this subsection, and
12 whether or not proceedings under subsection (a) of this Section
13 have been instituted or are then pending, take possession and
14 control of the title insurance company and its assets for the
15 purpose of examination, reorganization, or liquidation through
16 receivership.
17     (c) The Secretary may take possession and control of a
18 title insurance company, its assets, and assets held by it for
19 any person by posting upon the premises of each office located
20 in the State of Illinois at which it transacts its business as
21 a title insurance company a notice reciting that the Secretary
22 is assuming possession pursuant to this Act and the time when
23 the possession shall be deemed to commence.
24     (d) Promptly after taking possession and control of a title
25 insurance company the Secretary, represented by the Attorney
26 General, shall file a copy of the notice posted upon the
27 premises in the Circuit Court of either Cook County or Sangamon
28 County, which cause shall be entered as a court action upon the
29 dockets of the court under the name and style of "In the matter
30 of the possession and control by the Secretary of the
31 Department of Financial and Professional Regulation of (insert
32 the name of the title insurance company)". If the Secretary
33 determines (which determination may be made at the time of, or
34 at any time subsequent to, taking possession and control of a

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 27 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 title insurance company) that no practical possibility exists
2 to reorganize the title insurance company after reasonable
3 efforts have been made, the Secretary, represented by the
4 Attorney General, shall also file a complaint, if it has not
5 already been done, for the appointment of a receiver or other
6 proceeding as is appropriate under the circumstances. The court
7 where the cause is docketed shall be vested with the exclusive
8 jurisdiction to hear and determine all issues and matters
9 pertaining to or connected with the Secretary's possession and
10 control of the title insurance company as provided in this Act,
11 and any further issues and matters pertaining to or connected
12 with the Secretary's possession and control as may be submitted
13 to the court for its adjudication.
14     The Secretary, upon taking possession and control of a
15 title insurance company, may, and if not previously done shall,
16 immediately upon filing a complaint for dissolution make an
17 examination of the affairs of the title insurance company or
18 appoint a suitable person to make the examination as the
19 Secretary's agent. The examination shall be conducted in
20 accordance with and pursuant to the authority granted under
21 Section 12 of this Act. The person conducting the examination
22 shall have and may exercise on behalf of the Secretary all of
23 the powers and authority granted to the Secretary under Section
24 12. A copy of the report shall be filed in any dissolution
25 proceeding filed by the Secretary. The reasonable fees and
26 necessary expenses of the examining person, as approved by the
27 Secretary or as recommended by the Secretary and approved by
28 the court if a dissolution proceeding has been filed, shall be
29 borne by the subject title insurance company and shall have the
30 same priority for payment as the reasonable and necessary
31 expenses of the Secretary in conducting an examination. The
32 person appointed to make the examination shall make a proper
33 accounting, in the manner and scope as determined by the
34 Secretary to be practical and advisable under the

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 28 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 circumstances, on behalf of the title insurance company and no
2 guardian ad litem need be appointed to review the accounting.
3     (e) The Secretary, upon taking possession and control of a
4 title insurance company and its assets, shall be vested with
5 the full powers of management and control including, but not
6 limited to, the following:
7         (1) the power to continue or to discontinue the
8     business;
9         (2) the power to stop or to limit the payment of its
10     obligations;
11         (3) the power to collect and to use its assets and to
12     give valid receipts and acquittances therefor;
13         (4) the power to transfer title and liquidate any bond
14     or deposit made under Section 4 of this Act;
15         (5) the power to employ and to pay any necessary
16     assistants;
17         (6) the power to execute any instrument in the name of
18     the title insurance company;
19         (7) the power to commence, defend, and conduct in the
20     title insurance company's name any action or proceeding in
21     which it may be a party;
22         (8) the power, upon the order of the court, to sell and
23     convey the title insurance company's assets, in whole or in
24     part, and to sell or compound bad or doubtful debts upon
25     such terms and conditions as may be fixed in that order;
26         (9) the power, upon the order of the court, to make and
27     to carry out agreements with other title insurance
28     companies, financial institutions, or with the United
29     States or any agency of the United States for the payment
30     or assumption of the title insurance company's
31     liabilities, in whole or in part, and to transfer assets
32     and to make guaranties, in whole or in part, in connection
33     therewith;
34         (10) the power, upon the order of the court, to borrow

