District of Columbia Code
Subchapter I - Establishment of the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking
§ 31–104.01. Emergency authority of the Commissioner during a declared public emergency

*NOTE: This section was created by temporary legislation that will expire on December 29, 2022.*
(a) For the duration of a public emergency declared by the Mayor pursuant to § 7-2304, and to address the circumstances giving rise to that emergency, the Commissioner may issue emergency rulemaking, orders, or bulletins that:
(1) Apply to any person or entity regulated by the Commissioner; and
(2) Address:
(A) Submission of claims or proof of loss;
(B) Grace periods for payment of premiums and performance of other duties by insureds;
(C) Temporary postponement of:
(i) Cancellations;
(ii) Nonrenewals; or
(iii) Premium increases;
(D) Modifications to insurance policies;
(E) Insurer operations;
(F) Filing requirements;
(G) Procedures for obtaining nonelective-health care services;
(H) Time restrictions for filling or refilling prescription drugs;
(I) Time frames applicable to an action by the Commissioner under this section;
(J) Temporarily waiving application of laws, rulemaking, or requirements to ensure that depository services, non-depository services, and securities transactions can continue to be provided, including allowing for the opening of a temporary service location, which may be a mobile branch, temporary office space, or other facility; and
(K) Any other activity related to insurance, securities, and banking under the purview of the Commissioner reasonably calculated to protect the health, safety, and welfare of District residents during the public emergency.
(b) The Commissioner may require licensees to answer questions related to, and submit documentation of, the licensee's continuity of operations plan.
(c)(1) To accomplish the purposes of this section, the Commissioner may issue emergency rulemaking, orders, or bulletins pursuant to this section specifying:
(A) That the rulemaking, order, or bulletin is effective immediately;
(B) The line or lines of business or the class or classes of licenses to which the regulation, order, or bulletin applies;
(C) The geographic areas to which the regulation, order, or bulletin applies; and
(D) The period of time for which the regulation, order, or bulletin applies.
(2) A regulation issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not apply for longer than the duration of the effects of the declared public emergency.
(May 18, 2022, D.C. Law 24-124, § 2, 69 DCR 002677.)
For temporary (90 days) creation of this section, see § 2 of Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking Emergency Powers Emergency Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Act 24-335, Feb. 4, 2022, 69 DCR 001468).
For temporary (225 days) creation of this section, see § 2 of Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking Emergency Powers Temporary Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-124, May 18, 2022, 69 DCR 002677).