Personal Commercial Solicitation on DoD Installations, 38760-38770 [E6-10360]
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38760
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involvement pursuant to § 1031.13. The
approval may indicate the duration of
the approval and any other conditions.
(2) Communicate, within the scope of
their duties, with a voluntary standard
group, representative, or other
committee member, concerning
voluntary standards activities which are
not substantive in nature.
(b) Commission employees may
communicate with voluntary standards
organizations only in accordance with
Commission procedures.
(c) Commissioners can engage in
substantive and non-substantive written
communications with voluntary
standards bodies or representatives,
provided a disclaimer in such
communications indicates that any
substantive views expressed are only
their individual views and are not
necessarily those of the Commission.
Where a previous official Commission
vote has taken place, that vote should
also be noted in any such
communication. Copies of such
communications shall thereafter be
provided to the other Commissioners,
the Office of the Secretary, and the
Voluntary Standards Coordinator.
(d) The Voluntary Standards
Coordinator shall be furnished a copy of
each written communication of a
substantive nature and a report of each
oral communication of a substantive
nature between a Commission official or
employee and a voluntary standards
organization or representative which
pertains to a voluntary standards
activity. The information shall be
provided to the Voluntary Standards
Coordinator as soon as practicable after
the communication has taken place.
Subpart C—Public Participation and
Comment
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§ 1031.16
Purpose and scope.
(a) This subpart sets forth the
Consumer Product Safety Commission’s
criteria and requirements governing
public review and comment on staff
involvement in the activities of
voluntary standards development
bodies.
(b) The Commission realizes there are
advantages and benefits afforded by
greater public awareness of staff
involvement in standards development
activities. Furthermore, the Commission
recognizes public comment and input as
an important part of the voluntary
standards development process.
(c) The purpose of this subpart is to
further the objectives and programs of
the Commission and to do so in a
manner that ensures openness and
transparency.
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§ 1031.17
Background.
(a) In a Federal Register Notice (Vol.
69, No. 200) dated October 18, 2004, the
CPSC announced that it was launching
a pilot program to open CPSC staff
activities for public review and
comment. The pilot program covered
information on CPSC staff participation
with respect to a cross-section of
voluntary standards, including advance
notice of proposed staff positions on
issues to be considered by voluntary
standards organizations. The program
was based on the premise that increased
public awareness and participation
would enhance the quality and
conclusions of the proposed
recommendations made by CPSC staff.
(b) The pilot program ended on April
18, 2005, after a 6-month period. CPSC
invited general comments on whether to
continue the programs beyond the pilot
period and solicited suggestions for
improving the program.
(c) On July 28, 2005, the CPSC staff
submitted to the Commission an
assessment of the pilot program’s
results, including data that indicated the
voluntary standards site ranked among
the top 20 directories visited on the
CPSC Web site. Further, the report
included the staff’s recommendation
that the voluntary standards Web site be
expanded to include information on all
standards activities.
(d) On August 4, 2005, in accordance
with the staff’s recommendation, the
Commission voted unanimously to
continue the voluntary standards
program and expand it to include all
voluntary standards activities.
§ 1031.18
Method of review and comment.
(a) Each of the voluntary standards
activities in which Commission staff is
involved shall have a unique Web link
on the Commission Web site with
relevant information regarding CPSC
activity, including:
(1) The name(s) of CPSC staff working
on the activity; and
(2) The e-mail and mailing addresses
of the CPSC Office of the Secretary, to
which any interested party may
communicate their particular interest.
(b) E-mail and written comments on
voluntary standards from the public to
the CPSC shall be managed by the Office
of the Secretary. Such communication
shall be forwarded to appropriate staff
for consideration and/or response.
(c) On the voluntary standards Web
site, consumers shall have the
opportunity to register for periodic email notices from the Commission with
respect to their standard of interest.
Such notices shall be issued by the
CPSC each time a voluntary standard
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site has been updated and no less than
once every calendar year.
Dated: June 30, 2006.
Alberta E. Mills,
Acting Secretary, Consumer Product Safety
Commission.
[FR Doc. E6–10572 Filed 7–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6355–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[DoD–2006–OS–0065]
32 CFR Parts 43 and 50
RIN 0790–AH87
Personal Commercial Solicitation on
DoD Installations
Department of Defense, Office
of the Secretary of Defense.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This rule amends and
removes the Department regulations
relating to policy and procedures on
personal commercial solicitation on
DoD installations. It incorporates
current policy letters that were issued
since the last publication of the
regulations in February 1986. They
include policy on use of on-base
financial institutions and non-profit, tax
exempt, private organizations to provide
financial education; limits on the use of
commercial sponsorship to obtain
personal contact information for
solicitation; and required reporting of
solicitation policy violations to higher
headquarters. The revision also includes
a new solicitation evaluation form to
help installations detect solicitation
policy violations.
DATES: Effective Date: July 10, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Colonel Michael A. Pachuta or Mr.
James M. Ellis at (703) 602–4994 or
(703) 602–5009 respectively, or main
(703) 602–5001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 (70 FR 20316),
the Department of Defense published a
proposed rule. The following is a
summary of substantive comments,
whether or not they were accepted or
rejected, and the rationale.
Comment 1: DepSecDef Memo, DoD
Instructions Review—Phase II directed,
where feasible, to change Directives not
requiring the SECDEF or DEPSEC
signature to Instructions.
Decision: Accepted. 1344.7 does not
meet the DepSecDef’s criteria to remain
a DoD Directive and will be reissued as
a DoD Instruction.
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Comment 2: Two civilians
recommended all on-post insurance
solicitation be banned.
Decision: Rejected: The purpose of the
Instruction is not to prohibit insurance
solicitation but to prevent unfair and
predatory sales practices.
Comment 3: The American Council of
Life Insurers recommends the
solicitation office supervisor send a
copy of each solicitation evaluation
form received to each registered
company or company the solicitor
represents.
Decision: Rejected: The solicitation
evaluation form is an internal feedback
tool to assess how the solicitation was
performed. The agent or company may
request a copy by submitting a Freedom
of Information Act request.
Comment 4: A Marine Corps Captain
recommends an on-base entity, such as
a civil law officer from base legal office,
screen insurance sales personnel
seeking base access.
Decision: Accepted. Para 6.2.2. now
states: ‘‘Commanders will ensure the
agent’s license status and complaint
history are checked with the appropriate
state or federal regulators prior to
granting permission to solicit on the
installation.’’
Comment 5: Military Benefits
Association believes DD Form 2885
(solicitation evaluation) is biased,
recommends it be rewritten to remove
any propensity to evoke a critical
response, and a copy of submitted forms
should be provided to both the agent
and insurer.
Decision: Rejected. The questions are
balanced and necessary to determine
whether or not the solicitor complied
with DoD commercial solicitation
policy. The commander has the
discretion to provide the agent and
insurer a copy of the form. The agent or
insurer can also request a copy of
completed forms under the Freedom of
Information Act.
Comment 6: Government Personnel
Mutual Life Insurance recommends DD
Form 2885 (solicitation evaluation) be
made available to the company the
salesman represents.
Decision: Rejected. The commander
should have the discretion to provide
the form to the company when it is
appropriate to do so. The agent or
company can request a copy of
completed forms under the Freedom of
Information Act.
Comment 7: United Services
Automobile Association recommends
DoD prohibit solicitation of all trainees
as well as solicitation of any DoD
personnel in a mass or captive audience.
Decision: Accepted. The current
policy prohibits solicitation of recruits,
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trainees and transient personnel in a
mass audience, which is appropriate to
protect the most junior and
inexperienced DoD personnel from
potential chain of command and peer
pressure associated with such a
solicitation. The new policy prohibits
solicitation of any DoD personnel in a
captive audience where their attendance
is not completely voluntary.
Comment 8: First Command requested
clarification of ‘‘on-duty status’’ and to
exclude meal times from being
considered ‘‘duty time’’ for the purposes
of prohibiting solicitation.
Decision: Partially accepted. If the
purpose of the on-base meal time
meeting is to seek business or trade, it
is considered solicitation. To clarify, we
expanded the definition of Personal
Commercial Solicitation in paragraph
E2.1.15. as follows: ‘‘Personal contact, to
include meetings, meals or
telecommunications contact, for the
purpose of seeking private business or
trade’’.
Comment 9: Military Benefits
Association agrees that rosters and other
official lists should not be used for
solicitation; however, they believe there
are many legitimate sources, i.e.,
telephone directories, the Internet, and
commercially available mailing lists, the
procurement of which should not be a
violation of DoD policy.
Decision: Accepted. We rewrote
paragraph 6.4.5. to clarify that it is
prohibited to procure ‘‘non-public
listings’’ of DoD personnel for the
purpose of solicitation. Note: DoD
telephone directories are ‘‘For Official
Use Only’’ and are considered ‘‘nonpublic listings’’.
Comment 10: The American Council
of Life Insurers recommends paragraph
6.4.5. be changed to clarify that it is
permitted to procure ‘‘listings created by
or obtained from public information
such as e.g., telephone directories,
government records other than Defense
Department records, and newspapers’’
for the purpose of solicitation. ACLI
further recommends DoD clarify that:
‘‘Public information can be utilized for
the purposes of commercial solicitation
of Service members as long as the listing
is not directly for DoD personnel or in
a manner that would be disruptive to
the mission of the Military
Departments.’’
Decision: Accepted. We rewrote
paragraph 6.4.5. to clarify it is
prohibited to procure ‘‘non-public
listings’’ of DoD personnel for the
purpose of solicitation.
Comment 11: Military Benefits
Association recommends that contacting
DoD personnel via a government phone
should not be a DoD policy violation if
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the DoD member provided the number
or if the agent did not know it was a
government phone.
Decision: Accepted. The new policy
does not consider solicitor contact via a
government phone a violation if a preexisting relationship exists between the
parties. We have expanded paragraph
6.4.15. to clarify that a pre-existing
relationship means the DoD member is
a current client and did not request
contact to be terminated.
Comment 12: Office of the
Connecticut State Attorney General
recommends the list of grounds that
may result in denial, suspension, or
withdrawal of solicitation privileges
should also include ‘‘any violations of
the law of the state in which the base
is located.’’
Decision: Accepted. Added to the end
of paragraph 6.5.1.1.
Comment 13: First Command
recommends SF 1199A (direct deposit
sign-up form) be included in the
definition of allotment forms solicitors
are prohibited to possess.
Decision: Accepted. Added to
paragraph 6.5.1.6.
Comment 14: A Marine Corps Captain
recommends rewording paragraph
6.5.1.6. to include: ‘‘The possession of
and any attempt to obtain supplies of
allotment forms used by military
departments, or possession or use of
facsimiles thereof. This includes using a
Service members ‘‘MyPay’’ account or
other similar internet medium for the
purpose of establishing a direct deposit
for the purchase of insurance or other
investment product.’’
Decision: Accepted. Added to
paragraph 6.5.1.6.
Comment 15: The National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends reporting all complaints
involving insurance products be
reported immediately to the appropriate
state insurance department.
Decision: Accepted. Expanded
paragraph 6.5.4. to require commanders
to immediately report agents, companies
or products that fail to meet state or
regulatory requirements to the
appropriate regulatory authorities.
Comment 16: Trans World Assurance
recommends the ‘‘show cause’’
requirement in the current version of
DoD Directive 1344.7 be retained in the
new Instruction.
Decision: Accepted. Paragraph 6.5.5.
was rewritten to restore the ‘‘show
cause’’ requirement.
Comment 17: A Government
Accountability Office audit
recommends: ‘‘the SecDef direct the
USD(P&R) to specify in the revised
Directive that the installation
commander is responsible for notifying
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state insurance regulators, the Service
Secretariat and DoD, when the
commander has determined that agents
or companies have violated DoD,
Service, or installation policies.’’
Decision: Partially accepted. Not all
DoD personal commercial solicitation
policy violations, such as soliciting
without an appointment or soliciting
during duty hours, are not violations of
State or Federal law and would be of no
interest to State and Federal insurance
and financial product regulators.
Paragraph 6.5.5. was rewritten to require
installations to report violations that
involve the eligibility of the agent to
hold a state license or meet regulatory
requirements, complaints involving the
quality, suitability or marketing
methods, or if an agent or company is
barred or suspended, to the appropriate
state or federal regulatory authorities.
Comment 18: A civilian recommends
DoD require reporting of abusive market
conduct (deceptive sales practices) to
State insurance regulators.
Decision: Accepted. Added this
requirement to paragraph 6.5.5.
Comment 19: A Government
Accountability Office audit
recommended the SecDef direct
USD(P&R) to develop and implement,
with the Services, a DoD-wide
searchable violations database that uses
consistent data elements and coding
across Services in revising DoD’s
solicitation regulation.
Decision: Partially accepted. The
Department has developed a DoD-wide
list of current enforcement actions and
posted it on the DoD Commanders Page
Web site https://
www.commanderspage.com. Paragraph
6.5.6. was expanded to include the
requirement for installations to report
denial, suspension, or withdrawal of
solicitation privileges to PDUSD(P&R)
so that information can be included on
this list. The Department believes
maintaining a list, which includes
violations that do not result in denial,
suspension, or withdrawal of
solicitation privileges, would dilute the
validity and utility of the list.
Comment 20: The American Council
of Life Insurers recommends DoD
guidance found in Title 32 at
43.6(e)(2)(vi) be maintained to assure
that, as a matter of due process, the
lifting of a denial or withdrawal is
communicated effectively to every office
and Department.
Decision: Accepted. Expanded
paragraph 6.5.7. to require
PDUSD(P&R), the Military Departments,
and appropriate State and Federal
regulatory agencies are notified when
suspensions or withdrawals are lifted.
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Comment 21: American Fidelity Life
Insurance Company recommends the
discontinuance of the use of ‘‘off limits’’
sanctions by the Armed Forces
Disciplinary Control Board (AFDCB).