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 29 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1     money in the name of the title insurance company and to
2     pledge its assets as security for the loan;
3         (11) the power to terminate his or her possession and
4     control by restoring the title insurance company to its
5     board of directors;
6         (12) the power to appoint a receiver which may be the
7     Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional
8     Regulation, another title insurance company, or another
9     suitable person and to order liquidation of the title
10     insurance company as provided in this Act; and
11         (13) the power, upon the order of the court and without
12     the appointment of a receiver, to determine that the title
13     insurance company has been closed for the purpose of
14     liquidation without adequate provision being made for
15     payment of its obligations, and thereupon the title
16     insurance company shall be deemed to have been closed on
17     account of inability to meet its obligations to its
18     insureds or escrow depositors.
19     (f) Upon taking possession, the Secretary shall make an
20 examination of the condition of the title insurance company, an
21 inventory of the assets and, unless the time shall be extended
22 by order of the court or unless the Secretary shall have
23 otherwise settled the affairs of the title insurance company
24 pursuant to the provisions of this Act, within 90 days after
25 the time of taking possession and control of the title
26 insurance company, the Secretary shall either terminate his or
27 her possession and control by restoring the title insurance
28 company to its board of directors or appoint a receiver, which
29 may be the Secretary of the Department of Financial and
30 Professional Regulation, another title insurance company, or
31 another suitable person and order the liquidation of the title
32 insurance company as provided in this Act. All necessary and
33 reasonable expenses of the Secretary's possession and control
34 shall be a priority claim and shall be borne by the title

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 30 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 insurance company and may be paid by the Secretary from the
2 title insurance company's own assets as distinguished from
3 assets held for any other person.
4     (g) If the Secretary takes possession and control of a
5 title insurance company and its assets, any period of
6 limitation fixed by a statute or agreement that would otherwise
7 expire on a claim or right of action of the title insurance
8 company, on its own behalf or on behalf of its insureds or
9 escrow depositors, or upon which an appeal must be taken or a
10 pleading or other document filed by the title insurance company
11 in any pending action or proceeding, shall be tolled until 6
12 months after the commencement of the possession, and no
13 judgment, lien, levy, attachment, or other similar legal
14 process may be enforced upon or satisfied, in whole or in part,
15 from any asset of the title insurance company or from any asset
16 of an insured or escrow depositor while it is in the possession
17 of the Secretary.
18     (h) If the Secretary appoints a receiver to take possession
19 and control of the assets of insureds or escrow depositors for
20 the purpose of holding those assets as fiduciary for the
21 benefit of the insureds or escrow depositors pending the
22 winding up of the affairs of the title insurance company being
23 liquidated and the appointment of a successor escrowee for
24 those assets, any period of limitation fixed by statute, rule
25 of court, or agreement that would otherwise expire on a claim
26 or right of action in favor of or against the insureds or
27 escrow depositors of those assets or upon which an appeal must
28 be taken or a pleading or other document filed by a title
29 insurance company on behalf of an insured or escrow depositor
30 in any pending action or proceeding shall be tolled for a
31 period of 6 months after the appointment of a receiver, and no
32 judgment, lien, levy, attachment, or other similar legal
33 process shall be enforced upon or satisfied, in whole or in
34 part, from any asset of the insured or escrow depositor while

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 31 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 it is in the possession of the receiver.
2     (i) If the Secretary determines at any time that no
3 reasonable possibility exists for the title insurance company
4 to be operated by its board of directors in accordance with the
5 provisions of this Act after reasonable efforts have been made
6 and that it should be liquidated through receivership, he or
7 she shall appoint a receiver. The Secretary may require of the
8 receiver such bond and security as the Secretary deems proper.
9 The Secretary, represented by the Attorney General, shall file
10 a complaint for the dissolution or winding up of the affairs of
11 the title insurance company in a court of the county in which
12 the principal office of the title insurance company is located
13 and shall cause notice to be given in a newspaper of general
14 circulation once each week for 4 consecutive weeks so that
15 persons who may have claims against the title insurance company
16 may present them to the receiver and make legal proof thereof
17 and notifying those persons and all to whom it may concern of
18 the filing of a complaint for the dissolution or winding up of
19 the affairs of the title insurance company and stating the name
20 and location of the court. All persons who may have claims
21 against the assets of the title insurance company, as
22 distinguished from the assets of insureds and escrow depositors
23 held by the title insurance company, and the receiver to whom
24 those persons have presented their claims may present the
25 claims to the clerk of the court, and the allowance or
26 disallowance of the claims by the court in connection with the
27 proceedings shall be deemed an adjudication in a court of
28 competent jurisdiction. Within a reasonable time after
29 completion of publication, the receiver shall file with the
30 court a correct list of all creditors of the title insurance
31 company as shown by its books, who have not presented their
32 claims and the amount of their respective claims after allowing
33 adjusted credit, deductions, and set-offs as shown by the books
34 of the title insurance company. The claims so filed shall be

