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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
S. 1130
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Senator Thomas
Document Path: l:\council\bills\dka\3788dw08.doc
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4938
Introduced in the Senate on February 20, 2008
Introduced in the House on April 29, 2008
Last Amended on April 24, 2008
Currently residing in the House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
Summary: Procedure for an aggrieved insurer
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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2/20/2008 Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-7
2/20/2008 Senate Referred to Committee on Banking and Insurance SJ-7
3/12/2008 Senate Committee report: Favorable Banking and Insurance SJ-13
3/13/2008 Scrivener's error corrected
4/23/2008 Senate Amended SJ-141
4/23/2008 Senate Read second time SJ-141
4/24/2008 Senate Amended SJ-24
4/24/2008 Senate Read third time and sent to House SJ-24
4/29/2008 House Introduced and read first time HJ-5
4/29/2008 House Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
HJ-5
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
2/20/2008
3/12/2008
3/13/2008
4/23/2008
4/24/2008
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
April 24, 2008
S. 1130
S. Printed 4/24/08--S.
Read the first time February 20, 2008.
TO AMEND SECTION 38-5-120, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION OF LICENSE OF AN INSURER AND ITS OFFICERS AND AGENTS AND THE PUBLICATION OF THE NOTICE, SO AS TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR AN AGGRIEVED INSURER TO REQUEST A HEARING BEFORE THE DIRECTOR OR HIS DESIGNEE AND PROVIDE RECOURSE THROUGH JUDICIAL REVIEW; TO AMEND SECTION 38-7-90, RELATING TO THE RETALIATORY TAXES, PENALTIES, INTEREST, AND FEES, SO AS TO CLARIFY THAT THE FEES, TAXES, AND OBLIGATIONS MUST BE BASED UPON THE COMPARISON OF THE AGGREGATE REQUIREMENTS IMPOSED BY AND PAID TO THIS STATE TO THE SAME IMPOSED BY AND PAID TO THE OTHER STATE; AND TO AMEND SECTION 38-21-95, RELATING TO THE APPROVAL, CONDITIONS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ACQUISITION OF A DOMESTIC INSURER BY A CONTROLLING PRODUCER, SO AS TO REDEFINE A PORTION OF THE DEFINITION OF "CONTROLLING PRODUCER".
Amend Title To Conform
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Section 38-5-120 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a subsection to read:
"(D) An insurer aggrieved by an order or decision issued by the director or his designee under this section may request a hearing pursuant to the provisions of Section 38-5-140. After a hearing by the director or his designee, an order or decision made, issued, or executed by the director or his designee is subject to judicial review pursuant to the provisions of Section 38-3-210 under the appellate procedures of the South Carolina Administrative Law Court as provided by law."
SECTION 2. Section 38-7-90 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 38-7-90. (A) When the laws of any other state or the regulations or actions of any public official of another state subject, or would subject, insurance companies chartered by this State, or their agents or representatives, to fees, taxes, obligations, conditions, restrictions, or penalties for the privilege of doing business in that state which are greater than those required by this State of similar insurers organized or domiciled in the other state by or in this State for the privilege of doing business herein in this State, then all similar insurers organized or domiciled in that state are subjected to the greater requirements which are or would be imposed by or in that state upon similar insurers of this State.
(B) This section must be applied, regardless of whether an insurer chartered by this State is doing business in the other state. The application of this section is based upon a comparison of the aggregate requirements imposed by this State with the aggregate requirements imposed by the other state. Taxes, fees, or other obligations imposed by municipalities are considered in the application of this section.
(C) Taxes, fees, or other obligations imposed by municipalities are based on a comparison of the aggregate requirements imposed and paid in this State with the aggregate requirements imposed and paid in the other state.
(D) This section is effective for all insurance premiums collected after December 31, 1989, and to all insurance premium tax returns filed beginning with the quarterly return due September 1, 1990, and all quarterly and annual returns filed after that time."