Decision: Rejected. The long-standing
DoD policy contained in paragraph
6.5.8. authorizes the Secretaries of the
Military Departments to direct Armed
Forces Disciplinary Control Boards to
consider applicable information for
withdrawal of solicitation privileges and
take action the Boards deem
appropriate. One action the Boards may
deem appropriate is to place an off-base
establishment ‘‘off-limits’’ to military
personnel. That authority must remain
available to Commanders as a means to
protect the health, morale and welfare of
their personnel.
Comment 22: The National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends DoD prohibit the display
of sales material by solicitors since such
a display may be interpreted as an
endorsement of a company’s products.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph 6.6.4.
gives the installation commander the
discretion to permit the display of sales
literature in designated locations.
Commanders must ensure compliance
with the Joint Ethics Regulation, which
regulates DoD endorsement of nonfederal entities.
Comment 23: The Defense Credit
Union Council praised DoD for
including a prohibition in paragraph
6.6.4. to prohibit off-base banks and
credit unions from distributing
competitive literature or forms which
mirrors guidance contained in Volume
5, Chapter 34 of the DoD Financial
Management Regulation.
Decision: Accepted. Added to para
6.6.4.
Comment 24: The Defense Credit
Union Council recommends adding
language to ensure sales representatives
possess the necessary credentials
(securities licenses and certifications) to
provide financial education and advice.
Decision: Partially accepted. Longstanding DoD policy precludes
commercial agents from providing
financial education. However, we added
a requirement in paragraph 6.2.2. to
check insurance and financial product
solicitor’s license and complaint
history.
Comment 25: The Military Benefits
Association recommends financial
counseling be provided by trained
certified personnel, should include
information on a wide-range of
commercial products and not simply be
reinforcement for SGLI.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph 6.7.1.
identifies a wide-range of financial
counseling topics and paragraph 6.7.2.
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requires the Military Departments to
ensure financial counselors are
qualified.
Comment 26: The Defense Credit
Union Council recommends on-base
banks and credit unions be required to
provide financial education and
training.
Decision: Partially accepted.
Paragraph 6.7.5. of the Instruction
advises Commanders that on-base banks
and credit unions are required to
provide financial counseling services as
part of their financial services offerings
but does not mandate their use.
Comment 27: The American Fidelity
Insurance Company recommends onbase banks and credit unions not be
given preferential treatment in
providing financial education classes.
Decision: Rejected. The draft policy
does not mandate the use of on-base
banks and credit unions to provide
financial education and mirrors
guidance already contained in the DoD
Financial Management Regulation.
Comment 28: The American Council
of Life Insurers recommends all
financial services professionals,
including insurance producers and
carriers, be allowed to demonstrate their
professional qualifications and ability to
provide objective financial counseling
services to military service personnel.
Or alternatively, that DoD use the
services offered by the Life and Health
Insurance Foundation for Education
(https://www.life-line.org) or the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
or by the state where a military
installation is located to provide
financial counseling services.
Decision: Partially accepted. Longstanding DoD policy prohibits the use of
commercial agents to provide financial
education to DoD personnel. If the other
non-governmental organizations, such
as the Life and Health Insurance
Foundation or the National Association
of Insurance Commissioners qualify as
501(c) 3 or 501(c) 23 organizations, the
Military Departments can approve them
to provide financial education in
accordance with paragraph 6.7.6.3.
Comment 29: The Military Officers
Association of America recommends the
Military Departments be authorized to
approve IRS category 501(c) 19
organizations to conduct military
benefits and financial education
briefings to DoD personnel, that IRS
category 501(c) 23 organizations are
permitted to provide.
Decision: Rejected. By law, the
principal purpose of 501(c) 23
organizations must be to provide
insurance and other benefits to veterans
and their dependents. 501(c) 19
organizations must be operated for one
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or more of eight purposes, which may
or may not include providing insurance
benefits for its members or their
dependents.
Comment 30: The National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends DoD include the NAIC’s
informational brochure ‘‘Life Insurance
for Military Personnel’’ in any education
program.
Decision: Partially accepted. The
NAIC’s brochure could be made
available for use if the NAIC qualifies as
a 501(c) 3 tax exempt organization and
secures a memorandum of agreement to
become a DoD financial education
partner. The Department and NAIC have
drafted an MOU to permit use of this
brochure in military financial education
classes.
Comment 31: First Command
recommends DoD delete: ‘‘personal
computer banking’’ from the definition
of ‘‘Financial Services’’ in Enclosure 2
or add: ‘‘other financial institutions can
provide personal computer banking as
long as access can be made via
computer and/or internet.’’
Decision: Accepted. Deleted ‘‘and
personal computer banking’’ from
parenthetical intended to elaborate on
the meaning of ‘‘electronic banking’’ in
paragraph E2.1.8.
Comment 32: The National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends the definition of ‘‘insurer’’
be changed to: ‘‘an entity licensed by
the appropriate department to engage in
the business of insurance.’’
Decision: Accepted. Incorporated into
paragraph E2.1.12.
Comment 33: The District of
Columbia Government Department of
Insurance, Securities and Banking
recommends the definition of
‘‘Solicitation’’ be stated in the
disjunctive rather than the conjunctive
to avoid ambiguity.
Decision: Accepted. We revised the
definition of ‘‘Personal Commercial
Solicitation’’ in paragraph E2.1.15. and
eliminated all ‘‘conjunctive
ambiguities.’’
Comment 34: First Command
recommends changing the definition of
‘‘Solicitation’’ to: ‘‘The act of offering a
product of service for sale by a private
business including the offering and sale
of insurance or securities on a military
installation.’’
Decision: Rejected. Although these
words are in the current Directive’s
definition of Solicitation, they focus
more on what is sold versus how
something is sold. Solicitation concerns
how something is sold versus what is
sold. Therefore, we rewrote the
definition in paragraph E2.1.15. to focus
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the definition of ‘‘Personal Commercial
Solicitation’’ on how something is sold.
Comment 35: First Command
recommends letting the insurance
policy suffice as a written description
for each product or service the
companies intend to market to DoD
personnel.
Decision: Partially accepted. Deleted
the word ‘‘separate’’ before ‘‘written
description for each product or service’’
in paragraph E3.1. so the policy itself
could meet the ‘‘written description
requirement’’ if all other subsequent
prerequisite requirements outlined in
this paragraph are met.
Comment 36: The National
Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends adding the following to
paragraph E3.1.: ‘‘Companies should be
able to demonstrate that each form to be
used has been approved, where
applicable, by the insurance department
in which the state is located’’.
Decision: Accepted. Added to
paragraph E3.1.
Comment 37: Office of the
Connecticut Attorney General
recommended any insurance product
offered for sale by a commercial
solicitor must be filed with the
insurance commissioner of the state in
which the installation is located.
Decision: Accepted. Added the
following to paragraph E3.1:
‘‘Companies should be able to
demonstrate that each form to be used
has been approved, where applicable,
by the insurance department of the state
where the installation is located.
Insurance products solicited to DoD
personnel on overseas installations must
conform to the standards prescribed by
the laws of the state where the company
is incorporated.’’
Comment 38: First Command
recommends DoD prohibit whole life
policies with restrictive clauses.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph
E3.1.1.2. requires insurance products
sold on DoD installations: ‘‘contain no
restrictions by reason of military service
or military occupational specialty of the
insured, unless such restrictions are
clearly indicated on the face of the
contract’’.
Comment 39: A Marine Corps Captain
recommends having companies that sell
life insurance have Service members
sign a form acknowledging they clearly
understand SGLI, and its cost and
coverage.
Decision: Accepted. Added paragraph
E3.1.1.5. to include a requirement to
inform Service members in writing of
the cost and availability of government
subsidized insurance.
Comment 40: First Command
recommends DoD allow annuity
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contracts to be used to satisfy the
requirements in para E3.1.4. for an agent
to provide the customer written
documentation, which clearly shows
how much of the premium for an
insurance product with a savings
component is allocated to savings and
how much is allocated to insurance
premiums per year over the life of the
policy.
Decision: Accepted. Nothing in the
instruction specifically precludes using
the annuity contract to fulfill this
requirement.
Comment 41: A private citizen
recommends prohibiting allotments
from military paychecks.
Decision: Rejected. Allotments are for
the member’s convenience and help
ensure financial obligations will still be
met when they deploy.
Comment 42: A Government
Accountability Office audit
recommends SecDef direct the
USD(P&R) to clarify the portion of the
revised Directive that pertains to the
cooling off period that must elapse
before junior enlisted personnel can
start as an allotment to purchase
supplemental life insurance.
Decision: Accepted. Paragraph E3.3.2.
was rewritten as follows to make this
clarification: ‘‘For personnel in pay
grades E–4 and below, in order to
provide an opportunity to obtain
financial counseling, at least seven
calendar days shall elapse between the
signing of a life insurance application
and the certification of a military pay
allotment for any supplemental
commercial life insurance. Installation
Finance Officers are responsible for
ensuring this seven-day cooling-off
period is monitored and enforced. The
purchaser’s commanding officer may
grant a waiver of the seven-day coolingoff period requirement for good cause,
such as the purchaser’s imminent
deployment or permanent change of
station’’.
Comment 43: The American Council
of Life Insurers recommends DoD
require insurers to be members of the
Insurance Marketplace Standards
Association (IMSA) in order to be
eligible to solicit insurance on DoD
installations.
Decision: Rejected. Although
requiring IMSA membership would be
desirable, the Joint Ethics Regulation
prohibits this type of federal
endorsement of a non-federal entity and
IMSA membership would not
necessarily guarantee compliance with
DoD policies and IMSA membership
also requires payment of a substantial
fee.
Comment 44: The American Council
of Life Insurers recommends DoD delete
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the restriction that insurance agents and
general agents approved to solicit on
overseas DoD installations may only
represent one registered commercial
insurance company.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph E4.3.2.
allows this restriction to be waived by
the overseas commander if in the best
interests of DoD personnel.
Executive Order 12866, ‘‘Regulatory
Planning and Review’’
It has been determined that 32 CFR
part 50 is not a significant regulatory
action. The rule does not:
(1) Have an annual effect to the
economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the
economy; a section of the economy;
productivity; competition; jobs; the
environment; public health or safety; or
State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or
otherwise interfere with an action taken
or planned by another Agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary
impact of entitlements, grants, user fees,
or loan programs, or the rights and
obligations of recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues
arising out of legal mandates, the
President’s priorities, or the principles
set forth in this Executive Order.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35)
Section B of Appendix B to this rule
contains information collection
requirements. As required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35), DoD has submitted an
information clearance package to the
Office of Management and Budget for
review. In response to DoD’s invitation
to comment on any potential paperwork
burden associated with this rule (70 FR
28514–28515), no comments were
received. However, one favorable
comment was forwarded to the Office of
Management and Budget during the 30day review period (71 FR 29319).
Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
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This regulatory action does not have
federalism implications, as set forth in
Executive Order 13132. It will not have
substantial direct effects on the States,
on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various
levels of government.
Public Law 96–354, ‘‘Regulatory
Flexibility Act’’ (5 U.S.C. Chapter 6)
It has been certified that this rule is
not subject to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not,
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if promulgated, have a significant
economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
(e) Prescribes procedures for
providing financial education programs
to military personnel.
Section 202, Public Law 104–4,
‘‘Unfunded Mandates Reform Act’’
It has been determined that this rule
does not involve a Federal mandate that
may result in the expenditure by State,
local and tribal governments, in the
aggregate, or by the private sector, of
$100 million or more and that such
rulemaking will not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments.
§ 50.2
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Parts 43 and
50
Consumer protection, Federal
buildings and facilities, Government
employees, Life insurance, Military
personnel.
I Accordingly, 32 CFR Chapter I,
subchapter D is proposed to be amended
as follows:
PART 43—[REMOVED]
I
I
1. Part 43 is removed.
2. Part 50 is added to read as follows:
PART 50—PERSONAL COMMERCIAL
SOLICITATION ON DOD
INSTALLATIONS
General Provisions
Sec.
50.1 Purpose.
50.2 Applicability.
50.3 Definitions.
50.4 Policy.
50.5 Responsibilities.
50.6 Procedures.
50.7 Information requirements.
Appendix A to Part 50—Life Insurance
Products and Securities.
Appendix B to Part 50—Overseas Life
Insurance Registration Program.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301.
General Provisions
§ 50.1
Purpose.
This part:
(a) Implements section 577 of Public
Law No. 109–163 (2006) and establishes
policy and procedures for personal
commercial solicitation on DoD
installations.
(b) Continues the established annual
DoD registration requirement for the
sale of insurance and securities on DoD
installations overseas.
(c) Identifies prohibited practices that
may cause withdrawal of commercial
solicitation privileges on DoD
installations and establishes notification
requirements when privileges are
withdrawn.
(d) Establishes procedures for persons
solicited on DoD installations to
evaluate solicitors.
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Applicability.
This part:
(a) Applies to the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, the Military
Departments, the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant
Commands, the Office of the Inspector
General of the Department of Defense,
the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field
Activities, and all other organizational
entities in the Department of Defense
(hereafter referred to collectively as the
‘‘DoD Components’’).
(b) Does not apply to services
furnished by residential service
companies, such as deliveries of milk,
laundry, newspapers, and related
services to personal residences on the
installation requested by the resident
and authorized by the installation
commander.
(c) Applies to all other personal
commercial solicitation on DoD
installations. It includes meetings on
DoD installations of private, non-profit,
tax-exempt organizations that involve
commercial solicitation. Attendance at
these meetings shall be voluntary and
the time and place of such meetings are
subject to the discretion of the
installation commander or his or her
designee.
§ 50.3
Definitions.
Agent. An individual who receives
remuneration as a salesperson or whose
remuneration is dependent on volume
of sales of a product or products. (Also
referred to as ‘‘commercial agent’’ or
‘‘producer’’). In this part, the term
‘‘agent’’ includes ‘‘general agent’’ unless
the content clearly conveys a contrary
intent.
