Subd. 1. Requirement.

No person shall act or assume to act as an insurance agent in the solicitation or procurement of applications for insurance, nor in the sale of insurance or policies of insurance, nor in any manner aid as an insurance agent in the negotiation of insurance by or with an insurer, including resident agents or reciprocal or interinsurance exchanges and fraternal benefit societies, until that person obtains from the commissioner a license for that purpose. The license must specifically set forth the name of the person authorized to act as an agent and the class or classes of insurance for which that person is authorized to solicit or countersign policies. An insurance agent may qualify for a license to sell: (1) life and health; (2) life and health and variable contracts; (3) property and casualty; (4) travel baggage; (5) bail bonds; (6) title insurance; and (7) farm property and liability.

No insurer shall appoint or reappoint a natural person, partnership, or corporation to act as an insurance agent on its behalf until that natural person, partnership, or corporation obtains a license as an insurance agent.

Subd. 2. Partnerships and corporations.

A license issued to a partnership or corporation must be solely in the name of the entity to which it is issued; provided that each partner, director, officer, stockholder, or employee of the licensed entity who is personally engaged in the solicitation or negotiation of a policy of insurance on behalf of the licensed entity shall be personally licensed as an insurance agent.

Upon request by the commissioner, each partnership and corporation licensed as an insurance agent shall provide the commissioner with a list of the names of each partner, director, officer, stockholder, and employee who is required to hold a valid insurance agent's license.

Subd. 3. Transition.

1. (a) Any agent who is qualified for life or accident and health as of June 1, 1981, is qualified for a life and health license under Laws 1981, chapter 307, and is appointed by an insurer which has submitted a written requisition for a license for that agent as of June 1, 1981.
2. (b) Any agent who is qualified for one or more lines of insurance, excluding life or accident and health and farm property liability as of June 1, 1981, is qualified for a property and casualty license under Laws 1981, chapter 307, and is appointed by any insurer which has submitted a written requisition for a license for that agent as of June 1, 1981.

Subd. 4. Criminal penalties.

A person who acts or assumes to act as an insurance agent without a valid license issued by the commissioner is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.