Section 27-34-5

Applicability of chapter - Exceptions.

(a) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to affect or apply to:

(1) Grand or subordinate lodges of societies, orders or associations now doing business in this state which provide benefits exclusively through local or subordinate lodges;

(2) Grand or subordinate lodges of societies, orders, or associations now doing business in this state which provide for a death benefit of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) to any one person, provided that no commission or other direct compensation is paid with respect to the sale of such death benefit contracts;

(3) Orders, societies or associations which admit to membership only persons engaged in one or more crafts or hazardous occupations, in the same or similar lines of business, and the ladies' societies or ladies' auxiliaries to such orders, societies or associations;

(4) Domestic societies which limit their membership to employees of a particular city or town, designated firm, business house or corporation which provide for a death benefit of not more than $400.00 or disability benefits of not more than $350.00 to any person in any one year, or both; or

(5) Domestic societies or associations of a purely religious, charitable or benevolent description which provide for a death benefit of not more than $400.00 or for disability benefits of not more than $350.00 to any one person in any one year, or both.

(b) Any such society or association described in subdivision (a)(4) or (a)(5) of this section which provides for death or disability benefits for which benefit certificates are issued and any such society or association included in subdivision (a)(5) of this section which has more than 1,000 members shall not be exempted from the provisions of this chapter, but shall comply with all requirements thereof.

(c) No society which, by the provisions of this section, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter, except any society described in subdivision (a)(3) of this section, shall give or allow, or promise to give or allow, to any person any compensation for procuring new members.

(d) Every society which provides for benefits in case of death or disability resulting solely from accident and which does not obligate itself to pay natural death or sick benefits shall have all of the privileges, and be subject to all the applicable provisions and regulations of this chapter; except, that the provisions thereof relating to medical examination, valuations of benefit certificates and incontestability shall not apply to such society.

(e) The commissioner may require from any society or association, by examination or otherwise, such information as will enable him to determine whether such society or association is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

Societies, exempted under the provisions of this section, shall also be exempt from all other provisions of the insurance laws of this state.

(Acts 1911, No. 476, p. 700; Acts 1931, No. 55, p. 71; Acts 1971, No. 407, p. 707, §676; Act 2000-692, p. 1409, §1.)