‘‘Authorized’’ Bank and/or Credit
Union. Bank and/or credit union
selected by the installation commander
through open competitive solicitation to
provide exclusive on-base delivery of
financial services to the installation
under a written operating agreement.
Banking institution. An entity
chartered by a State or the Federal
Government to provide financial
services.
Commercial sponsorship. The act of
providing assistance, funding, goods,
equipment (including fixed assets), or
services to an MWR program or event by
an individual, agency, association,
company or corporation, or other entity
(sponsor) for a specified (limited) period
of time in return for public recognition
or advertising promotions. Enclosure 9
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of DoD Instruction 1015.10 1 provides
general policy governing commercial
sponsorship.
Credit union. A cooperative nonprofit
association, incorporated under the
Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1751), or
similar state statute, for the purpose of
encouraging thrift among its members
and creating a source of credit at a fair
and reasonable rate of interest.
DoD installation. For the purposes of
this part, any Federally owned, leased,
or operated base, reservation, post,
camp, building, or other facility to
which DoD personnel are assigned for
duty, including barracks, transient
housing, and family quarters.
DoD personnel. For the purposes of
this part, all active duty officers
(commissioned and warrant) and
enlisted members of the Military
Departments and all civilian employees,
including nonappropriated fund
employees and special Government
employees, of the Department of
Defense.
Financial services. Those services
commonly associated with financial
institutions in the United States, such as
electronic banking (e.g., ATMs), in-store
banking, checking, share and savings
accounts, fund transfers, sale of official
checks, money orders and travelers
checks, loan services, safe deposit
boxes, trust services, sale and
redemption of U.S. Savings Bonds, and
acceptance of utility payments and any
other consumer-related banking
services.
General agent. A person who has a
legal contract to represent a company.
See the definition of ‘‘Agent’’ in this
section.
Insurance carrier. An insurance
company issuing insurance through an
association reinsuring or coinsuring
such insurance.
Insurance product. A policy, annuity,
or certificate of insurance issued by an
insurer or evidence of insurance
coverage issued by a self-insured
association, including those with
savings and investment features.
Insurer. An entity licensed by the
appropriate department to engage in the
business of insurance.
Military services. See Joint Publication
1–02, ‘‘DoD Dictionary of Military and
Associated Terms.’’ 2
Normal home enterprises. Sales or
services that are customarily conducted
in a domestic setting and do not
compete with an installation’s officially
sanctioned commerce.
1 Copies may be obtained at https://www.dtic.mil/
whs/directives/.
2 See https://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/
indexs.html.
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Personal commercial solicitation.
Personal contact, to include meetings,
meals, or telecommunications contact,
for the purpose of seeking private
business or trade.
Securities. Mutual funds, stocks,
bonds, or any product registered with
the Securities and Exchange
Commission except for any insurance or
annuity product issued by a corporation
subject to supervision by State
insurance authorities.
Suspension. Temporary termination
of privileges pending completion of a
commander’s inquiry or investigation.
Withdrawal. Termination of privileges
for a set period of time following
completion of a commander’s inquiry or
investigation.
§ 50.4
Policy.
(a) It is DoD policy to safeguard and
promote the welfare of DoD personnel
as consumers by setting forth a uniform
approach to the conduct of all personal
commercial solicitation and sales to
them by dealers and their agents. For
those individuals and their companies
that fail to follow this policy, the
opportunity to solicit on military
installations may be limited or denied
as appropriate.
(b) Command authority includes
authority to approve or prohibit all
commercial solicitation covered by this
part. Nothing in this part limits an
installation commander’s inherent
authority to deny access to vendors or
to establish time and place restrictions
on commercial activities at the
installation.
§ 50.5
Responsibilities.
(a) The Principal Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and
Readiness (PDUSD(P&R)), under the
Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, shall:
(1) Identify and publish policies and
procedures governing personal
commercial solicitation on DoD
installations consistent with the policy
set forth in this part.
(2) Maintain and make available to
installation commanders and
appropriate Federal personnel the
current master file of all individual
agents, dealers, and companies who
have their privileges withdrawn at any
DoD installation.
(3) Develop and maintain a list of all
State Insurance Commissioners’ points
of contact for DoD matters and forward
this list to the Military Services.
(b) The Heads of the DoD Components
shall:
(1) Ensure implementation of this part
and compliance with its provisions.
(2) Require installations under their
authority to report each instance of
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withdrawal of commercial solicitation
privileges.
(3) Submit lists of all individuals and
companies who have had their
commercial solicitation privileges
withdrawn at installations under their
authority to the PDUSD(P&R) in
accordance with this part.
§ 50.6
Procedures.
(a) General. (1) No person has
authority to enter a DoD installation to
transact personal commercial
solicitation as a matter of right. Personal
commercial solicitation may be
permitted only if the following
requirements are met:
(i) The solicitor is duly licensed under
applicable Federal, State, or municipal
laws and has complied with installation
regulations.
(ii) A specific appointment has been
made for each meeting with the
individual concerned. Each meeting is
conducted only in family quarters or in
other areas designated by the
installation commander.
(iii) The solicitor agrees to provide
each person solicited the personal
commercial solicitation evaluation
included in DD Form 2885 3 during the
initial appointment. The person being
solicited is not required to complete the
evaluation. However, completed
evaluations should be sent by the
person who was solicited to the office
designated by the installation
commander on the back of the
evaluation form.
(iv) The solicitor agrees to provide
DoD personnel with a written reminder,
prior to their making a financial
commitment, that free legal advice is
available from the Office of the Staff
Judge Advocate.
(2) Solicitors on overseas installations
shall be required to observe, in addition
to the above, the applicable laws of the
host country. Upon request, the solicitor
must present documentary evidence to
the installation commander that the
company they represent, and its agents,
meet the applicable licensing
requirements of the host country.
(b) Life insurance products and
securities. (1) Life insurance products
and securities offered and sold to DoD
personnel shall meet the prerequisites
described in § 50.3.
(2) Installation commanders may
permit insurers and their agents to
solicit on DoD installations if the
requirements of paragraph (a) of this
section are met and if they are licensed
under the insurance laws of the State
3 Copies may be obtained from https://
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/
forminfo/forminfopage2239.html.
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where the installation is located.
Commanders will ensure the agent’s
license status and complaint history are
checked with the appropriate State or
Federal regulators before granting
permission to solicit on the installation.
(3) In addition, before approving
insurance and financial product agents’
requests for permission to solicit,
commanders shall review the list of
agents and companies currently barred,
banned, or limited from soliciting on
any or all DoD installations. This list
may be viewed via the Personal
Commercial Solicitation Report ‘‘quick
link’’ at https://
www.commanderspage.com. In overseas
areas, the DoD Components shall limit
insurance solicitation to those insurers
registered under the provisions of
appendix B to this part.
(4) The conduct of all insurance
business on DoD installations shall be
by specific appointment. When
establishing the appointment, insurance
agents shall identify themselves to the
prospective purchaser as an agent for a
specific insurer.
(5) Installation commanders shall
designate areas where interviews by
appointment may be conducted. The
opportunity to conduct scheduled
interviews shall be extended to all
solicitors on an equitable basis. Where
space and other considerations limit the
number of agents using the interviewing
area, the installation commander may
develop and publish local policy
consistent with this concept.
(6) Installation commanders shall
make disinterested third-party
insurance counseling available to DoD
personnel desiring counseling.
Financial counselors shall encourage
DoD personnel to seek legal assistance
or other advice from a disinterested
third-party before entering into a
contract for insurance or securities.
(7) In addition to the solicitation
prohibitions contained in paragraph (d)
of this section, DoD Components shall
prohibit the following:
(i) The use of DoD personnel
representing any insurer, dealing
directly or indirectly on behalf of any
insurer or any recognized representative
of any insurer on the installation, or as
an agent or in any official or business
capacity with or without compensation.
(ii) The use of an agent as a
participant in any Military Servicesponsored education or orientation
program.
(iii) The designation of any agent or
the use by any agent of titles (for
example, ‘‘Battalion Insurance
Counselor,’’ ‘‘Unit Insurance Advisor,’’
‘‘Servicemen’s Group Life Insurance
Conversion Consultant,’’) that in any
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manner, states, or implies any type of
endorsement from the U.S. Government,
the Armed Forces, or any State or
Federal agency or government entity.
(iv) The use of desk space for
interviews for other than a specific
prearranged appointment. During such
appointment, the agent shall not be
permitted to display desk signs or other
materials announcing his or her name or
company affiliation.
(v) The use of an installation ‘‘daily
bulletin,’’ marquee, newsletter, Web
page, or other official notice to
announce the presence of an agent and/
or his or her availability.
(c) Supervision of on-base commercial
activities. (1) All pertinent installation
regulations shall be posted in a place
easily accessible to those conducting
and receiving personal commercial
solicitation on the installation.
(2) The installation commander shall
make available a copy of installation
regulations to anyone conducting onbase commercial solicitation activities
warning that failure to follow the
regulations may result in the loss of
solicitation privileges.
(3) The installation commander, or
designated representative, shall inquire
into any alleged violations of this part
or of any questionable solicitation
practices. The DD Form 2885 is
provided as a means to supervise
solicitation activities on the installation.
(d) Prohibited practices. The
following commercial solicitation
practices shall be prohibited on all DoD
installations:
(1) Solicitation of recruits, trainees,
and transient personnel in a group
setting or ‘‘mass’’ audience and
solicitation of any DoD personnel in a
‘‘captive’’ audience where attendance is
not voluntary.
(2) Making appointments with or
soliciting military or DoD civilian
personnel during their normally
scheduled duty hours.
(3) Soliciting in barracks, day rooms,
unit areas, transient personnel housing,
or other areas where the installation
commander has prohibited solicitation.
(4) Use of official military
identification cards or DoD vehicle
decals by active duty, retired or reserve
members of the Military Services to gain
access to DoD installations for the
purpose of soliciting. When entering the
installation for the purpose of
solicitation, solicitors with military
identification cards and/or DoD vehicle
decals must present documentation
issued by the installation authorizing
solicitation.
(5) Procuring, attempting to procure,
supplying, or attempting to supply nonpublic listings of DoD personnel for
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purposes of commercial solicitation,
except for releases made in accordance
with DoD Directive 5400.7.4
(6) Offering unfair, improper, or
deceptive inducements to purchase or
trade.
(7) Using promotional incentives to
facilitate transactions or to eliminate
competition.
(8) Using manipulative, deceptive, or
fraudulent devices, schemes, or
artifices, including misleading
advertising and sales literature. All
financial products, which contain
insurance features, must clearly explain
the insurance features of those products.
(9) Using oral or written
representations to suggest or give the
appearance that the Department of
Defense sponsors or endorses any
particular company, its agents, or the
goods, services, and commodities it
sells.
(10) DoD personnel making personal
commercial solicitations or sales to DoD
personnel who are junior in rank or
grade, or to the family members of such
personnel, except as authorized in
Section 2–205 and 5–409 of the Joint
Ethics Regulation, DoD 5500.7–R.5
(11) Entering into any unauthorized or
restricted area.
(12) Using any portion of installation
facilities, including quarters, as a
showroom or store for the sale of goods
or services, except as specifically
authorized by DoD Directive 1330.17 6
and DoD Instructions 1015.10, 1000.15 7
and 1330.21.8 This does not apply to
normal home enterprises that comply
with applicable State and local laws and
installation rules.
(13) Soliciting door to door or without
an appointment.
(14) Unauthorized advertising of
addresses or telephone numbers used in
personal commercial solicitation
activities conducted on the installation,
or the use of official positions, titles, or
organization names, for the purpose of
personal commercial solicitation, except
as authorized in DoD 5500.7–R. Military
grade and Military Service as part of an
individual’s name (e.g., Captain Smith,
U.S. Marine Corps) may be used in the
same manner as conventional titles,
such as ‘‘Mr.’’, ‘‘Mrs.’’, or ‘‘Honorable’’.
(15) Contacting DoD personnel by
calling a government telephone, faxing
to a government fax machine, or by
sending e-mail to a government
computer, unless a pre-existing
relationship (i.e., the DoD member is a
4 See
footnote 1 to § 50.3.
footnote 1 to § 50.3.
6 See footnote 1 to § 50.3.
7 See footnote 1 to § 50.3.
8 See footnote 1 to § 50.3.
5 See
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current client or requested to be
contacted) exists between the parties
and the DoD member has not asked for
contact to be terminated.
(e) Denial, suspension, and
withdrawal of installation solicitation
privileges. (1) The installation
commander shall deny, suspend, or
withdraw permission for a company and
its agents to conduct commercial
activities on the base if such action is in
the best interests of the command. The
grounds for taking these actions may
include, but are not limited to, the
following:
(i) Failure to meet the licensing and
other regulatory requirements
prescribed in this part or violations of
the State law where the installation is
located. Commanders will request that
appropriate state officials determine
whether a company or agent violated
State law.
(ii) Commission of any of the
practices prohibited in paragraphs (b)(6)
and (d) of this section.
(iii) Substantiated complaints and/or
adverse reports regarding the quality of
goods, services, and/or commodities,
and the manner in which they are
offered for sale.
(iv) Knowing and willful violations of
Public Law 90–321.
(v) Personal misconduct by a
company’s agent or representative while
on the installation.
(vi) The possession of, and any
attempt to obtain supplies of direct
deposit forms, or any other form or
device used by Military Departments to
direct a Service member’s pay to a third
party, or possession or use of facsimiles
thereof. This includes using or assisting
in using a Service member’s ‘‘MyPay’’
account or other similar Internet
medium for the purpose of establishing
a direct deposit for the purchase of
insurance or other investment product.
(vii) Failure to incorporate and abide
by the Standards of Fairness policies
contained in DoD Instruction 1344.9.9
(2) The installation commander may
determine that circumstances dictate the
immediate suspension of solicitation
privileges while an investigation is
conducted. Upon suspending
solicitation privileges, the commander
shall promptly inform the agent and the
company the agent represents, in
writing.