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 32 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 deemed proven unless objections are filed thereto by a party or
2 parties interested therein within the time fixed by the court.
3     (j) The receiver for a title insurance company has the
4 power and authority and is charged with the duties and
5 responsibilities as follows:
6         (1) To take possession of and, for the purpose of the
7     receivership, title to the books, records, and assets of
8     every description of the title insurance company.
9         (2) To proceed to collect all debts, dues, and claims
10     belonging to the title insurance company.
11         (3) To sell and compound all bad and doubtful debts on
12     such terms as the court shall direct.
13         (4) To sell the real and personal property of the title
14     insurance company, as distinguished from the real and
15     personal property of the insureds or escrow depositors, on
16     such terms as the court shall direct.
17         (5) To file with the Secretary a copy of each report
18     that he or she makes to the court, together with such other
19     reports and records as the Secretary may require.
20         (6) To sue and defend in his or her own name and with
21     respect to the affairs, assets, claims, debts, and choses
22     in action of the title insurance company.
23         (7) To surrender to the insureds and escrow depositors
24     of the title insurance company, when requested in writing
25     directed to the receiver by them, the escrowed funds (on a
26     pro rata basis), and escrowed documents in the receiver's
27     possession upon satisfactory proof of ownership and
28     determination by the receiver of available escrow funds.
29         (8) To redeem or take down collateral hypothecated by
30     the title insurance company to secure its notes and other
31     evidence of indebtedness whenever the court deems it to be
32     in the best interest of the creditors of the title
33     insurance company and directs the receiver so to do.
34     (k) Whenever the receiver finds it necessary in his or her

 

 

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1 opinion to use and employ money of the title insurance company
2 in order to protect fully and benefit the title insurance
3 company by the purchase or redemption of property, real or
4 personal, in which the title insurance company may have any
5 rights by reason of any bond, mortgage, assignment, or other
6 claim thereto, the receiver may certify the facts together with
7 the receiver's opinions as to the value of the property
8 involved and the value of the equity the title insurance
9 company may have in the property to the court, together with a
10 request for the right and authority to use and employ so much
11 of the money of the title insurance company as may be necessary
12 to purchase the property, or to redeem the property from a sale
13 if there was a sale, and if the request is granted, the
14 receiver may use so much of the money of the title insurance
15 company as the court may have authorized to purchase the
16 property at the sale.
17     The receiver shall deposit daily all moneys collected by
18 him or her in any State or national bank approved by the court.
19 The deposits shall be made in the name of the Secretary, in
20 trust for the receiver, and be subject to withdrawal upon the
21 receiver's order or upon the order of those persons the
22 Secretary may designate. The moneys may be deposited without
23 interest, unless otherwise agreed. The receiver shall do the
24 things and take the steps from time to time under the direction
25 and approval of the court that may reasonably appear to be
26 necessary to conserve the title insurance company's assets and
27 secure the best interests of the creditors, insureds, and
28 escrow depositors of the title insurance company. The receiver
29 shall record any judgment of dissolution entered in a
30 dissolution proceeding and thereupon turn over to the Secretary
31 a certified copy of the judgment.
32     The receiver may cause all assets of the insureds and
33 escrow depositors of the title insurance company to be
34 registered in the name of the receiver or in the name of the

