General Provisions - Public Insurance Adjusters Act - Insurance - CA

Section § 15000

This section simply gives a name to this part of the law: it's called the Public Insurance Adjusters Act.

This chapter may be cited as the Public Insurance Adjusters Act.

Public Insurance Adjusters Act naming reference ...

Section § 15001

This section of the California Insurance Code defines key terms related to public insurance adjusters. An 'apprentice public insurance adjuster' is someone almost fully qualified as a public adjuster, but lacking in some experience, education, or training. A 'business entity' refers to a variety of legal organizations including corporations and partnerships. A 'catastrophic disaster' is a major event causing extensive harm, requiring a formal declaration by the President or Governor. The 'Commissioner' is the Insurance Commissioner, and the 'Department' is the Department of Insurance. 'Fingerprints' are taken for identity purposes. 'Home state' is where a public adjuster primarily lives or works, or another state where they are licensed if no similar laws exist where they live or work. A 'licensee' is someone licensed under these rules, and 'person' is broadly defined to include various types of legal and natural entities.

As used in this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a) “Apprentice public insurance adjuster” means a person who is qualified in all respects as a public adjuster, except as to experience, education, or training.

(b) “Business entity” means a corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or other legal entity.

(c) “Catastrophic disaster” means an event that results in large numbers of deaths and injuries; causes extensive damage or destruction of facilities that provide and sustain human needs; produces an overwhelming demand on state and local response resources and mechanisms; causes a severe long-term effect on general economic activity; and severely affects state, local, and private sector capabilities to begin and sustain response activities. A catastrophic disaster shall be declared by the President of the United States or the Governor of the state or district in which the disaster occurred.

(d) “Commissioner” means the Insurance Commissioner.

(e) “Department” means the Department of Insurance.

(f) “Fingerprints” means an impression of the lines on the finger taken for the purposes of identification.

(g) “Home state” means the District of Columbia and any state or territory of the United States in which the public insurance adjuster’s principal place of residence or principal place of business is located. If neither the state in which the public insurance adjuster maintains the principal place of residence nor the state in which the public insurance adjuster maintains the principal place of business has a substantially similar law governing public insurance adjusters, the public insurance adjuster may declare another state in which it becomes licensed and acts as a public insurance adjuster to be the “home state.”

(h) “Licensee” means a person licensed under this chapter.

(i) “Person” includes any individual, firm, company, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, and corporation.

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Section § 15002

This section states that no one is allowed to practice law in California unless they are an active member of the State Bar of California.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as entitling any person to practice law in this state, unless he or she is an active member of the State Bar of California.

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