(3) In suspending or withdrawing
solicitation privileges, the installation
commander shall determine whether to
limit such action to the agent alone or
extend it to the company the agent
represents. This decision shall be based
on the circumstances of the particular
9 See
footnote 1 to § 50.3.
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case, including, but not limited to, the
nature of the violations, frequency of
violations, the extent to which other
agents of the company have engaged in
such practices and any other matters
tending to show the culpability of an
individual and the company.
(4) If the investigation determines an
agent or company does not possess a
valid license or the agent, company, or
product has failed to meet other State or
Federal regulatory requirements, the
installation commander shall
immediately notify the appropriate
regulatory authorities.
(5) In a withdrawal action, the
commander shall allow the individual
or company an opportunity to show
cause as to why the action should not
be taken. To ‘‘show cause’’ means an
opportunity must be given for the
aggrieved party to present facts on an
informal basis for the consideration of
the installation commander or the
commander’s designee. The installation
commander shall make a final decision
regarding withdrawal based upon the
entire record in each case. Installation
commanders shall report concerns or
complaints involving the quality or
suitability of financial products or
concerns or complaints involving
marketing methods used to sell these
products to the appropriate State and
Federal regulatory authorities. Also,
installation commanders shall report
any suspension or withdrawal of
insurance or securities products
solicitation privileges to the appropriate
State or Federal regulatory authorities.
(6) The installation commander shall
inform the Military Department
concerned of any denial, suspension,
withdrawal, or reinstatement of an agent
or company’s solicitation privileges and
the Military Department shall inform
the Office of the PDUSD(P&R), which
will maintain a list of insurance and
financial product companies and agents
currently barred, banned, or otherwise
limited from soliciting on any or all DoD
installations. This list may be viewed at
https://www.commanderspage.com. If
warranted, the installation commander
may recommend to the Military
Department concerned that the action
taken be extended to other DoD
installations. The Military Department
may extend the action to other military
installations in the Military Department.
The PDUSD(P&R), following
consultation with the Military
Department concerned, may order the
action extended to other Military
Departments.
(7) All suspensions or withdrawals of
privileges may be permanent or for a set
period of time. If for a set period, when
that period expires, the individual or
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38767
company may reapply for permission to
solicit through the installation
commander or Military Department
originally imposing the restriction. The
installation commander or Military
Department reinstating permission to
solicit shall notify the Office of the
PDUSD(P&R) and appropriate State and
Federal regulatory agencies when such
suspensions or withdrawals are lifted.
(8) The Secretaries of the Military
Departments may direct the Armed
Forces Disciplinary Control Boards in
all geographical areas in which the
grounds for withdrawal action have
occurred to consider all applicable
information and take action that the
Boards deem appropriate.
(9) Nothing in this part limits the
authority of the installation commander
or other appropriate authority from
requesting or instituting other
administrative and/or criminal action
against any person, including those who
violate the conditions and restrictions
upon which installation entry is
authorized.
(f) Advertising and commercial
sponsorship. (1) The Department of
Defense expects voluntary observance of
the highest business ethics by
commercial enterprises soliciting DoD
personnel through advertisements in
unofficial military publications when
describing goods, services,
commodities, and the terms of the sale
(including guarantees, warranties, and
the like).
(2) The advertising of credit terms
shall conform to the provisions of 15
U.S.C. 1601 as implemented by Federal
Reserve Board Regulation Z according to
12 CFR part 226.
(3) Solicitors may provide commercial
sponsorship to DoD Morale, Welfare and
Recreation programs or events according
to DoD Instruction 1015.10. However,
sponsorship may not be used as a means
to obtain personal contact information
for any participant at these events
without written permission from the
individual participant. In addition,
commercial sponsors may not use
sponsorship to advertise products and/
or services not specifically agreed to in
the sponsorship agreement.
(4) The installation commander may
permit organizations to display sales
literature in designated locations subject
to command policies. In accordance
with DoD 7000.14–R,10 Volume 7(a),
distribution of competitive literature or
forms by off-base banks and/or credit
unions is prohibited on installations
where an authorized on-base bank and/
or credit union exists.
10 See
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(g) Educational programs. (1) The
Military Departments shall develop and
disseminate information and provide
educational programs for members of
the Military Services on their personal
financial affairs, including such subjects
as insurance, Government benefits,
savings, budgeting, and other financial
education and assistance requirements
outlined in DoD Instruction 1342.27.11
The Military Departments shall ensure
that all instructors are qualified as
appropriate for the subject matter
presented. The services of
representatives of authorized on-base
banks and credit unions may be used for
this purpose. Under no circumstances
shall commercial agents, including
representatives of loan, finance,
insurance, or investment companies, be
used for this purpose. Presentations
shall only be conducted at the express
request of the installation commander.
(2) The Military Departments shall
also make qualified personnel and
facilities available for individual
counseling on loans and consumer
credit transactions in order to encourage
thrift and financial responsibility and
promote a better understanding of the
wise use of credit, as prescribed in DoD
7000.14–R.
(3) The Military Departments shall
encourage military members to seek
advice from a legal assistance officer,
the installation financial counselor,
their own lawyer, or a financial
counselor, before making a substantial
loan or credit commitment.
(4) Each Military Department shall
provide advice and guidance to DoD
personnel who have a complaint under
DoD 1344.9 or who allege a criminal
violation of its provisions, including
referral to the appropriate regulatory
agency for processing of the complaint.
(5) Banks and credit unions operating
on DoD installations are required to
provide financial counseling services as
an integral part of their financial
services offerings. Representatives of
and materials provided by authorized
banks and/or credit unions located on
military installations may be used to
provide the educational programs and
information required by this part subject
to the following conditions:
(i) If the bank or credit union
operating on a DoD installation sells
insurance or securities or has any
affiliation with a company that sells or
markets insurance or other financial
products, the installation commander
shall consider that company’s history of
complying with this part before
authorizing the on-base financial
11 See
footnote 1 to § 50.3.
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institution to provide financial
education.
(ii) All prospective educators must
agree to use appropriate disclaimers in
their presentations and on their other
educational materials. The disclaimers
must clearly indicate that they do not
endorse or favor any commercial
supplier, product, or service, or promote
the services of a specific financial
institution.
(6) Use of other non-government
organizations to provide financial
education programs is limited as
follows:
(i) Under no circumstances shall
commercial agents, including
employees or representatives of
commercial loan, finance, insurance, or
investment companies, be used.
(ii) The limitation in paragraph
(g)(6)(i) of this section does not apply to
educational programs and information
regarding the Survivor Benefits Program
and other government benefits provided
by tax-exempt organizations under
section (c)(23) of 26 U.S.C. 501 or by
any organization providing such a
benefit under a contract with the
Government.
(iii) Educators from non-government,
non-commercial organizations expert in
personal financial affairs and their
materials may, with appropriate
disclaimers, provide the educational
programs and information required by
this part if approved by a Presidentiallyappointed, Senate-confirmed civilian
official of the Military Department
concerned. Presentations by approved
organizations shall be conducted only at
the express request of the installation
commander. The following criteria shall
be used when considering whether to
permit a non-government, noncommercial organization to present an
educational program or provide
materials on personal financial affairs:
(A) The organization must qualify as
a tax-exempt organization under 5
U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 5 U.S.C. 501(c)(23).
(B) If the organization has any
affiliation with a company that sells or
markets insurance or other financial
products, the approval authority shall
consider that company’s history of
complying with this part.
(C) All prospective educators must
use appropriate disclaimers, in their
presentations and on their other
educational materials, which clearly
indicate that they and the Department of
Defense do not endorse or favor any
commercial supplier, product, or service
or promote the services of a specific
financial institution.
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§ 50.7
Information requirements.
The reporting requirements
concerning the suspension or
withdrawal of solicitation privileges
have been assigned Report Control
Symbol (RCS) DD–P&R(Q)2182 in
accordance with DoD 8910.1–M.12
Appendix A to Part 50—Life Insurance
Products and Securities
A. Life Insurance Product Content
Prerequisites
Companies must provide DoD personnel a
written description for each product or
service they intend to market to DoD
personnel on DoD installations. These
descriptions must be written in a manner that
DoD personnel can easily understand, and
fully disclose the fundamental nature of the
policy. Companies must be able to
demonstrate that each form to be used has
been filed with and approved, where
applicable, by the insurance department of
the State where the installation is located.
Insurance products marketed to DoD
personnel on overseas installations must
conform to the standards prescribed by the
laws of the State where the company is
incorporated.
1. Insurance products, other than
certificates or other evidence of insurance
issued by a self-insured association, offered
and sold worldwide to personnel on DoD
installations, must:
a. Comply with the insurance laws of the
State or country in which the installation is
located and the requirements of this part.
b. Contain no restrictions by reason of
Military Service or military occupational
specialty of the insured, unless such
restrictions are clearly indicated on the face
of the contract.
c. Plainly indicate any extra premium
charges imposed by reason of Military
Service or military occupational specialty.
d. Contain no variation in the amount of
death benefit or premium based upon the
length of time the contract has been in force,
unless all such variations are clearly
described in the contract.
e. In plain and readily understandable
language, and in type font at least as large as
the font used for the majority of the policy,
inform Service members of:
1. The availability and cost of government
subsidized Servicemen’s Group Life
Insurance.
2. The address and phone number where
consumer complaints are received by the
State insurance commissioner for the State in
which the insurance product is being sold.
3. That the U.S. Government has in no way
sanctioned, recommended, or encouraged the
sale of the product being offered. With
respect to the sale or solicitation of insurance
on Federal land or facilitates located outside
the United States, insurance products must
contain the address and phone number
where consumer complaints are received by
the State insurance commissioner for the
State which has issued the agent a resident
license or the company is domiciled, as
applicable.
12 See
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footnote 1 to § 50.3.
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2. To comply with paragraphs A.1.b., A.1.c.
and A.1.d., an appropriate reference stamped
on the first page of the contract shall draw
the attention of the policyholder to any
restrictions by reason of Military Service or
military occupational specialty. The
reference shall describe any extra premium
charges and any variations in the amount of
death benefit or premium based upon the
length of time the contract has been in force.
3. Variable life insurance products may be
offered provided they meet the criteria of the
appropriate insurance regulatory agency and
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4. Insurance products shall not be
marketed or sold disguised as investments. If
there is a savings component to an insurance
product, the agent shall provide the customer
written documentation, which clearly
explains how much of the premium goes to
the savings component per year broken down
over the life of the policy. This document
must also show the total amount per year
allocated to insurance premiums. The
customer must be provided a copy of this
document that is signed by the insurance
agent.
B. Sale of Securities
1. All securities must be registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. All sales of securities must comply with
the appropriate Securities and Exchange
Commission regulations.
3. All securities representatives must apply
to the commander of the installation on
which they desire to solicit the sale of
securities for permission to solicit.
4. Where the accredited insurer’s policy
permits, an overseas accredited life insurance
agent—if duly qualified to engage in security
activities either as a registered representative
of the National Association of Securities
Dealers or as an associate of a broker or
dealer registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission—may offer life
insurance and securities for sale
simultaneously. In cases of commingled
sales, the allotment of pay for the purchase
of securities cannot be made to the insurer.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
C. Use of the Allotment of Pay System
1. Allotments of military pay for life
insurance products shall be made in
accordance with DoD 7000.14–R.
2. For personnel in pay grades E–4 and
below, in order to obtain financial
counseling, at least seven calendar days shall
elapse between the signing of a life insurance
application and the certification of a military
pay allotment for any supplemental
commercial life insurance. Installation
Finance Officers are responsible for ensuring
this seven-day cooling-off period is
monitored and enforced. The purchaser’s
commanding officer may grant a waiver of
the seven-day cooling-off period requirement
for good cause, such as the purchaser’s
imminent deployment or permanent change
of station.
D. Associations—General
The recent growth and general
acceptability of quasi-military associations
offering various insurance plans to military
personnel are acknowledged. Some
associations are not organized within the
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16:29 Jul 07, 2006
Jkt 208001
supervision of insurance laws of either a
State or the Federal Government. While some
are organized for profit, others function as
nonprofit associations under Internal
Revenue Service regulations. Regardless of
the manner in which insurance is offered to
members, the management of the association
is responsible for complying fully with the
policies contained in this part.
Appendix B to Part 50—Overseas Life
Insurance Registration Program
A. Registration Criteria
1. Initial Registration
a. Insurers must demonstrate continuous
successful operation in the life insurance
business for a period of not less than 5 years
on December 31 of the year preceding the
date of filing the application.
b. Insurers must be listed in Best’s LifeHealth Insurance Reports and be assigned a
rating of B+ (Very Good) or better for the
business year preceding the Government’s
fiscal year for which registration is sought.
2. Re-Registration
a. Insurers must demonstrate continuous
successful operation in the life insurance
business, as described in paragraph A.1.a. of
this appendix.
b. Insurers must retain a Best’s rating of B+
or better, as described in paragraph A.1.b. of
this appendix.
c. Insurers must demonstrate a record of
compliance with the policies found in this
part.
3. Waiver Provisions
Waivers of the initial registration or reregistration provisions shall be considered
for those insurers demonstrating substantial
compliance with the aforementioned criteria.
B. Application Instructions
1. Applications Filed Annually. Insurers
must apply by June 30 of each year for
solicitation privileges on overseas U.S.
military installations for the next fiscal year
beginning October 1. Applications e-mailed,
faxed, or postmarked after June 30 shall not
be considered.
2. Application prerequisites. A letter of
application, signed by the President, Vice
President, or designated official of the
insurance company shall be forwarded to the
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
(Personnel and Readiness), Attention:
Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)
Policy Directorate, 4000 Defense, Pentagon,
Washington, DC 20301–4000. The
registration criteria in paragraph A1.a. or
A1.b. of this appendix must be met to satisfy
application prerequisites. The letter shall
contain the information set forth below,
submitted in the order listed. Where criteria
are not applicable, the letter shall so state.
a. The overseas Combatant Commands
(e.g., U.S. European Command, U.S. Pacific
Command, U.S. Central Command, U.S.