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 34 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 receiver's nominee.
2     For its services in administering the escrows held by the
3 title insurance company during the period of winding up the
4 affairs of the title insurance company, the receiver is
5 entitled to be reimbursed for all costs and expenses incurred
6 by the receiver and shall also be entitled to receive out of
7 the assets of the individual escrows being administered by the
8 receiver during the period of winding up the affairs of the
9 title insurance company and prior to the appointment of a
10 successor escrowee the usual and customary fees charged by an
11 escrowee for escrows or reasonable fees approved by the court.
12     The receiver, during its administration of the escrows of
13 the title insurance company during the winding up of the
14 affairs of the title insurance company, shall have all of the
15 powers that are vested in trustees under the terms and
16 provisions of the Trusts and Trustees Act.
17     Upon the appointment of a successor escrowee, the receiver
18 shall deliver to the successor escrowee all of the assets
19 belonging to each individual escrow to which the successor
20 escrowee succeeds, and the receiver shall thereupon be relieved
21 of any further duties or obligations with respect thereto.
22     (l) The receiver shall, upon approval by the court, pay all
23 claims against the assets of the title insurance company
24 allowed by the court pursuant to subsection (i) of this
25 Section, as well as claims against the assets of insureds and
26 escrow depositors of the title insurance company in accordance
27 with the following priority:
28         (1) All necessary and reasonable expenses of the
29     Secretary's possession and control and of its receivership
30     shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance
31     company.
32         (2) All usual and customary fees charged for services
33     in administering escrows shall be paid from the assets of
34     the individual escrows being administered. If the assets of

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 35 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1     the individual escrows being administered are
2     insufficient, the fees shall be paid from the assets of the
3     title insurance company.
4         (3) Secured claims, including claims for taxes and
5     debts due the federal or any state or local government,
6     that are secured by liens perfected prior to the date of
7     filing of the complaint for dissolution, shall be paid from
8     the assets of the title insurance company.
9         (4) Claims by policyholders, beneficiaries, insureds,
10     and escrow depositors of the title insurance company shall
11     be paid from the assets of the insureds and escrow
12     depositors. If there are insufficient assets of the
13     insureds and escrow depositors, claims shall be paid from
14     the assets of the title insurance company.
15         (5) Any other claims due the federal government shall
16     be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.
17         (6) Claims for wages or salaries, excluding vacation,
18     severance, and sick leave pay earned by employees for
19     services rendered within 90 days prior to the date of
20     filing of the complaint for dissolution, shall be paid from
21     the assets of the title insurance company.
22         (7) All other claims of general creditors not falling
23     within any priority under this subsection (l) including
24     claims for taxes and debts due any state or local
25     government which are not secured claims and claims for
26     attorney's fees incurred by the title insurance company in
27     contesting the dissolution shall be paid from the assets of
28     the title insurance company.
29         (8) Proprietary claims asserted by an owner, member, or
30     stockholder of the title insurance company in receivership
31     shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance
32     company.
33     The receiver shall pay all claims of equal priority
34 according to the schedule set out in this subsection, and shall

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 36 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 not pay claims of lower priority until all higher priority
2 claims are satisfied. If insufficient assets are available to
3 meet all claims of equal priority, those assets shall be
4 distributed pro rata among those claims. All unclaimed assets
5 of the title insurance company shall be deposited with the
6 receiver to be paid out by him or her when such claims are
7 submitted and allowed by the court.
8     (m) At the termination of the receiver's administration,
9 the receiver shall petition the court for the entry of a
10 judgment of dissolution. After a hearing upon the notice as the
11 court may prescribe, the court may enter a judgment of
12 dissolution whereupon the title insurance company's corporate
13 existence shall be terminated and the receivership concluded.
14     (n) The receiver shall serve at the pleasure of the
15 Secretary and upon the death, inability to act, resignation, or
16 removal by the Secretary of a receiver, the Secretary may
17 appoint a successor, and upon the appointment, all rights and
18 duties of the predecessor shall at once devolve upon the
19 appointee.
20     (o) Whenever the Secretary shall have taken possession and
21 control of a title insurance company or a title insurance agent
22 and its assets for the purpose of examination, reorganization
23 or liquidation through receivership, or whenever the Secretary
24 shall have appointed a receiver for a title insurance company
25 or title insurance agent and filed a complaint for the
26 dissolution or winding up of its affairs, and the title
27 insurance company or title insurance agent denies the grounds
28 for such actions, it may at any time within 10 days apply to
29 the Circuit Court of Cook or Sangamon County to enjoin further
30 proceedings in the premises; and the Court shall cite the
31 Secretary to show cause why further proceedings should not be
32 enjoined, and if the Court shall find that grounds do not
33 exist, the Court shall make an order enjoining the Secretary or
34 any receiver acting under his direction from all further

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 37 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1 proceedings on account of the alleged grounds.
 
