DOMESTIC Background: B ADVANCE On June 25, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled the federal Defense PARTNERSHIPS OR CIVIL UNIONS of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional in This decision LILS #55 Same-Sex Obergefell v. Hodges. states the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by Marriage both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Health Insurance Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Domestic SR Liaison: Rowden partnerships, a legal contract between adults to be joined in a relationship, Life Insurance: similar to but not the same legally as marriage remain in practice. For our Generally purposes, they are the same as they may affect payment of life insurance proceeds and health benefit payments. Position: Monitor bills regarding domestic partnerships that require domestic partners to register with the state and permit insurers to require an affidavit of domestic partnership. Monitor bills regarding civil unions. Compliance Notes: Bills are advanced because provisions that extend the same rights and benefits of spouses to partners in a domestic partnership or civil union may impact insurance and annuity benefits. Insurance is not usually specified in the bills, but regulatory action may follow to explain how the new law impacts insurance. Web Keywords: civil unions, same sex marriage B ADVANCE ELECTRONIC Background: COMMERCE: Electronic commerce is a broad term that encompasses electronic activities Privacy (Wolf) relating to the marketing, selling, or servicing of goods and services over the Premium Tax GENERALLY (Witt) Internet or via another electronic medium. Because the area of electronic commerce is emerging new issues arise that may not have been contemplated. LILS # 62 UETA & This keyword should serve as the for electronic commerce issues E-Commerce Laws “catch-all” that affect the business of insurance generally. Some examples include web Specific to Insurers site advertising, jurisdiction, content; unsolicited email; etc. Position: Monitor any proposal related to electronic commerce. Compliance Notes: Electronic commerce is a general catch-all and could include tax payment or filings too.
DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS OR CIVIL UNIONS Health Insurance Life Insurance: Generally Background: On June 25, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act to be unconstitutional in Obergefell v. Hodges. This decision states the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Domestic partnerships, a legal contract between adults to be joined in a relationship, similar to but not the same legally as marriage remain in practice. For our purposes, they are the same as they may affect payment of life insurance proceeds and health benefit payments. Position: Monitor bills regarding domestic partnerships that require domestic partners to register with the state and permit insurers to require an affidavit of domestic partnership. Monitor bills regarding civil unions. Compliance Notes: Bills are advanced because provisions that extend the same rights and benefits of spouses to partners in a domestic partnership or civil union may impact insurance and annuity benefits. Insurance is not usually specified in the bills, but regulatory action may follow to explain how the new law impacts insurance. Web Keywords: civil unions, same sex marriage B ADVANCE LILS #55 Same-Sex Marriage SR Liaison: Rowden ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: GENERALLY Background: Electronic commerce is a broad term that encompasses electronic activities relating to the marketing, selling, or servicing of goods and services over the Internet or via another electronic medium. Because the area of electronic commerce is emerging new issues arise that may not have been contemplated. This keyword should serve as the “catch-all” for electronic commerce issues that affect the business of insurance generally. Some examples include web site advertising, jurisdiction, content; unsolicited email; etc. Position: Monitor any proposal related to electronic commerce. Compliance Notes: Electronic commerce is a general catch-all and could include tax payment or filings too. B ADVANCE Privacy (Wolf) Premium Tax (Witt) LILS # 62 UETA & E-Commerce Laws Specific to Insurers