Southern Command) where the company
presently solicits, or plans to solicit, on U.S.
military installations.
b. A statement that the company has
complied with, or shall comply with, the
applicable laws of the country or countries
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Sfmt 4700
38769
wherein it proposes to solicit. ‘‘Laws of the
country’’ means all national, provincial, city,
or county laws or ordinances of any country,
as applicable.
c. A statement that the products to be
offered for sale conform to the standards
prescribed in appendix A to this part and
contain only the standard provisions such as
those prescribed by the laws of the State
where the company’s headquarters are
located.
d. A statement that the company shall
assume full responsibility for the acts of its
agents with respect to solicitation. If
warranted, the number of agents may be
limited by the overseas command concerned.
e. A statement that the company shall only
use agents who have been licensed by the
appropriate State and registered by the
overseas command concerned to sell to DoD
personnel on DoD installations.
f. Any explanatory or supplemental
comments that shall assist in evaluating the
application.
g. If the Department of Defense requires
facts or statistics beyond those normally
involved in registration, the company shall
make separate arrangements to provide them.
h. A statement that the company’s general
agent and other registered agents are
appointed in accordance with the
prerequisites established in section C of this
appendix.
3. If a company is a life insurance company
subsidiary, it must be registered separately
on its own merits.
C. Agent Requirements
The overseas Combatant Commanders shall
apply the following principles in registering
agents:
1. An agent must possess a current State
license. This requirement may be waived for
a registered agent continuously residing and
successfully selling life insurance in foreign
areas, who, through no fault of his or her
own, due to State law (or regulation)
governing domicile requirements, or
requiring that the agent’s company be
licensed to do business in that State, forfeits
eligibility for a State license. The request for
a waiver shall contain the name of the State
or jurisdiction that would not renew the
agent’s license.
2. General agents and agents may represent
only one registered commercial insurance
company. This principle may be waived by
the overseas Combatant Commander if
multiple representations are in the best
interest of DoD personnel.
3. An agent must have at least 1 year of
successful life insurance underwriting
experience in the United States or its
territories, generally within the 5 years
preceding the date of application, in order to
be approved for overseas solicitation.
4. The overseas Combatant Commanders
may exercise further agent control
procedures as necessary.
5. An agent, once registered in an overseas
area, may not change affiliation from the staff
of one general agent to another and retain
registration, unless the previous employer
certifies in writing that the release is without
justifiable prejudice. Overseas Combatant
Commanders will have final authority to
E:\FR\FM\10JYR1.SGM
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38770
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 131 / Monday, July 10, 2006 / Rules and Regulations
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
D. Announcement of Registration
1. Registration by the Department of
Defense upon annual applications of insurers
shall be announced as soon as practicable by
notice to each applicant and by a list released
annually in September to the appropriate
overseas Combatant Commanders. Approval
does not constitute DoD endorsement of the
insurer or its products. Any advertising by
insurers or verbal representation by its
agents, which suggests such endorsement, is
prohibited.
2. In the event registration is denied,
specific reasons for the denial shall be
provided to the applicant.
a. The insurer shall have 30 days from the
receipt of notification of denial of registration
(sent certified mail, return receipt requested)
in which to request reconsideration of the
original decision. This request must be in
writing and accompanied by substantiating
data or information in rebuttal of the specific
reasons upon which the denial was based.
b. Action by the Office of the PDUSD(P&R)
on a request for reconsideration is final.
c. An applicant that is presently registered
as an insurer shall have 90 calendar days
from final action denying registration in
which to close operations.
3. Upon receiving an annual letter
approving registration, each company shall
send to the applicable overseas Combatant
Commander a verified list of agents currently
registered for overseas solicitation. Where
applicable, the company shall also include
the names and prior military affiliation of
new agents for whom original registration
and permission to solicit on base is
requested. Insurers initially registered shall
be furnished instructions by the Department
of Defense for agent registration procedures
in overseas areas.
4. Material changes affecting the corporate
status and financial condition of the
company that occur during the fiscal year of
registration must be reported to the MWR
Policy Directorate at the address in paragraph
B.2. of this appendix as they occur.
a. The Office of the PDUSD(P&R) reserves
the right to terminate registration if such
material changes appear to substantially
affect the financial and operational standards
described in section A of this appendix on
which registration was based.
b. Failure to report such material changes
may result in termination of registration
regardless of how it affects the standards.
5. If an analysis of information furnished
by the company indicates that unfavorable
trends are developing that could adversely
affect its future operations, the Office of the
PDUSD(P&R) may, at its option, bring such
matters to the attention of the company and
request a statement as to what action, if any,
is considered to deal with such unfavorable
trends.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with RULES
determine justifiable prejudice. Indebtedness
of an agent to a previous employer is an
example of justifiable prejudice.
40 CFR Part 52
Dated: June 27, 2006.
L.M. Bynum,
OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, DoD.
[FR Doc. E6–10360 Filed 7–7–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
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[Docket No. EPA–R02–OAR–2006–0342;
FRL–8191–2]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; Carbon
Monoxide Maintenance Plan,
Conformity Budgets, Emissions
Inventories; State of New Jersey
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is approving a State
Implementation Plan (SIP) revision
submitted by the State of New Jersey.
This revision establishes an updated
ten-year carbon monoxide (CO)
maintenance plan for the Nine NotClassified Areas in the State (the City of
Atlantic City, the City of Burlington, the
Borough of Freehold, the Town of
Morristown, the Borough of Penns
Grove, the City of Perth Amboy, the
Borough of Somerville, the Toms River
Area, and the City of Trenton) and
Camden County. In addition, this action
approves revisions to the CO, NOX,
VOC, and PM2.5 motor vehicle emissions
budgets for Northern New Jersey.
Finally, this notice approves revisions
to the general conformity budget for
McGuire Air Force Base and the 2002
ozone, PM2.5, and CO base year
emissions inventories, where
applicable.
The Nine Not Classified Areas and
Camden County were redesignated to
attainment of the CO National Ambient
Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) on
February 5, 1996 and maintenance plans
were also approved at that time. By this
action, EPA is approving the New Jersey
Department of Environmental
Protection’s (New Jersey) second
maintenance plans for these areas
because they provide for continued
attainment of the CO NAAQS for an
additional ten years. The intended effect
of this rulemaking is to approve a SIP
revision that will insure continued
maintenance of the CO NAAQS.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule will be
effective July 10, 2006.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
Number EPA–R02–OAR–2006–0342. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the https://www.regulations.gov Web
site. Although listed in the electronic
docket, some information is not publicly
available, i.e., confidential business
information (CBI) or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
PO 00000
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Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy for public inspection during
normal business hours at the
Environmental Protection Agency,
Region 2 Office, Air Programs Branch,
290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New York,
New York 10007–1866. Copies of the
State submittal are available at the New
Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, Office of Energy, Bureau of
Air Quality Planning, 401 East State
Street, CN027, Trenton, New Jersey
08625.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Henry Feingersh
feingersh.henry@epa.gov for general
questions, Raymond Forde
forde.raymond@epa.gov for emissions
inventory questions, or Matthew Laurita
laurita.matthew@epa.gov for mobile
source related questions at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Air
Programs Branch, 290 Broadway, 25th
Floor, New York, NY 10007–1866,
telephone number (212) 637–4249, fax
number (212) 637–3901.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. What Was Included in New Jersey’s
Submittal?
On February 21, 2006, New Jersey
submitted a SIP revision to EPA which
included a CO limited maintenance
plan, revisions to the CO, NOX, and
VOC motor vehicle emissions budgets
for northern New Jersey, PM2.5 motor
vehicle emissions budgets for northern
New Jersey, revisions to the general
conformity budget for McGuire Air
Force Base, and the 2002 ozone, PM2.5,
and CO base year emissions inventories,
where applicable. When they made the
submittal, New Jersey had requested
that EPA parallel process their SIP
revision. New Jersey held a public
hearing on March 31, 2006 on their
proposed SIP revision and accepted
written comments until April 7, 2006.
New Jersey addressed all of the
comments and made a subsequent
adopted submittal on May 18, 2006.
II. What Were the Changes From the
February 21, 2006 Submittal?
The May 18, 2006 submittal had
minor changes from the original
submittal as a result of comments
received by New Jersey during the state
rulemaking process. The May 18, 2006
submittal contained additional
information and clarifications which
acted to strengthen the original
E:\FR\FM\10JYR1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 131 (Monday, July 10, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38760-38770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-10360]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
[DoD-2006-OS-0065]
32 CFR Parts 43 and 50
RIN 0790-AH87
Personal Commercial Solicitation on DoD Installations
AGENCY: Department of Defense, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This rule amends and removes the Department regulations
relating to policy and procedures on personal commercial solicitation
on DoD installations. It incorporates current policy letters that were
issued since the last publication of the regulations in February 1986.
They include policy on use of on-base financial institutions and non-
profit, tax exempt, private organizations to provide financial
education; limits on the use of commercial sponsorship to obtain
personal contact information for solicitation; and required reporting
of solicitation policy violations to higher headquarters. The revision
also includes a new solicitation evaluation form to help installations
detect solicitation policy violations.
DATES: Effective Date: July 10, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colonel Michael A. Pachuta or Mr.
James M. Ellis at (703) 602-4994 or (703) 602-5009 respectively, or
main (703) 602-5001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Tuesday, April 19, 2005 (70 FR 20316),
the Department of Defense published a proposed rule. The following is a
summary of substantive comments, whether or not they were accepted or
rejected, and the rationale.
Comment 1: DepSecDef Memo, DoD Instructions Review--Phase II
directed, where feasible, to change Directives not requiring the SECDEF
or DEPSEC signature to Instructions.
Decision: Accepted. 1344.7 does not meet the DepSecDef's criteria
to remain a DoD Directive and will be reissued as a DoD Instruction.
[[Page 38761]]
Comment 2: Two civilians recommended all on-post insurance
solicitation be banned.
Decision: Rejected: The purpose of the Instruction is not to
prohibit insurance solicitation but to prevent unfair and predatory
sales practices.
Comment 3: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends the
solicitation office supervisor send a copy of each solicitation
evaluation form received to each registered company or company the
solicitor represents.
Decision: Rejected: The solicitation evaluation form is an internal
feedback tool to assess how the solicitation was performed. The agent
or company may request a copy by submitting a Freedom of Information
Act request.
Comment 4: A Marine Corps Captain recommends an on-base entity,
such as a civil law officer from base legal office, screen insurance
sales personnel seeking base access.
Decision: Accepted. Para 6.2.2. now states: ``Commanders will
ensure the agent's license status and complaint history are checked
with the appropriate state or federal regulators prior to granting
permission to solicit on the installation.''
Comment 5: Military Benefits Association believes DD Form 2885
(solicitation evaluation) is biased, recommends it be rewritten to
remove any propensity to evoke a critical response, and a copy of
submitted forms should be provided to both the agent and insurer.
Decision: Rejected. The questions are balanced and necessary to
determine whether or not the solicitor complied with DoD commercial
solicitation policy. The commander has the discretion to provide the
agent and insurer a copy of the form. The agent or insurer can also
request a copy of completed forms under the Freedom of Information Act.
Comment 6: Government Personnel Mutual Life Insurance recommends DD
Form 2885 (solicitation evaluation) be made available to the company
the salesman represents.
Decision: Rejected. The commander should have the discretion to
provide the form to the company when it is appropriate to do so. The
agent or company can request a copy of completed forms under the
Freedom of Information Act.
Comment 7: United Services Automobile Association recommends DoD
prohibit solicitation of all trainees as well as solicitation of any
DoD personnel in a mass or captive audience.
Decision: Accepted. The current policy prohibits solicitation of
recruits, trainees and transient personnel in a mass audience, which is
appropriate to protect the most junior and inexperienced DoD personnel
from potential chain of command and peer pressure associated with such
a solicitation. The new policy prohibits solicitation of any DoD
personnel in a captive audience where their attendance is not
completely voluntary.
Comment 8: First Command requested clarification of ``on-duty
status'' and to exclude meal times from being considered ``duty time''
for the purposes of prohibiting solicitation.
Decision: Partially accepted. If the purpose of the on-base meal
time meeting is to seek business or trade, it is considered
solicitation. To clarify, we expanded the definition of Personal
Commercial Solicitation in paragraph E2.1.15. as follows: ``Personal
contact, to include meetings, meals or telecommunications contact, for
the purpose of seeking private business or trade''.
Comment 9: Military Benefits Association agrees that rosters and
other official lists should not be used for solicitation; however, they
believe there are many legitimate sources, i.e., telephone directories,
the Internet, and commercially available mailing lists, the procurement
of which should not be a violation of DoD policy.
Decision: Accepted. We rewrote paragraph 6.4.5. to clarify that it
is prohibited to procure ``non-public listings'' of DoD personnel for
the purpose of solicitation. Note: DoD telephone directories are ``For
Official Use Only'' and are considered ``non-public listings''.
Comment 10: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends
paragraph 6.4.5. be changed to clarify that it is permitted to procure
``listings created by or obtained from public information such as e.g.,
telephone directories, government records other than Defense Department
records, and newspapers'' for the purpose of solicitation. ACLI further
recommends DoD clarify that: ``Public information can be utilized for
the purposes of commercial solicitation of Service members as long as
the listing is not directly for DoD personnel or in a manner that would
be disruptive to the mission of the Military Departments.''
Decision: Accepted. We rewrote paragraph 6.4.5. to clarify it is
prohibited to procure ``non-public listings'' of DoD personnel for the
purpose of solicitation.
Comment 11: Military Benefits Association recommends that
contacting DoD personnel via a government phone should not be a DoD
policy violation if the DoD member provided the number or if the agent
did not know it was a government phone.
