Illinois Statutes Chapter 215. Insurance § 5/500-115. Financial responsibilities

(a) Any money that an insurance producer, limited line producer, temporary insurance producer, business entity, or surplus line producer receives for soliciting, negotiating, effecting, procuring, renewing, continuing, or binding policies of insurance shall be held in a fiduciary capacity and shall not be misappropriated, converted, or improperly withheld. An insurance company that delivers to any insurance producer in this State a policy or contract for insurance pursuant to the application or request of an insurance producer, authorizes the producer to collect or receive on its behalf payment of any premium that is due on the policy or contract for insurance at the time of its issuance or delivery and any premium that becomes due on the policy or contract not more than 90 days thereafter.

(b) An insurer that issues a policy of insurance shall be deemed to have received payment of the premium if the insured paid any insurance producer requesting the coverage. The insurer shall be responsible to the insured for any return premium.

(c) In the case of open accounts receivable with the balance payable to an insurance producer within a specified period of 90 days or less, where the balance is not fully paid within that period, a late charge not exceeding 1.5% per month may be added by the insurance producer to the unpaid balance to induce payment of the premium.

(d) If an insurance producer or surplus line producer knowingly misappropriates or converts to his or her own use or illegally withholds fiduciary moneys in the amount of $150 or less, he or she is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for subsequent conversions, misappropriations, and withholdings of that nature. If an insurance producer or surplus line producer knowingly misappropriates or converts to his or her own use or illegally withholds premiums in excess of $150, he or she is guilty of a Class 3 felony.