The Secretary of the Treasury, or an authorized representative, shall have, upon reasonable notice, access to all books, documents, papers and records of an insurer that are pertinent to amounts paid to the insurer as the Federal share of compensation for insured losses, or pertinent to any Federal terrorism policy surcharge that is imposed pursuant to subpart J of this part, for the purposes of investigation, confirmation, audit, and examination.
(a) Each insurer that seeks payment of a Federal share of compensation under subpart H of this part shall retain such records as are necessary to fully disclose all material matters pertinent to insured losses and the Federal share of compensation sought under the Program, including, but not limited to, records regarding premiums and insured losses for all commercial property and casualty insurance issued by the insurer and information relating to any adjustment in the amount of the Federal share of compensation payable. Insurers shall maintain detailed records for not less than five (5) years from the termination dates of all reinsurance agreements involving property and casualty insurance subject to the Act. Records relating to premiums shall be retained and available for review for not less than three (3) years following the conclusion of the policy year. Records relating to underlying claims shall be retained for not less than five (5) years following the final adjustment of the claim.
(b) Each insurer that collects a Federal terrorism policy surcharge as required by subpart J of this part shall retain records related to such surcharge, including records of the property and casualty insurance premiums subject to the surcharge, the amount of the surcharge imposed on each policy, aggregate Federal terrorism policy surcharges collected, and aggregate Federal terrorism policy surcharges remitted to Treasury during each assessment period. Such records shall be retained and kept available for review for not less than three (3) years following the conclusion of the assessment period or settlement of accounts with Treasury, whichever is later.
(a) General. The Secretary may assess a civil monetary penalty, in an amount not exceeding the amount specified under § 50.83, against any insurer that the Secretary determines, on the record after opportunity for a hearing:
(1) Has failed to charge, collect, or remit the Federal terrorism policy surcharge under subpart J;
(2) Has intentionally provided to Treasury erroneous information regarding premium or loss amounts;
(3) Submits to Treasury fraudulent claims under the Program for insured losses;
(4) Has failed to provide any disclosures or other information required by Treasury; or
(5) Has otherwise failed to comply with provisions of the Act or these regulations.
(b) Recovery of amount in dispute. A penalty under this section for any failure to pay, charge, collect, or remit amounts in accordance with the Act or under these regulations shall be in addition to any such amounts recovered by Treasury.
(c) Procedure. Treasury shall notify in writing any insurer that it believes has committed one or more of the acts identified in paragraph (a) of this section. In that notification, Treasury shall identify the act or acts that it believes has been violated, and its basis for that belief, and shall set a schedule for further proceedings which shall include:
(1) The opportunity for a written submission by the insurer that provides all relevant facts and circumstances concerning the alleged conduct, including any information that the insurer wishes Treasury to consider in connection with the alleged conduct; and
(2) A hearing on the record, unless waived by the insurer, during which Treasury and the insurer may present further information respecting the conduct in question.
(d) Other remedies preserved. Treasury's assessment and collection of a civil monetary penalty under this section shall be in addition and without prejudice to any other civil remedies or criminal penalties that may arise on account of the conduct in question under any other laws or regulations of the United States.
(a) Inflation adjustment. Any penalty under the Act and these regulations may not exceed the greater of $1,697,012 and, in the case of any failure to pay, charge, collect or remit amounts in accordance with the Act or these regulations such amount in dispute.
(b) Annual adjustment. The maximum penalty amount that may be assessed under this section will be adjusted in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, 28 U.S.C. 2461 note, by January 15 of each year and the updated amount will be posted in the Federal Register and on the Treasury website at https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-markets-financial-institutions-and-fiscal-service/federal-insurance-office/terrorism-risk-insurance-program.
[81 FR 93765, Dec. 21, 2016, as amended at 86 FR 30540, June 9, 2021; 88 FR 16887, Mar. 21, 2023; 89 FR 4820, Jan. 25, 2024]
authority: 5 U.S.C. 301;
31 U.S.C. 321; Title I, Pub. L. 107-297, 116 Stat. 2322, as amended by Pub. L. 109-144, 119 Stat. 2660, Pub. L. 110-160, 121 Stat. 1839, Pub. L. 114-1, 129 Stat. 3, and Pub. L. 116-94, 133 Stat. 2534 (
15 U.S.C. 6701 note); Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 601, Title VII (
28 U.S.C. 2461 note)
source: 81 FR 93765, Dec. 21, 2016, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 31 CFR 50.81