Section 500.2082 - Racial discrimination by life insurers prohibited; violation; penalty.
THE INSURANCE CODE OF 1956 (EXCERPT)
Act 218 of 1956
500.2082 Racial discrimination by life insurers prohibited; violation; penalty.
Sec. 2082.
(1) No life insurer doing business in this state shall make any distinction or discrimination between white persons and colored persons, wholly or partially of African descent, as to the premiums or rates charged for policies upon the lives of such persons, or in any other manner whatever; nor shall any such insurer demand or require a greater premium from such colored persons than is at that time required by such insurer from white persons of the same age, sex, general condition of health and prospect of longevity; nor make or require any rebate, diminution or discount upon the amount to be paid on such policy in case of death of such colored person insured; nor insert in the policy any condition, nor make any stipulation whereby such person insured shall bind himself or his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns to accept any sum less than the full amount or value of such policy in case of a claim accruing thereon by reason of the death of such person insured, other than such as are imposed on white persons in similar cases; and any such stipulations or conditions so made or inserted shall be void.
(2) Any insurer which violates any of the provisions of this section shall forfeit to the state the sum of $500.00 for each violation, to be recovered by the attorney general by appropriate action in any court of competent jurisdiction, and any judgment therefor may be collected in the same manner as is herein provided for collecting judgments rendered in favor of policyholders. And any officer or agent who violates any of the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 1 year, or by a fine of not less than $50.00, and not exceeding $500.00, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.
History: 1956, Act 218, Eff. Jan. 1, 1957
Popular Name: Act 218