On March 1, 2011, California State Senator Noreen Evans introduced Senate Bill 361 as spot bill legislation. The legislation was at the request of California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones who seeks to enable consumers to obtain their out-of-pocket costs associated with claimed wrongful conduct by insurers or other licensees, which would include producers.

As explained in Senator Evans’ press release, the bill grants explicit authority to the California Department of Insurance (CDI) to “order restitution as part of an administrative enforcement action.”

Because the legislation is a spot bill, the next version of the bill will provide the details discussed in the press release. Senator Evans’ office also issued an SB 631 Fact Sheet that provides further information on the proposed legislation.

The press release and fact sheet acknowledge that the CDI presently does not have the authority to order insurers or other licensees to restore out-of-pocket expenses or money wrongfully obtained.