§ 15028.7

(a) A public adjuster who receives, accepts, or holds any funds on behalf of an insured towards the settlement of a claim for loss or damage shall deposit the funds in a non-interest-bearing escrow or trust account in a financial institution that is insured by an agency of the federal government in the adjuster’s home state or the state where the loss occurred.

(b) All funds held in an escrow or trust account shall be the property of the insured and shall be held pursuant to a written contract signed by the insured and the public adjuster.

(c) A public adjuster who receives any fiduciary funds shall, within 15 business days of receipt, deposit the funds in the escrow account and provide a written statement to the insured showing the amount of funds received and deposited in escrow.

(d) A public adjuster who, after reasonable diligence, is unable to obtain the endorsements of all payees designated on any bank draft representing fiduciary funds, or who receives a written statement from the insured indicating that he or she does not wish to establish an escrow or trust account, shall be exempt from the requirements of subdivisions (a) to (c), inclusive.

(e) The endorsement by a payee designated on any bank draft representing fiduciary funds shall not be construed as a waiver of any potential right of the payee to dispute the public adjuster’s entitlement to those funds or any portion thereof.

(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 448, Sec. 17. Effective January 1, 2006.)