SECTION 3. Section 38-21-95 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:
"Section 38-21-95. (A) No An acquisition of a domestic insurer, whether a member of a holding company system or not, by a controlling producer in another state may not be approved by the commissioner director or his designee unless the acquiring party demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the commissioner director or his designee compliance with the requirements contained in subsection (B) of this section. For the purposes of this section, 'controlling producer' means a broker or brokers that:
(1) a broker or brokers in a foreign state which permits a broker to place places business on behalf of an insured with a licensed insurer;
(2) which controls or seeks to control a domestic insurer as that term is defined in Section 38-21-10(2); and
(3) which places, in any calendar year, an aggregate amount of gross written premium with the controlled insurer which is equal to or greater than five percent of the admitted assets of the controlled insurer as reported in the insurer's quarterly statement filed as of September thirtieth of the prior year.
(B) Approval of the acquisition of a domestic insurer, whether a member of a holding company system or not, by a foreign controlling producer may not be approved unless the following requirements are met:
(1) Required Contract Provisions. A controlled insurer shall may not accept business from a controlling producer and a controlling producer shall may not place business with a controlled insurer unless there is a written contract between the controlling producer and the controlled insurer specifying the responsibilities of each party, which contract has been approved by the board of directors of the controlled insurer and which contains the following a provision:
(a) a provision that the controlled insurer may terminate the contract for cause, upon written notice to the controlling producer. The controlled insurer shall suspend the authority of the controlling producer to write business during the pendency of any dispute regarding the cause for the termination;
(b) a provision that the controlling producer shall render accounts to the controlled insurer detailing all material transactions, including information necessary to support all commissions, charges, and other fees received by, or owing to, the controlling producer;
(c) a provision that the controlling producer shall remit all funds due under the terms of the contract to the controlled insurer on at least a monthly basis. The due date shall must be fixed so that premiums or installments thereof of it collected shall must be remitted no later than ninety days after the effective date of any policy placed with the controlled insurer under this contract;
(d) a provision that all funds collected for the controlled insurer's account shall must be held by the controlling producer in a fiduciary capacity, in one or more appropriately identified bank accounts in banks that are members of the Federal Reserve System;
(e) a provision that the controlling producer shall maintain separately identifiable records of business written for the controlled insurer;
(f) a provision that the contract shall may not be assigned in whole or in part by the controlling producer;
(g) a provision that the controlled insurer shall provide the controlling producer with its underwriting standards, rules, procedures, manuals setting forth the rates to be charged, and the conditions for the acceptance or rejection of risks. The controlling producer shall adhere to the standards, rules, procedures, rates, and conditions. The standards, rules, procedures, rates, and conditions shall must be the same as those applicable to comparable business placed with the controlled insurer by a producer other than the controlling producer;
(h) a provision establishing the rates and terms of the controlling producer's commissions, charges, or other fees and the purposes for those charges or fees. The rates of the commissions, charges, and other fees shall must be no greater than those applicable to comparable business placed with the controlled insurer by producers other than controlling producers. For purposes of this subitem and subitem (g), examples of 'comparable business' include the same lines of insurance, same kinds of insurance, same kinds of risks, similar policy limits, and similar quality of business;
(i) a provision that, if the contract provides that the controlling producer, on insurance business placed with the insurer, is to be compensated contingent upon the insurer's profits on that business, then such that compensation shall must not be determined and paid until at least five years after the premiums on liability insurance are earned and at least one year after the premiums are earned on any other insurance. In no event shall The commissions may not be paid until the adequacy of the controlled insurer's reserves on remaining claims has been independently verified pursuant to subsection (B)(3)(a);
(j) a provision limiting the controlling producer's writings in relation to the controlled insurer's surplus and total writings. The controlled insurer may establish a different limit for each line or subline of business. The controlled insurer shall notify the controlling producer when the applicable limit is approached and shall may not accept business from the controlling producer if the limit is reached. The controlling producer shall may not place business with the controlled insurer if it has been notified by the controlled insurer that the limit has been reached; and
(k) a provision that the controlling producer may negotiate but shall does not bind reinsurance on behalf of the controlled insurer on business the controlling producer places with the controlled insurer, except that the controlling producer may bind facultative reinsurance contracts pursuant to obligatory facultative agreements if the contract with the controlled insurer contains underwriting guidelines including, for both reinsurance assumed and ceded, a list of reinsurers with which such these automatic agreements are in effect, the coverages and amounts or percentages that may be reinsured, and commission schedules.
(2) Audit Committee. Every Each controlled insurer shall have an audit committee of the board of directors composed of independent directors. The audit committee shall annually meet annually with management, the controlled insurer's independent certified public accountants, and an independent casualty actuary, or other independent loss reserve specialist acceptable to the commissioner director or his designee to review the adequacy of the controlled insurer's loss reserves.
