§ 74-18n-1. Insurance Fraud Unit.

A.  There is hereby created within the Office of the Attorney General an Insurance Fraud Unit.

B.  The Insurance Fraud Unit, upon inquiry or complaint or upon referral from the Insurance Department, shall determine the extent, if any, to which a violation has occurred of any statute or administrative rule of this state pertaining to insurance fraud and may initiate any necessary investigation, civil action, criminal action, referral to the Insurance Commissioner or Insurance Department, referral to a district attorney, or referral to any appropriate official of this or any other state or of the federal government.

C.  In the absence of fraud, bad faith, reckless disregard for the truth, or actual malice, no person, insurer, or agent of an insurer shall be liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for supplying information about suspected insurance fraud to the Insurance Fraud Unit of the Office of the Attorney General or any other agency involved in the investigation or prosecution of suspected insurance fraud.

D.  The Attorney General and the Office of the Attorney General, the Insurance Commissioner, the Insurance Department, every district attorney, and every law enforcement agency shall cooperate and coordinate efforts for the investigation and prosecution of suspected insurance fraud.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 344, § 5, emerg. eff. June 8, 1999.