Decision: Accepted. The new policy does not consider solicitor
contact via a government phone a violation if a pre-existing
relationship exists between the parties. We have expanded paragraph
6.4.15. to clarify that a pre-existing relationship means the DoD
member is a current client and did not request contact to be
terminated.
Comment 12: Office of the Connecticut State Attorney General
recommends the list of grounds that may result in denial, suspension,
or withdrawal of solicitation privileges should also include ``any
violations of the law of the state in which the base is located.''
Decision: Accepted. Added to the end of paragraph 6.5.1.1.
Comment 13: First Command recommends SF 1199A (direct deposit sign-
up form) be included in the definition of allotment forms solicitors
are prohibited to possess.
Decision: Accepted. Added to paragraph 6.5.1.6.
Comment 14: A Marine Corps Captain recommends rewording paragraph
6.5.1.6. to include: ``The possession of and any attempt to obtain
supplies of allotment forms used by military departments, or possession
or use of facsimiles thereof. This includes using a Service members
``MyPay'' account or other similar internet medium for the purpose of
establishing a direct deposit for the purchase of insurance or other
investment product.''
Decision: Accepted. Added to paragraph 6.5.1.6.
Comment 15: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends reporting all complaints involving insurance products be
reported immediately to the appropriate state insurance department.
Decision: Accepted. Expanded paragraph 6.5.4. to require commanders
to immediately report agents, companies or products that fail to meet
state or regulatory requirements to the appropriate regulatory
authorities.
Comment 16: Trans World Assurance recommends the ``show cause''
requirement in the current version of DoD Directive 1344.7 be retained
in the new Instruction.
Decision: Accepted. Paragraph 6.5.5. was rewritten to restore the
``show cause'' requirement.
Comment 17: A Government Accountability Office audit recommends:
``the SecDef direct the USD(P&R) to specify in the revised Directive
that the installation commander is responsible for notifying
[[Page 38762]]
state insurance regulators, the Service Secretariat and DoD, when the
commander has determined that agents or companies have violated DoD,
Service, or installation policies.''
Decision: Partially accepted. Not all DoD personal commercial
solicitation policy violations, such as soliciting without an
appointment or soliciting during duty hours, are not violations of
State or Federal law and would be of no interest to State and Federal
insurance and financial product regulators. Paragraph 6.5.5. was
rewritten to require installations to report violations that involve
the eligibility of the agent to hold a state license or meet regulatory
requirements, complaints involving the quality, suitability or
marketing methods, or if an agent or company is barred or suspended, to
the appropriate state or federal regulatory authorities.
Comment 18: A civilian recommends DoD require reporting of abusive
market conduct (deceptive sales practices) to State insurance
regulators.
Decision: Accepted. Added this requirement to paragraph 6.5.5.
Comment 19: A Government Accountability Office audit recommended
the SecDef direct USD(P&R) to develop and implement, with the Services,
a DoD-wide searchable violations database that uses consistent data
elements and coding across Services in revising DoD's solicitation
regulation.
Decision: Partially accepted. The Department has developed a DoD-
wide list of current enforcement actions and posted it on the DoD
Commanders Page Web site https://www.commanderspage.com. Paragraph
6.5.6. was expanded to include the requirement for installations to
report denial, suspension, or withdrawal of solicitation privileges to
PDUSD(P&R) so that information can be included on this list. The
Department believes maintaining a list, which includes violations that
do not result in denial, suspension, or withdrawal of solicitation
privileges, would dilute the validity and utility of the list.
Comment 20: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends DoD
guidance found in Title 32 at 43.6(e)(2)(vi) be maintained to assure
that, as a matter of due process, the lifting of a denial or withdrawal
is communicated effectively to every office and Department.
Decision: Accepted. Expanded paragraph 6.5.7. to require
PDUSD(P&R), the Military Departments, and appropriate State and Federal
regulatory agencies are notified when suspensions or withdrawals are
lifted.
Comment 21: American Fidelity Life Insurance Company recommends the
discontinuance of the use of ``off limits'' sanctions by the Armed
Forces Disciplinary Control Board (AFDCB).
Decision: Rejected. The long-standing DoD policy contained in
paragraph 6.5.8. authorizes the Secretaries of the Military Departments
to direct Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Boards to consider
applicable information for withdrawal of solicitation privileges and
take action the Boards deem appropriate. One action the Boards may deem
appropriate is to place an off-base establishment ``off-limits'' to
military personnel. That authority must remain available to Commanders
as a means to protect the health, morale and welfare of their
personnel.
Comment 22: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends DoD prohibit the display of sales material by solicitors
since such a display may be interpreted as an endorsement of a
company's products.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph 6.6.4. gives the installation
commander the discretion to permit the display of sales literature in
designated locations. Commanders must ensure compliance with the Joint
Ethics Regulation, which regulates DoD endorsement of non-federal
entities.
Comment 23: The Defense Credit Union Council praised DoD for
including a prohibition in paragraph 6.6.4. to prohibit off-base banks
and credit unions from distributing competitive literature or forms
which mirrors guidance contained in Volume 5, Chapter 34 of the DoD
Financial Management Regulation.
Decision: Accepted. Added to para 6.6.4.
Comment 24: The Defense Credit Union Council recommends adding
language to ensure sales representatives possess the necessary
credentials (securities licenses and certifications) to provide
financial education and advice.
Decision: Partially accepted. Long-standing DoD policy precludes
commercial agents from providing financial education. However, we added
a requirement in paragraph 6.2.2. to check insurance and financial
product solicitor's license and complaint history.
Comment 25: The Military Benefits Association recommends financial
counseling be provided by trained certified personnel, should include
information on a wide-range of commercial products and not simply be
reinforcement for SGLI.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph 6.7.1. identifies a wide-range of
financial counseling topics and paragraph 6.7.2. requires the Military
Departments to ensure financial counselors are qualified.
Comment 26: The Defense Credit Union Council recommends on-base
banks and credit unions be required to provide financial education and
training.
Decision: Partially accepted. Paragraph 6.7.5. of the Instruction
advises Commanders that on-base banks and credit unions are required to
provide financial counseling services as part of their financial
services offerings but does not mandate their use.
Comment 27: The American Fidelity Insurance Company recommends on-
base banks and credit unions not be given preferential treatment in
providing financial education classes.
Decision: Rejected. The draft policy does not mandate the use of
on-base banks and credit unions to provide financial education and
mirrors guidance already contained in the DoD Financial Management
Regulation.
Comment 28: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends all
financial services professionals, including insurance producers and
carriers, be allowed to demonstrate their professional qualifications
and ability to provide objective financial counseling services to
military service personnel. Or alternatively, that DoD use the services
offered by the Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education
(https://www.life-line.org) or the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners or by the state where a military installation is located
to provide financial counseling services.
Decision: Partially accepted. Long-standing DoD policy prohibits
the use of commercial agents to provide financial education to DoD
personnel. If the other non-governmental organizations, such as the
Life and Health Insurance Foundation or the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners qualify as 501(c) 3 or 501(c) 23 organizations,
the Military Departments can approve them to provide financial
education in accordance with paragraph 6.7.6.3.
Comment 29: The Military Officers Association of America recommends
the Military Departments be authorized to approve IRS category 501(c)
19 organizations to conduct military benefits and financial education
briefings to DoD personnel, that IRS category 501(c) 23 organizations
are permitted to provide.
Decision: Rejected. By law, the principal purpose of 501(c) 23
organizations must be to provide insurance and other benefits to
veterans and their dependents. 501(c) 19 organizations must be operated
for one
[[Page 38763]]
or more of eight purposes, which may or may not include providing
insurance benefits for its members or their dependents.
Comment 30: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends DoD include the NAIC's informational brochure ``Life
Insurance for Military Personnel'' in any education program.
Decision: Partially accepted. The NAIC's brochure could be made
available for use if the NAIC qualifies as a 501(c) 3 tax exempt
organization and secures a memorandum of agreement to become a DoD
financial education partner. The Department and NAIC have drafted an
MOU to permit use of this brochure in military financial education
classes.
Comment 31: First Command recommends DoD delete: ``personal
computer banking'' from the definition of ``Financial Services'' in
Enclosure 2 or add: ``other financial institutions can provide personal
computer banking as long as access can be made via computer and/or
internet.''
Decision: Accepted. Deleted ``and personal computer banking'' from
parenthetical intended to elaborate on the meaning of ``electronic
banking'' in paragraph E2.1.8.
Comment 32: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends the definition of ``insurer'' be changed to: ``an entity
licensed by the appropriate department to engage in the business of
insurance.''
Decision: Accepted. Incorporated into paragraph E2.1.12.
Comment 33: The District of Columbia Government Department of
Insurance, Securities and Banking recommends the definition of
``Solicitation'' be stated in the disjunctive rather than the
conjunctive to avoid ambiguity.
Decision: Accepted. We revised the definition of ``Personal
Commercial Solicitation'' in paragraph E2.1.15. and eliminated all
``conjunctive ambiguities.''
Comment 34: First Command recommends changing the definition of
``Solicitation'' to: ``The act of offering a product of service for
sale by a private business including the offering and sale of insurance
or securities on a military installation.''
Decision: Rejected. Although these words are in the current
Directive's definition of Solicitation, they focus more on what is sold
versus how something is sold. Solicitation concerns how something is
sold versus what is sold. Therefore, we rewrote the definition in
paragraph E2.1.15. to focus the definition of ``Personal Commercial
Solicitation'' on how something is sold.
Comment 35: First Command recommends letting the insurance policy
suffice as a written description for each product or service the
companies intend to market to DoD personnel.
Decision: Partially accepted. Deleted the word ``separate'' before
``written description for each product or service'' in paragraph E3.1.
so the policy itself could meet the ``written description requirement''
if all other subsequent prerequisite requirements outlined in this
paragraph are met.
Comment 36: The National Association of Insurance Commissioners
recommends adding the following to paragraph E3.1.: ``Companies should
be able to demonstrate that each form to be used has been approved,
where applicable, by the insurance department in which the state is
located''.
Decision: Accepted. Added to paragraph E3.1.
Comment 37: Office of the Connecticut Attorney General recommended
any insurance product offered for sale by a commercial solicitor must
be filed with the insurance commissioner of the state in which the
installation is located.
Decision: Accepted. Added the following to paragraph E3.1:
``Companies should be able to demonstrate that each form to be used has
been approved, where applicable, by the insurance department of the
state where the installation is located. Insurance products solicited
to DoD personnel on overseas installations must conform to the
standards prescribed by the laws of the state where the company is
incorporated.''
Comment 38: First Command recommends DoD prohibit whole life
policies with restrictive clauses.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph E3.1.1.2. requires insurance products
sold on DoD installations: ``contain no restrictions by reason of
military service or military occupational specialty of the insured,
unless such restrictions are clearly indicated on the face of the
contract''.
Comment 39: A Marine Corps Captain recommends having companies that
sell life insurance have Service members sign a form acknowledging they
clearly understand SGLI, and its cost and coverage.
Decision: Accepted. Added paragraph E3.1.1.5. to include a
requirement to inform Service members in writing of the cost and
availability of government subsidized insurance.
Comment 40: First Command recommends DoD allow annuity contracts to
be used to satisfy the requirements in para E3.1.4. for an agent to
provide the customer written documentation, which clearly shows how
much of the premium for an insurance product with a savings component
is allocated to savings and how much is allocated to insurance premiums
per year over the life of the policy.
Decision: Accepted. Nothing in the instruction specifically
precludes using the annuity contract to fulfill this requirement.
Comment 41: A private citizen recommends prohibiting allotments
from military paychecks.
Decision: Rejected. Allotments are for the member's convenience and
help ensure financial obligations will still be met when they deploy.
Comment 42: A Government Accountability Office audit recommends
SecDef direct the USD(P&R) to clarify the portion of the revised
Directive that pertains to the cooling off period that must elapse
before junior enlisted personnel can start as an allotment to purchase
supplemental life insurance.
Decision: Accepted. Paragraph E3.3.2. was rewritten as follows to
make this clarification: ``For personnel in pay grades E-4 and below,
in order to provide an opportunity to obtain financial counseling, at
least seven calendar days shall elapse between the signing of a life
insurance application and the certification of a military pay allotment
for any supplemental commercial life insurance. Installation Finance
Officers are responsible for ensuring this seven-day cooling-off period
is monitored and enforced. The purchaser's commanding officer may grant
a waiver of the seven-day cooling-off period requirement for good
cause, such as the purchaser's imminent deployment or permanent change
of station''.
Comment 43: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends DoD
require insurers to be members of the Insurance Marketplace Standards
Association (IMSA) in order to be eligible to solicit insurance on DoD
installations.
Decision: Rejected. Although requiring IMSA membership would be
desirable, the Joint Ethics Regulation prohibits this type of federal
endorsement of a non-federal entity and IMSA membership would not
necessarily guarantee compliance with DoD policies and IMSA membership
also requires payment of a substantial fee.
Comment 44: The American Council of Life Insurers recommends DoD
delete
[[Page 38764]]
the restriction that insurance agents and general agents approved to
solicit on overseas DoD installations may only represent one registered
commercial insurance company.
Decision: Rejected. Paragraph E4.3.2. allows this restriction to be
waived by the overseas commander if in the best interests of DoD
personnel.
Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review''
It has been determined that 32 CFR part 50 is not a significant
regulatory action. The rule does not:
(1) Have an annual effect to the economy of $100 million or more or
adversely affect in a material way the economy; a section of the
economy; productivity; competition; jobs; the environment; public
health or safety; or State, local, or tribal governments or
communities;
(2) Create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an
action taken or planned by another Agency;
(3) Materially alter the budgetary impact of entitlements, grants,
user fees, or loan programs, or the rights and obligations of
recipients thereof; or
(4) Raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal
mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in
this Executive Order.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35)
Section B of Appendix B to this rule contains information
collection requirements. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (44
U.S.C. Chapter 35), DoD has submitted an information clearance package
to the Office of Management and Budget for review. In response to DoD's
invitation to comment on any potential paperwork burden associated with
this rule (70 FR 28514-28515), no comments were received. However, one
favorable comment was forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget
during the 30-day review period (71 FR 29319).