(3)(a) Reporting Requirements. In addition to any other another required loss reserve certification, the controlled insurer shall file annually, on April first of each year, file with the commissioner director or his designee an opinion of an independent casualty actuary, or such other independent loss reserve specialist acceptable to the commissioner director or his designee, reporting loss ratios for each line or subline of business written and attesting to the adequacy of loss reserves established for losses incurred and outstanding as of year-end, including incurred but not reported losses, on business placed by the controlling producer; and
(b) The controlled insurer shall annually report annually to the commissioner director or his designee the amount of commissions paid to the controlling producer, the percentage such the amount represents of the net premiums written, and comparable amounts and percentages paid to noncontrolling producers for placements of the same kinds of insurance.
(4) Disclosure Requirements. The controlling producer, prior to before the effective date of the policy, shall deliver written notice to the prospective insured disclosing the relationship between the controlling producer and the controlled insurer, except that, if the business is placed through a subproducer who is not a controlling producer, the controlling producer shall retain in his records a signed commitment from the subproducer that the subproducer is aware of the relationship between the controlled insurer and the controlling producer and that the subproducer has or will notify the insured.
(5)(a) Penalties. If the commissioner director or his designee believes that the controlling producer or any other person has not materially complied with this section, or any regulation or order promulgated hereunder under it, after notice and opportunity to be heard, the commissioner director or his designee may order the controlling producer to cease placing business with the controlled insurer; and
(b) If it was found that because of such the material noncompliance that the controlled insurer or any policyholder thereof of it has suffered any loss or damage, the commissioner director or his designee may maintain a civil action or intervene in an action brought by or on behalf of the controlled insurer or policyholder for recovery of compensatory damages for the benefit of the controlled insurer or policyholder or other appropriate relief.
(c) If an order for liquidation or rehabilitation of the controlled insurer has been entered pursuant to Section 38-27-10, et seq. Chapter 27, Title 38, and the receiver appointed under that order believes that the controlling producer or any other person has not materially complied with this section, or any regulation or order promulgated hereunder under it, and the controlled insurer suffered any loss or damage therefrom from it, the receiver may maintain a civil action for recovery of damages or other appropriate sanctions for the benefit of the controlled insurer.
(d) Nothing contained in this section shall affect affects the right of the commissioner director or his designee to impose any other penalties provided for in the insurance law.
(e) Nothing contained in this section is intended to or shall in any manner alter alters or affect affects the rights of policyholders, claimants, creditors, or other third parties."
SECTION 4. Section 38-3-110(5), as last amended by Act 78 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"(5) The director must hold a public hearing at least annually at a location within the seacoast area, as defined in Section 38-75-310(7), and at a time to ensure maximum attendance and not to conflict with regular work hours in order to provide the public with information and an opportunity to discuss and offer input concerning the rates, territory, and other pertinent issues regarding the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association. The director must provide notice of the public hearing in newspapers of general circulation within the seacoast area and through all other media sources within the seacoast area, including television and radio, at least thirty days before the date of the public hearing. The director must submit a report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by no later than January thirty-first of each year regarding the status of the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, including any recommended modifications to statutory or regulatory law regarding the operation of the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association and its territory."
SECTION 5. Section 38-73-1095(C), as last amended by Act 78 of 2007, is further amended to read:
"(C) Rating plans for essential property insurance in the coastal area or in the seacoast area, shall include discounts and credits or surcharges and debits calculated upon the following rating factors:
(1) use of storm shutters;
(2) use of roof tie downs;
(3) construction standards;
(4) building codes;
(5) distance from water;
(6) elevation;
(7) flood insurance;
(8) policy deductibles; and
(9) other applicable factors requested by the insurer or rating organization or selected by order of the director involving the risk or hazard. An order issued pursuant to this section must comply with the requirements of Section 1-23-140.
The department may by regulation define how the implementation of these factors qualify for credits or discounts. The regulation must specify what evidence or proof the policyholder or applicant shall present to obtain the credit or discount. This section applies to policies issued or renewed in the coastal area or in the seacoast area after December 31, 2007, and this section applies to policies issued and renewed in all other areas of the State after October 31, 2008."
SECTION 6. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
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