Title of Regulation: 14VAC5-395. Rules Governing Settlement Agents (amending 14VAC5-395-30, 14VAC5-395-40).

Statutory Authority: §§ 6.1-2.25 and 12.1-13 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: January 25, 2010.

Agency Contact: Scott White, Senior Counsel, Office of General Counsel, State Corporation Commission, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, VA 23218, telephone (804) 371-9671, FAX (804) 371-9240, or email scott.white@scc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments incorporate statutory changes made to § 6.1-2.26 of the Code of Virginia that shift the duty to register settlement agents from the Virginia State Bar to the appropriate licensing authority. The amendments incorporate these statutory changes by making the Bureau of Insurance responsible for registering title insurance agents and title insurance companies that conduct settlements.

AT RICHMOND, JANUARY 7, 2010

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

At the relation of the

STATE CORPORATION COMMISSION

CASE NO. INS-2009-00249

Ex Parte: In the matter of Adopting
Amendments to the Rules Governing
Settlement Agents

ORDER ADOPTING AMENDMENTS TO RULES

By Order to Take Notice ("Order") entered herein November 12, 2009, all interested persons were ordered to take notice that subsequent to December 21, 2009, the State Corporation Commission ("Commission") would consider the entry of an order adopting amendments proposed by the Bureau of Insurance ("Bureau") to the Commission's "Rules Governing Settlement Agents" set forth in Chapter 395 of Title 14 of the Virginia Administrative Code unless on or before December 21, 2009, any person objecting to the adoption of the proposed amendments filed a request for hearing with the Clerk of the Commission ("Clerk").

The Order also required all interested persons to file their comments in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendments on or before December 21, 2009.

No comments or requests for a hearing were filed with the Clerk.

THE COMMISSION, having considered the proposed amendments, is of the opinion that the attached amendments to the Rules should be adopted.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT:

(1) The proposed amendments to Chapter 395 of Title 14 of the Virginia Administrative Code entitled "Rules Governing Settlement Agents," which are to be published in Chapter 395 of Title 14 of the Virginia Administrative Code, amended at 14 VAC 5-395-30 and 14 VAC 5‑395‑40, which are attached hereto and made a part hereof, should be, and they are hereby, ADOPTED to be effective January 25, 2010.

(2) AN ATTESTED COPY hereof, shall be sent by the Clerk of the Commission to the Bureau in care of Deputy Commissioner Brian P. Gaudiose, who forthwith shall give further notice of the adoption of the amendments to the Rules by mailing a copy of this Order, including a clean copy of the attached final amended Rules, to all licensed title insurance companies and other interested parties designated by the Bureau.

(3) The Commission's Division of Information Resources forthwith shall cause a copy of this Order, including a copy of the amended Rules, to be forwarded to the Virginia Register of Regulations for appropriate publication in the Virginia Register of Regulations and shall make this Order and the attached amended Rules available on the Commission's website, http://www.scc.virginia.gov/caseinfo.htm.

(4) The Bureau of Insurance shall file with the Clerk of the Commission an affidavit of compliance with the notice requirements of paragraph (2) of this Order.

14VAC5-395-30. Registration.

Every title insurance agent, title insurance agency and title insurance company that acts as a settlement agent shall be required to be registered with the Virginia State Bar bureau in accordance with the provisions of § 6.1-2.26 of the Code of Virginia.

14VAC5-395-40. Insurance and bonding requirements.

A. At the time of registration with the Virginia State Bar, every title insurance agent and title insurance agency acting as a settlement agent shall file with the bureau a certification on a form prescribed by the bureau, that the settlement agent has, and thereafter shall keep in force for as long as they are acting as a settlement agent, the following:

1. An errors and omissions insurance policy providing limits of at least $250,000 per occurrence or per claim and issued by an insurer authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

2. A blanket fidelity bond or employee dishonesty insurance policy providing limits of at least $100,000 per occurrence or per claim and issued by an insurer authorized to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Settlement agents that have no employees except the owners, partners, shareholders, or members may request a waiver of this requirement on their certification form.

B. Every title insurance agent and title insurance agency that acts as a settlement agent in the Commonwealth of Virginia or is registered with the Virginia State Bar shall file with the bureau a an original surety bond in an amount not less than $200,000 on a form prescribed by the bureau. The original surety bond shall be filed with the bureau at the time of registration with the Virginia State Bar and, if such bond is canceled, at the time a replacement bond is issued.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE (14VAC5-395)

Statement on Auditing Standards, Special Reports, July 1, 1989, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Securities Act Regulations (SEC970016).