Federalism (Executive Order 13132)
This regulatory action does not have federalism implications, as
set forth in Executive Order 13132. It will not have substantial direct
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
Public Law 96-354, ``Regulatory Flexibility Act'' (5 U.S.C. Chapter 6)
It has been certified that this rule is not subject to the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601) because it would not, if
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number
of small entities.
Section 202, Public Law 104-4, ``Unfunded Mandates Reform Act''
It has been determined that this rule does not involve a Federal
mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local and tribal
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more and that such rulemaking will not significantly or
uniquely affect small governments.
List of Subjects in 32 CFR Parts 43 and 50
Consumer protection, Federal buildings and facilities, Government
employees, Life insurance, Military personnel.
0
Accordingly, 32 CFR Chapter I, subchapter D is proposed to be amended
as follows:
PART 43--[REMOVED]
0
1. Part 43 is removed.
0
2. Part 50 is added to read as follows:
PART 50--PERSONAL COMMERCIAL SOLICITATION ON DOD INSTALLATIONS
General Provisions
Sec.
50.1 Purpose.
50.2 Applicability.
50.3 Definitions.
50.4 Policy.
50.5 Responsibilities.
50.6 Procedures.
50.7 Information requirements.
Appendix A to Part 50--Life Insurance Products and Securities.
Appendix B to Part 50--Overseas Life Insurance Registration Program.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301.
General Provisions
Sec. 50.1 Purpose.
This part:
(a) Implements section 577 of Public Law No. 109-163 (2006) and
establishes policy and procedures for personal commercial solicitation
on DoD installations.
(b) Continues the established annual DoD registration requirement
for the sale of insurance and securities on DoD installations overseas.
(c) Identifies prohibited practices that may cause withdrawal of
commercial solicitation privileges on DoD installations and establishes
notification requirements when privileges are withdrawn.
(d) Establishes procedures for persons solicited on DoD
installations to evaluate solicitors.
(e) Prescribes procedures for providing financial education
programs to military personnel.
Sec. 50.2 Applicability.
This part:
(a) Applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military
Departments, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant
Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of
Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other
organizational entities in the Department of Defense (hereafter
referred to collectively as the ``DoD Components'').
(b) Does not apply to services furnished by residential service
companies, such as deliveries of milk, laundry, newspapers, and related
services to personal residences on the installation requested by the
resident and authorized by the installation commander.
(c) Applies to all other personal commercial solicitation on DoD
installations. It includes meetings on DoD installations of private,
non-profit, tax-exempt organizations that involve commercial
solicitation. Attendance at these meetings shall be voluntary and the
time and place of such meetings are subject to the discretion of the
installation commander or his or her designee.
Sec. 50.3 Definitions.
Agent. An individual who receives remuneration as a salesperson or
whose remuneration is dependent on volume of sales of a product or
products. (Also referred to as ``commercial agent'' or ``producer'').
In this part, the term ``agent'' includes ``general agent'' unless the
content clearly conveys a contrary intent.
``Authorized'' Bank and/or Credit Union. Bank and/or credit union
selected by the installation commander through open competitive
solicitation to provide exclusive on-base delivery of financial
services to the installation under a written operating agreement.
Banking institution. An entity chartered by a State or the Federal
Government to provide financial services.
Commercial sponsorship. The act of providing assistance, funding,
goods, equipment (including fixed assets), or services to an MWR
program or event by an individual, agency, association, company or
corporation, or other entity (sponsor) for a specified (limited) period
of time in return for public recognition or advertising promotions.
Enclosure 9
[[Page 38765]]
of DoD Instruction 1015.10 \1\ provides general policy governing
commercial sponsorship.
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\1\ Copies may be obtained at https://www.dtic.mil/whs/
directives/.
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Credit union. A cooperative nonprofit association, incorporated
under the Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1751), or similar state statute,
for the purpose of encouraging thrift among its members and creating a
source of credit at a fair and reasonable rate of interest.
DoD installation. For the purposes of this part, any Federally
owned, leased, or operated base, reservation, post, camp, building, or
other facility to which DoD personnel are assigned for duty, including
barracks, transient housing, and family quarters.
DoD personnel. For the purposes of this part, all active duty
officers (commissioned and warrant) and enlisted members of the
Military Departments and all civilian employees, including
nonappropriated fund employees and special Government employees, of the
Department of Defense.
Financial services. Those services commonly associated with
financial institutions in the United States, such as electronic banking
(e.g., ATMs), in-store banking, checking, share and savings accounts,
fund transfers, sale of official checks, money orders and travelers
checks, loan services, safe deposit boxes, trust services, sale and
redemption of U.S. Savings Bonds, and acceptance of utility payments
and any other consumer-related banking services.
General agent. A person who has a legal contract to represent a
company. See the definition of ``Agent'' in this section.
Insurance carrier. An insurance company issuing insurance through
an association reinsuring or coinsuring such insurance.
Insurance product. A policy, annuity, or certificate of insurance
issued by an insurer or evidence of insurance coverage issued by a
self-insured association, including those with savings and investment
features.
Insurer. An entity licensed by the appropriate department to engage
in the business of insurance.
Military services. See Joint Publication 1-02, ``DoD Dictionary of
Military and Associated Terms.'' \2\
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\2\ See https://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/indexs.html.
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Normal home enterprises. Sales or services that are customarily
conducted in a domestic setting and do not compete with an
installation's officially sanctioned commerce.
Personal commercial solicitation. Personal contact, to include
meetings, meals, or telecommunications contact, for the purpose of
seeking private business or trade.
Securities. Mutual funds, stocks, bonds, or any product registered
with the Securities and Exchange Commission except for any insurance or
annuity product issued by a corporation subject to supervision by State
insurance authorities.
Suspension. Temporary termination of privileges pending completion
of a commander's inquiry or investigation.
Withdrawal. Termination of privileges for a set period of time
following completion of a commander's inquiry or investigation.
Sec. 50.4 Policy.
(a) It is DoD policy to safeguard and promote the welfare of DoD
personnel as consumers by setting forth a uniform approach to the
conduct of all personal commercial solicitation and sales to them by
dealers and their agents. For those individuals and their companies
that fail to follow this policy, the opportunity to solicit on military
installations may be limited or denied as appropriate.
(b) Command authority includes authority to approve or prohibit all
commercial solicitation covered by this part. Nothing in this part
limits an installation commander's inherent authority to deny access to
vendors or to establish time and place restrictions on commercial
activities at the installation.
Sec. 50.5 Responsibilities.
(a) The Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness (PDUSD(P&R)), under the Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, shall:
(1) Identify and publish policies and procedures governing personal
commercial solicitation on DoD installations consistent with the policy
set forth in this part.
(2) Maintain and make available to installation commanders and
appropriate Federal personnel the current master file of all individual
agents, dealers, and companies who have their privileges withdrawn at
any DoD installation.
(3) Develop and maintain a list of all State Insurance
Commissioners' points of contact for DoD matters and forward this list
to the Military Services.
(b) The Heads of the DoD Components shall:
(1) Ensure implementation of this part and compliance with its
provisions.
(2) Require installations under their authority to report each
instance of withdrawal of commercial solicitation privileges.
(3) Submit lists of all individuals and companies who have had
their commercial solicitation privileges withdrawn at installations
under their authority to the PDUSD(P&R) in accordance with this part.
Sec. 50.6 Procedures.
(a) General. (1) No person has authority to enter a DoD
installation to transact personal commercial solicitation as a matter
of right. Personal commercial solicitation may be permitted only if the
following requirements are met:
(i) The solicitor is duly licensed under applicable Federal, State,
or municipal laws and has complied with installation regulations.
(ii) A specific appointment has been made for each meeting with the
individual concerned. Each meeting is conducted only in family quarters
or in other areas designated by the installation commander.
(iii) The solicitor agrees to provide each person solicited the
personal commercial solicitation evaluation included in DD Form 2885
\3\ during the initial appointment. The person being solicited is not
required to complete the evaluation. However, completed evaluations
should be sent by the person who was solicited to the office designated
by the installation commander on the back of the evaluation form.
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\3\ Copies may be obtained from https://www.dtic.mil/whs/
directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage2239.html.
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(iv) The solicitor agrees to provide DoD personnel with a written
reminder, prior to their making a financial commitment, that free legal
advice is available from the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate.
(2) Solicitors on overseas installations shall be required to
observe, in addition to the above, the applicable laws of the host
country. Upon request, the solicitor must present documentary evidence
to the installation commander that the company they represent, and its
agents, meet the applicable licensing requirements of the host country.
(b) Life insurance products and securities. (1) Life insurance
products and securities offered and sold to DoD personnel shall meet
the prerequisites described in Sec. 50.3.
(2) Installation commanders may permit insurers and their agents to
solicit on DoD installations if the requirements of paragraph (a) of
this section are met and if they are licensed under the insurance laws
of the State
[[Page 38766]]
where the installation is located. Commanders will ensure the agent's
license status and complaint history are checked with the appropriate
State or Federal regulators before granting permission to solicit on
the installation.
(3) In addition, before approving insurance and financial product
agents' requests for permission to solicit, commanders shall review the
list of agents and companies currently barred, banned, or limited from
soliciting on any or all DoD installations. This list may be viewed via
the Personal Commercial Solicitation Report ``quick link'' at https://
www.commanderspage.com. In overseas areas, the DoD Components shall
limit insurance solicitation to those insurers registered under the
provisions of appendix B to this part.
(4) The conduct of all insurance business on DoD installations
shall be by specific appointment. When establishing the appointment,
insurance agents shall identify themselves to the prospective purchaser
as an agent for a specific insurer.
(5) Installation commanders shall designate areas where interviews
by appointment may be conducted. The opportunity to conduct scheduled
interviews shall be extended to all solicitors on an equitable basis.
Where space and other considerations limit the number of agents using
the interviewing area, the installation commander may develop and
publish local policy consistent with this concept.
(6) Installation commanders shall make disinterested third-party
insurance counseling available to DoD personnel desiring counseling.
Financial counselors shall encourage DoD personnel to seek legal
assistance or other advice from a disinterested third-party before
entering into a contract for insurance or securities.
(7) In addition to the solicitation prohibitions contained in
paragraph (d) of this section, DoD Components shall prohibit the
following:
(i) The use of DoD personnel representing any insurer, dealing
directly or indirectly on behalf of any insurer or any recognized
representative of any insurer on the installation, or as an agent or in
any official or business capacity with or without compensation.
(ii) The use of an agent as a participant in any Military Service-
sponsored education or orientation program.
(iii) The designation of any agent or the use by any agent of
titles (for example, ``Battalion Insurance Counselor,'' ``Unit
Insurance Advisor,'' ``Servicemen's Group Life Insurance Conversion
Consultant,'') that in any manner, states, or implies any type of
endorsement from the U.S. Government, the Armed Forces, or any State or
Federal agency or government entity.
(iv) The use of desk space for interviews for other than a specific
prearranged appointment. During such appointment, the agent shall not
be permitted to display desk signs or other materials announcing his or
her name or company affiliation.
(v) The use of an installation ``daily bulletin,'' marquee,
newsletter, Web page, or other official notice to announce the presence
of an agent and/or his or her availability.
(c) Supervision of on-base commercial activities. (1) All pertinent
installation regulations shall be posted in a place easily accessible
to those conducting and receiving personal commercial solicitation on
the installation.
(2) The installation commander shall make available a copy of
installation regulations to anyone conducting on-base commercial
solicitation activities warning that failure to follow the regulations
may result in the loss of solicitation privileges.
(3) The installation commander, or designated representative, shall
inquire into any alleged violations of this part or of any questionable
solicitation practices. The DD Form 2885 is provided as a means to
supervise solicitation activities on the installation.
(d) Prohibited practices. The following commercial solicitation
practices shall be prohibited on all DoD installations:
(1) Solicitation of recruits, trainees, and transient personnel in
a group setting or ``mass'' audience and solicitation of any DoD
personnel in a ``captive'' audience where attendance is not voluntary.
(2) Making appointments with or soliciting military or DoD civilian
personnel during their normally scheduled duty hours.
(3) Soliciting in barracks, day rooms, unit areas, transient
personnel housing, or other areas where the installation commander has
prohibited solicitation.
(4) Use of official military identification cards or DoD vehicle
decals by active duty, retired or reserve members of the Military
Services to gain access to DoD installations for the purpose of
soliciting. When entering the installation for the purpose of
solicitation, solicitors with military identification cards and/or DoD
vehicle decals must present documentation issued by the installation
authorizing solicitation.
(5) Procuring, attempting to procure, supplying, or attempting to
supply non-public listings of DoD personnel for purposes of commercial
solicitation, except for releases made in accordance with DoD Directive
5400.7.\4\
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\4\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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(6) Offering unfair, improper, or deceptive inducements to purchase
or trade.
(7) Using promotional incentives to facilitate transactions or to
eliminate competition.
(8) Using manipulative, deceptive, or fraudulent devices, schemes,
or artifices, including misleading advertising and sales literature.
All financial products, which contain insurance features, must clearly
explain the insurance features of those products.
(9) Using oral or written representations to suggest or give the
appearance that the Department of Defense sponsors or endorses any
particular company, its agents, or the goods, services, and commodities
it sells.
(10) DoD personnel making personal commercial solicitations or
sales to DoD personnel who are junior in rank or grade, or to the
family members of such personnel, except as authorized in Section 2-205
and 5-409 of the Joint Ethics Regulation, DoD 5500.7-R.\5\
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\5\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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(11) Entering into any unauthorized or restricted area.
(12) Using any portion of installation facilities, including
quarters, as a showroom or store for the sale of goods or services,
except as specifically authorized by DoD Directive 1330.17 \6\ and DoD
Instructions 1015.10, 1000.15 \7\ and 1330.21.\8\ This does not apply
to normal home enterprises that comply with applicable State and local
laws and installation rules.
