Sec. 5. 24-A MRSA §2188 is enacted to read:

§2188.__Insurance Fraud Investigative Unit

1.__Fraud unit established; powers and duties.__There is established in the bureau the Insurance Fraud Investigative Unit, referred to in this section as "the fraud unit."__The fraud unit shall assist the superintendent, or any law enforcement agency, in investigating fraudulent insurance acts, as defined in section 2186, subsection 1, paragraph A or other insurance-related criminal activity and in developing and implementing programs to prevent fraudulent insurance acts and abuse. The fraud unit may subpoena witnesses and administer oaths in an investigation it conducts and compel the production of any books, papers or other memoranda or documents by subpoena duces tecum. The fraud unit shall promptly notify the Attorney General of any insurance application, claim or activity that involves criminal conduct. When required by the superintendent and the Attorney General, the fraud unit shall cooperate with the Attorney General in the investigation and prosecution of criminal violations.

2.__Staff; assistance from Attorney General. The superintendent shall appoint to the fraud unit 3 full-time, classified persons who are qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of their positions.__When requested by the superintendent, the Attorney General may assign an assistant attorney general to assist the fraud unit in the performance of the fraud unit's duties.

3.__Inspection of material outside State.__ If material the fraud unit seeks to obtain by request is located outside the State, with the permission of the holder of the material, the fraud unit or its representative may examine the material at the place where it is located. The fraud unit may designate representatives, including officials of the state in which the material is located, to inspect the material on behalf of the fraud unit and it may respond to similar requests from officials of other states.

4.__Review of fraudulent claims reports by insurers.__ The fraud unit shall review reports received from insurers pursuant to section 2186, subsection 5, paragraph D and select those