2     (215 ILCS 155/21.2 new)
3     Sec. 21.2. Notice.
4     (a) Notice of any action by the Secretary under this Act or
5 regulations or orders promulgated under it shall be made either
6 personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt
7 requested, and by sending a copy of the notice by telephone
8 facsimile or electronic mail, if known and operating, and if
9 unknown or not operating, then by regular mail. Service by mail
10 shall be deemed completed if the notice is deposited as
11 registered or certified mail in the post office, postage paid,
12 addressed to the last known address specified in the
13 application for the certificate of authority to do business or
14 certificate of registration of the holder or registrant.
15     (b) The Secretary shall notify all registered agents of a
16 title insurance company when that title insurance company's
17 certificate of authority is suspended or revoked.
 
18     (215 ILCS 155/21.3 new)
19     Sec. 21.3. Record retention. Evidence of the examination of
20 title, if any, and determination of insurability for business
21 written by a title insurance company or its title insurance
22 agent and records relating to escrow, closings, and security
23 deposits shall be preserved and retained by the title insurance
24 company or its title insurance agent for as long as appropriate
25 to the circumstances, but in no event less than 7 years after
26 the title insurance policy has been issued or the escrow,
27 closing, or security deposit account has been closed or as
28 provided by applicable federal law. This Section shall not
29 apply to a title insurance company acting as a coinsurer if one
30 of the other coinsurers has complied with this Section.
 
31     (215 ILCS 155/22)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1422)

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 38 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1     Sec. 22. Tax indemnity; notice. A corporation authorized to
2 do business under this Act shall notify the Director of Revenue
3 of the State of Illinois, by notice directed to his office in
4 the City of Chicago, of each trust account or similar account
5 established which relates to title exceptions due to a judgment
6 lien or any other lien arising under any tax Act administered
7 by the Illinois Department of Revenue, when notice of such lien
8 has been filed with the registrar of titles or recorder, as the
9 case may be, in the manner prescribed by law. Such notice shall
10 contain the name, address, and tax identification number of the
11 debtor, the permanent real estate index numbers, if any, and
12 the address and legal description of the property, the type of
13 lien claimed by the Department and identification of any trust
14 fund or similar account held by such corporation or any agent
15 thereof relating to such lien. Any trust fund or similar
16 account established by such corporation or agent relating to
17 any such lien shall include provisions requiring such
18 corporation or agent to apply such fund in satisfaction or
19 release of such lien upon written demand therefor by the
20 Department of Revenue.
21 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
22     (215 ILCS 155/23)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1423)
23     Sec. 23. Violation; penalties.
24     (a) Any violation of any of the provisions of this Act
25 shall constitute a business offense and shall subject the party
26 violating the same to a penalty of $1000 for each offense.
27     (b) Nothing contained in this Section shall affect the
28 right of the Secretary to revoke or suspend a title insurance
29 company's or independent escrowee's certificate of authority
30 or a title insurance agent's registration under any other
31 Section of this Act.
32 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 

 

 

09400HB3464ham001 - 39 - LRB094 10972 LJB 46701 a

1     (215 ILCS 155/24)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1424)
2     Sec. 24. Referral fee; penalty. Except as permitted by this
3 Act or by federal law, regulations or opinion letters, no
4 person shall pay or accept, directly or indirectly, any
5 commission, discount, referral fee or other consideration as
6 inducement or compensation for the referral of title business
7 or for the referral of any escrow or other service from a title
8 insurance company, independent escrowee or title insurance
9 agent.
10     Any violation of this Section 24 is a Class A misdemeanor.
11 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
12     (215 ILCS 155/25)  (from Ch. 73, par. 1425)
13     Sec. 25. Actual damages; injunctive relief.
14     (a) Any person or persons who violate the prohibitions or
15 limitations of subsection (a) of Section 21 of this Act shall
16 be liable to the person or persons charged for the settlement
17 service involved in the violation for actual damages.
18     (b) Any title insurance company or a title insurance agent
19 who violates the prohibitions or limitations of subsection (a)
20 of Section 21 of this Act shall be subject to injunctive
21 relief. If a permanent injunction is granted, the court may
22 award actual damages. Reasonable attorney's fees and costs may
23 be awarded to the prevailing party.
24 (Source: P.A. 86-239.)
 
25     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
26 becoming law.".