Unless otherwise provided in specific provisions of title XXXVII or in rules promulgated thereunder, when reviewing a license application submitted by a company, producer, or adjuster, the commissioner shall:
I. Within 30 days of receipt, examine the license application and notify the applicant of any apparent errors or omissions that render the application incomplete or request any additional information that the insurance department is permitted by law to require and that is deemed by the commissioner to be relevant to the review process.
II. Within 60 days after receipt of the application or after receipt of the additional information or corrections timely requested by the commissioner pursuant to paragraph I, the commissioner shall:
(a) Approve or deny the application, in whole or with restrictions; or
(b) Commence an adjudicative proceeding in accordance with RSA 541-A.
III. In the event that the commissioner returns one or more preliminary objections to the company, producer, or adjuster regarding a license application, the period in paragraph II shall not include the period during which the applicant is preparing a response.
IV. In the event that the commissioner is conducting an investigation of an applicant pursuant to RSA 400-A:16 of possible violations of insurance laws, the period in paragraph II shall not include the period during which the investigation is pending.
V. Upon written agreement of the applicant, the commissioner may extend any of the time periods for review provided for in this section.
VI. Wherever the general time limits prescribed by this section differ from specific time limits provided for by other provisions of title XXXVII or in rules promulgated thereunder, the specific time limits provided for by such other provisions shall control.
VII. If the commissioner fails to take action on a license application governed by this section within the time limits prescribed in this section, the application shall be deemed approved. If at any time after a license application has been deemed approved under this paragraph, the commissioner finds that the applicant does not meet standards for licensure, the commissioner may, after notice and hearing, order the revocation, suspension, or restriction of the license.
VIII. RSA 541-A:29 and RSA 541-A:29-a shall not apply to company, producer, or adjuster license applications under title XXXVII.
Source. 2018, 279:22, eff. Jan. 1, 2019.