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\6\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
\7\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
\8\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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(13) Soliciting door to door or without an appointment.
(14) Unauthorized advertising of addresses or telephone numbers
used in personal commercial solicitation activities conducted on the
installation, or the use of official positions, titles, or organization
names, for the purpose of personal commercial solicitation, except as
authorized in DoD 5500.7-R. Military grade and Military Service as part
of an individual's name (e.g., Captain Smith, U.S. Marine Corps) may be
used in the same manner as conventional titles, such as ``Mr.'',
``Mrs.'', or ``Honorable''.
(15) Contacting DoD personnel by calling a government telephone,
faxing to a government fax machine, or by sending e-mail to a
government computer, unless a pre-existing relationship (i.e., the DoD
member is a
[[Page 38767]]
current client or requested to be contacted) exists between the parties
and the DoD member has not asked for contact to be terminated.
(e) Denial, suspension, and withdrawal of installation solicitation
privileges. (1) The installation commander shall deny, suspend, or
withdraw permission for a company and its agents to conduct commercial
activities on the base if such action is in the best interests of the
command. The grounds for taking these actions may include, but are not
limited to, the following:
(i) Failure to meet the licensing and other regulatory requirements
prescribed in this part or violations of the State law where the
installation is located. Commanders will request that appropriate state
officials determine whether a company or agent violated State law.
(ii) Commission of any of the practices prohibited in paragraphs
(b)(6) and (d) of this section.
(iii) Substantiated complaints and/or adverse reports regarding the
quality of goods, services, and/or commodities, and the manner in which
they are offered for sale.
(iv) Knowing and willful violations of Public Law 90-321.
(v) Personal misconduct by a company's agent or representative
while on the installation.
(vi) The possession of, and any attempt to obtain supplies of
direct deposit forms, or any other form or device used by Military
Departments to direct a Service member's pay to a third party, or
possession or use of facsimiles thereof. This includes using or
assisting in using a Service member's ``MyPay'' account or other
similar Internet medium for the purpose of establishing a direct
deposit for the purchase of insurance or other investment product.
(vii) Failure to incorporate and abide by the Standards of Fairness
policies contained in DoD Instruction 1344.9.\9\
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\9\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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(2) The installation commander may determine that circumstances
dictate the immediate suspension of solicitation privileges while an
investigation is conducted. Upon suspending solicitation privileges,
the commander shall promptly inform the agent and the company the agent
represents, in writing.
(3) In suspending or withdrawing solicitation privileges, the
installation commander shall determine whether to limit such action to
the agent alone or extend it to the company the agent represents. This
decision shall be based on the circumstances of the particular case,
including, but not limited to, the nature of the violations, frequency
of violations, the extent to which other agents of the company have
engaged in such practices and any other matters tending to show the
culpability of an individual and the company.
(4) If the investigation determines an agent or company does not
possess a valid license or the agent, company, or product has failed to
meet other State or Federal regulatory requirements, the installation
commander shall immediately notify the appropriate regulatory
authorities.
(5) In a withdrawal action, the commander shall allow the
individual or company an opportunity to show cause as to why the action
should not be taken. To ``show cause'' means an opportunity must be
given for the aggrieved party to present facts on an informal basis for
the consideration of the installation commander or the commander's
designee. The installation commander shall make a final decision
regarding withdrawal based upon the entire record in each case.
Installation commanders shall report concerns or complaints involving
the quality or suitability of financial products or concerns or
complaints involving marketing methods used to sell these products to
the appropriate State and Federal regulatory authorities. Also,
installation commanders shall report any suspension or withdrawal of
insurance or securities products solicitation privileges to the
appropriate State or Federal regulatory authorities.
(6) The installation commander shall inform the Military Department
concerned of any denial, suspension, withdrawal, or reinstatement of an
agent or company's solicitation privileges and the Military Department
shall inform the Office of the PDUSD(P&R), which will maintain a list
of insurance and financial product companies and agents currently
barred, banned, or otherwise limited from soliciting on any or all DoD
installations. This list may be viewed at https://
www.commanderspage.com. If warranted, the installation commander may
recommend to the Military Department concerned that the action taken be
extended to other DoD installations. The Military Department may extend
the action to other military installations in the Military Department.
The PDUSD(P&R), following consultation with the Military Department
concerned, may order the action extended to other Military Departments.
(7) All suspensions or withdrawals of privileges may be permanent
or for a set period of time. If for a set period, when that period
expires, the individual or company may reapply for permission to
solicit through the installation commander or Military Department
originally imposing the restriction. The installation commander or
Military Department reinstating permission to solicit shall notify the
Office of the PDUSD(P&R) and appropriate State and Federal regulatory
agencies when such suspensions or withdrawals are lifted.
(8) The Secretaries of the Military Departments may direct the
Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Boards in all geographical areas in
which the grounds for withdrawal action have occurred to consider all
applicable information and take action that the Boards deem
appropriate.
(9) Nothing in this part limits the authority of the installation
commander or other appropriate authority from requesting or instituting
other administrative and/or criminal action against any person,
including those who violate the conditions and restrictions upon which
installation entry is authorized.
(f) Advertising and commercial sponsorship. (1) The Department of
Defense expects voluntary observance of the highest business ethics by
commercial enterprises soliciting DoD personnel through advertisements
in unofficial military publications when describing goods, services,
commodities, and the terms of the sale (including guarantees,
warranties, and the like).
(2) The advertising of credit terms shall conform to the provisions
of 15 U.S.C. 1601 as implemented by Federal Reserve Board Regulation Z
according to 12 CFR part 226.
(3) Solicitors may provide commercial sponsorship to DoD Morale,
Welfare and Recreation programs or events according to DoD Instruction
1015.10. However, sponsorship may not be used as a means to obtain
personal contact information for any participant at these events
without written permission from the individual participant. In
addition, commercial sponsors may not use sponsorship to advertise
products and/or services not specifically agreed to in the sponsorship
agreement.
(4) The installation commander may permit organizations to display
sales literature in designated locations subject to command policies.
In accordance with DoD 7000.14-R,\10\ Volume 7(a), distribution of
competitive literature or forms by off-base banks and/or credit unions
is prohibited on installations where an authorized on-base bank and/or
credit union exists.
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\10\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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[[Page 38768]]
(g) Educational programs. (1) The Military Departments shall
develop and disseminate information and provide educational programs
for members of the Military Services on their personal financial
affairs, including such subjects as insurance, Government benefits,
savings, budgeting, and other financial education and assistance
requirements outlined in DoD Instruction 1342.27.\11\ The Military
Departments shall ensure that all instructors are qualified as
appropriate for the subject matter presented. The services of
representatives of authorized on-base banks and credit unions may be
used for this purpose. Under no circumstances shall commercial agents,
including representatives of loan, finance, insurance, or investment
companies, be used for this purpose. Presentations shall only be
conducted at the express request of the installation commander.
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\11\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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(2) The Military Departments shall also make qualified personnel
and facilities available for individual counseling on loans and
consumer credit transactions in order to encourage thrift and financial
responsibility and promote a better understanding of the wise use of
credit, as prescribed in DoD 7000.14-R.
(3) The Military Departments shall encourage military members to
seek advice from a legal assistance officer, the installation financial
counselor, their own lawyer, or a financial counselor, before making a
substantial loan or credit commitment.
(4) Each Military Department shall provide advice and guidance to
DoD personnel who have a complaint under DoD 1344.9 or who allege a
criminal violation of its provisions, including referral to the
appropriate regulatory agency for processing of the complaint.
(5) Banks and credit unions operating on DoD installations are
required to provide financial counseling services as an integral part
of their financial services offerings. Representatives of and materials
provided by authorized banks and/or credit unions located on military
installations may be used to provide the educational programs and
information required by this part subject to the following conditions:
(i) If the bank or credit union operating on a DoD installation
sells insurance or securities or has any affiliation with a company
that sells or markets insurance or other financial products, the
installation commander shall consider that company's history of
complying with this part before authorizing the on-base financial
institution to provide financial education.
(ii) All prospective educators must agree to use appropriate
disclaimers in their presentations and on their other educational
materials. The disclaimers must clearly indicate that they do not
endorse or favor any commercial supplier, product, or service, or
promote the services of a specific financial institution.
(6) Use of other non-government organizations to provide financial
education programs is limited as follows:
(i) Under no circumstances shall commercial agents, including
employees or representatives of commercial loan, finance, insurance, or
investment companies, be used.
(ii) The limitation in paragraph (g)(6)(i) of this section does not
apply to educational programs and information regarding the Survivor
Benefits Program and other government benefits provided by tax-exempt
organizations under section (c)(23) of 26 U.S.C. 501 or by any
organization providing such a benefit under a contract with the
Government.
(iii) Educators from non-government, non-commercial organizations
expert in personal financial affairs and their materials may, with
appropriate disclaimers, provide the educational programs and
information required by this part if approved by a Presidentially-
appointed, Senate-confirmed civilian official of the Military
Department concerned. Presentations by approved organizations shall be
conducted only at the express request of the installation commander.
The following criteria shall be used when considering whether to permit
a non-government, non-commercial organization to present an educational
program or provide materials on personal financial affairs:
(A) The organization must qualify as a tax-exempt organization
under 5 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) or 5 U.S.C. 501(c)(23).
(B) If the organization has any affiliation with a company that
sells or markets insurance or other financial products, the approval
authority shall consider that company's history of complying with this
part.
(C) All prospective educators must use appropriate disclaimers, in
their presentations and on their other educational materials, which
clearly indicate that they and the Department of Defense do not endorse
or favor any commercial supplier, product, or service or promote the
services of a specific financial institution.
Sec. 50.7 Information requirements.
The reporting requirements concerning the suspension or withdrawal
of solicitation privileges have been assigned Report Control Symbol
(RCS) DD-P&R(Q)2182 in accordance with DoD 8910.1-M.\12\
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\12\ See footnote 1 to Sec. 50.3.
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Appendix A to Part 50--Life Insurance Products and Securities
A. Life Insurance Product Content Prerequisites
Companies must provide DoD personnel a written description for
each product or service they intend to market to DoD personnel on
DoD installations. These descriptions must be written in a manner
that DoD personnel can easily understand, and fully disclose the
fundamental nature of the policy. Companies must be able to
demonstrate that each form to be used has been filed with and
approved, where applicable, by the insurance department of the State
where the installation is located. Insurance products marketed to
DoD personnel on overseas installations must conform to the
standards prescribed by the laws of the State where the company is
incorporated.
1. Insurance products, other than certificates or other evidence
of insurance issued by a self-insured association, offered and sold
worldwide to personnel on DoD installations, must:
a. Comply with the insurance laws of the State or country in
which the installation is located and the requirements of this part.
b. Contain no restrictions by reason of Military Service or
military occupational specialty of the insured, unless such
restrictions are clearly indicated on the face of the contract.
c. Plainly indicate any extra premium charges imposed by reason
of Military Service or military occupational specialty.
d. Contain no variation in the amount of death benefit or
premium based upon the length of time the contract has been in
force, unless all such variations are clearly described in the
contract.
e. In plain and readily understandable language, and in type
font at least as large as the font used for the majority of the
policy, inform Service members of:
1. The availability and cost of government subsidized
Servicemen's Group Life Insurance.
2. The address and phone number where consumer complaints are
received by the State insurance commissioner for the State in which
the insurance product is being sold.
3. That the U.S. Government has in no way sanctioned,
recommended, or encouraged the sale of the product being offered.
With respect to the sale or solicitation of insurance on Federal
land or facilitates located outside the United States, insurance
products must contain the address and phone number where consumer
complaints are received by the State insurance commissioner for the
State which has issued the agent a resident license or the company
is domiciled, as applicable.
[[Page 38769]]
2. To comply with paragraphs A.1.b., A.1.c. and A.1.d., an
appropriate reference stamped on the first page of the contract
shall draw the attention of the policyholder to any restrictions by
reason of Military Service or military occupational specialty. The
reference shall describe any extra premium charges and any
variations in the amount of death benefit or premium based upon the
length of time the contract has been in force.
3. Variable life insurance products may be offered provided they
meet the criteria of the appropriate insurance regulatory agency and
the Securities and Exchange Commission.
4. Insurance products shall not be marketed or sold disguised as
investments. If there is a savings component to an insurance
product, the agent shall provide the customer written documentation,
which clearly explains how much of the premium goes to the savings
component per year broken down over the life of the policy. This
document must also show the total amount per year allocated to
insurance premiums. The customer must be provided a copy of this
document that is signed by the insurance agent.
B. Sale of Securities
1. All securities must be registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
2. All sales of securities must comply with the appropriate
Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.
3. All securities representatives must apply to the commander of
the installation on which they desire to solicit the sale of
securities for permission to solicit.
4. Where the accredited insurer's policy permits, an overseas
accredited life insurance agent--if duly qualified to engage in
security activities either as a registered representative of the
National Association of Securities Dealers or as an associate of a
broker or dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission--may offer life insurance and securities for sale
simultaneously. In cases of commingled sales, the allotment of pay
for the purchase of securities cannot be made to the insurer.
C. Use of the Allotment of Pay System
1. Allotments of military pay for life insurance products shall
be made in accordance with DoD 7000.14-R.
2. For personnel in pay grades E-4 and below, in order to obtain
financial counseling, at least seven calendar days shall elapse
between the signing of a life insurance application and the
certification of a military pay allotment for any supplemental
commercial life insurance. Installation Finance Officers are
responsible for ensuring this seven-day cooling-off period is
monitored and enforced. The purchaser's commanding officer may grant
a waiver of the seven-day cooling-off period requirement for good
cause, such as the purchaser's imminent deployment or permanent
change of station.
D. Associations--General
The recent growth and general acceptability of quasi-military
associations offering various insurance plans to military personnel
are acknowledged. Some associations are not organized within the
supervision of insurance laws of either a State or the Federal
Governmen