(a) An employee of a title insurer, underwritten title company, or controlled escrow company who corruptly violates Section 12404 of the Insurance Code by paying, directly or indirectly, a commission, compensation, or other consideration to a licensee, as defined in Section 10011 of the Business and Professions Code, or a licensee who corruptly violates Section 10177.4 of the Business and Professions Code by receiving from an employee of a title insurer, underwritten title company, or controlled escrow company a commission, compensation, or other consideration, as an inducement for the placement or referral of title business, is guilty of commercial bribery.
(b) For purposes of this section, commercial bribery is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each unlawful transaction, or by both a fine and imprisonment.
(c) For purposes of this section, “title business” has the same meaning as that used in Section 12404 of the Insurance Code.
(d) This section shall not preclude prosecution under any other law.
(e) This section shall not be construed to supersede or affect Section 641.3. A person may be charged with a violation of this section and Section 641.3. However, a defendant may not be punished under this section and Section 641.3 for the same act that constitutes a violation of both this section and Section 641.3.
(Added by Stats. 1997, Ch. 718, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 1998.)