Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 713, Sec. 2. (AB 480) Effective January 1, 2013. Section operative January 1, 2018, by its own provisions.
2018.
California Insurance Code — §§ 1760-1780
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Repealed (in Sec. 1) and added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 713, Sec. 2. (AB 480) Effective January 1, 2013. Section operative January 1, 2018, by its own provisions.
2018.
Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 103. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following definitions:
(ii) The person generates annual revenues in excess of fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), as that amount is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (B).
(iii) The person employs more than 500 full-time or full-time equivalent employees per individual insured or is a member of an
affiliated group employing more than 1,000 employees in the aggregate.
(iv) The person is a not-for-profit organization or public entity generating annual budgeted expenditures of at least thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), as that amount is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (B).
(B) Effective on January 1, 2015, and each fifth January 1 occurring thereafter, the dollar amounts in subparagraph (A) shall be adjusted to reflect the percentage change for that five-year period in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. The commissioner shall issue a bulletin to all surplus line brokers advising of any adjustments and may adopt the calculations of
the NAIC or other entity in doing so.
greatest percentage of the insured’s taxable premium for that insurance contract is allocated.
engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and individual unincorporated insurers, provided all the members are subject to the same level of solvency regulation and control by the group’s domiciliary regulator. The term “insurer” includes all nonadmitted insurers selling insurance to or through purchasing groups as defined in the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 3901 et seq.) and the California Risk Retention Act of 1991 (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 125) of Part 1), except insurers that are risk retention groups as defined by those acts.
than one state.
of the following requirements:
prevention, risk and insurance analysis, or purchasing commercial lines of insurance.
(ii) Has one of the following:
(I) A designation as a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) issued by the American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America.
(II) A designation as an Associate in Risk Management (ARM) issued by the American Institute for CPCU and Insurance Institute of America.
(III) A designation as Certified Risk Manager (CRM) issued by the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research.
(IV) A designation as a RIMS Fellow (RF) issued by the Global Risk Management Institute.
(V) Any other designation, certification, or license determined by the commissioner to demonstrate minimum competency in risk management.
(B) At least seven years of experience in risk financing, claims administration, loss prevention, risk and insurance coverage analysis, or purchasing commercial lines of insurance, and has any one of the designations specified in subclauses (I) to (V), inclusive, of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A).
(C) At least 10 years of experience in risk financing, claims administration, loss prevention, risk and insurance coverage analysis, or purchasing commercial lines of insurance.
(D) A graduate degree from an accredited college or university in risk management, business administration, finance, economics, or any other field determined by the commissioner to demonstrate minimum competence in risk management.
Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 10. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
The surplus line broker shall be responsible for determining whether an applicant for nonadmitted insurance is a California home state insured. A surplus line broker who reasonably relies on information provided in good faith by the applicant, whether directly or through the producer, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this requirement.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 11. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
including war risks; and marine builder’s risks, drydocks, and marine railways, including insurance of ship repairer’s liability, and protection and indemnity insurance, but excluding insurance covering bridges or tunnels.
delivered to the commissioner a bond in the form, amounts, and conditions specified in Sections 1663 and 1665 for an insurance broker and only one fee shall be collected from one person for both licenses. The licensee in respect to the business shall be subject to all the provisions of this chapter except Sections 1761, 1763, 1765.1, 1765.2, and 1775.5.
shall promptly furnish in written or printed form so much of the information requested as he or she can produce together with a signed statement identifying the same and giving reasons for omissions, if any. After due examination of the information and accompanying statement, the commissioner may, if he or she believes it to be in the public interest, order in writing the licensee to place no further insurance business for home state insureds with that nonadmitted insurer on behalf of any person. Any placement with that nonadmitted insurer made by a licensee after receipt of the order is a violation of this chapter. The commissioner may issue an order if he or she finds that a nonadmitted insurer with whom the licensee has dealt or proposes to deal in the transaction of insurance is in an unsound financial condition, is disreputable, or is lacking in integrity. The order shall also include notice of a hearing to be held at a time and place fixed therein, which shall be not less than 20 nor more than 30 days
from service of the order upon the licensee.
Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 370, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.
For purposes of Section 1760.5, “spacecraft” means missiles, satellites, staffed and unstaffed space vehicles, any objects intended for launch, or objects launched or assembled in outer space, including, but not limited to, the space shuttle and any transportation, communication, information, or other system intended to be employed in outer space, together with related equipment, devices, components, and parts.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 12. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
In addition to the authority granted by Section 1760.5, the commissioner has the discretion to direct special lines’ surplus line brokers to not place further business for a home state insured with an insurer whose eligibility has been withdrawn pursuant to Section 1765.1.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 13. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
firing, disciplinary actions, or compensation of any employee, officer, or both, of the nonadmitted insurer shall be made directly by the nonadmitted insurer.
nonadmitted insurer to conduct any activity through its affiliate that constitutes the transaction of insurance or a violation of Section 700 or 703.
Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 255, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2000.
For purposes of Sections 1764, 1764.1, and 1764.3, the term “certificate” means a surplus line broker certificate as defined in Section 48.
Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 162, Sec. 104. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2013.
confidential, regarding the insurance. This report shall include the name and address of the insured, verification that the insured is a home state insured, the identity of the insurer or insurers, a description of the subject and location of the risk, the amount of premium charged for the insurance, a copy of the declarations page of the policy or a copy of the surplus line broker’s certificate or binder evidencing the placement of insurance, and other pertinent information that the commissioner may reasonably require. In addition, each surplus line broker shall file a standardized form to be prescribed by the commissioner setting forth the diligent efforts to place the coverage with admitted insurers and the results of these efforts. The form shall be signed by a person licensed under this code who has made the diligent search required by this section or who supervised an unlicensed person or persons who actually conducted the search. The insurance shall not be placed with a nonadmitted insurer for the
purpose of procuring a rate lower than the lowest rate that will be accepted by any admitted insurer except as provided by subdivision (c). The commissioner may make and publish reasonable rules and regulations, consistent with this chapter, in respect to transactions governed thereby and the basis or bases for his or her determinations hereunder.
the three insurers declined the risk. The commissioner may take disciplinary action against the person signing the form for any misrepresentation made in the form due to the negligence of or the result of an intentional act by that person or the person or persons who actually conducted the search. Those actions may include any action authorized to be taken against a licensed person by this code. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude the commissioner or his or her designee from directing the surplus line broker to conduct a further or additional search among admitted insurers for similar placements in the future.
insurance attaches, there is filed with the commissioner a statement describing the insurance, specifying the rate and the nearest procurable rates from admitted insurers. The statement shall include an explanation of the reasons that the insurance must be placed with a nonadmitted insurer even though it is available from an admitted insurer. Unless the commissioner, or his or her designee, within five days after that filing notifies the filing broker that in his or her opinion the placing of the insurance constitutes a violation of this section, the broker may thereafter maintain in effect that insurance. If within that five-day period the commissioner notifies the surplus line broker that the insurance is in violation of this section and orders the broker to effect termination of that insurance within 10 days from the notice, and the broker fails or refuses to effect that termination, that failure or refusal is a violation of this section.
nonadmitted insurer, of or for the same risks, and to the same insured under an existing surplus lines policy. Such an extension may not exceed 90 days in the aggregate during any 12-month period. The extension may not include a change in coverage, terms, and conditions, or limits. Any additional premium charged for the extension shall be determined pro rata, based on the same rate of premium as the existing surplus lines policy.
(A) The surplus line broker procuring or placing the surplus line insurance has disclosed in writing to the commercial insured that surplus insurance may or may not be available from the admitted market that may provide greater protection with
more regulatory oversight.
(B) The commercial insured has subsequently requested in writing that the surplus line broker procure or place surplus insurance from a nonadmitted insurer.
Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 477, Sec. 1. (AB 1641) Effective January 1, 2018.
times each year as deemed necessary by the commissioner. A public hearing shall be held annually or more often at the commissioner’s discretion and reasonable notice of a hearing shall be given to all interested parties including surplus line brokers, admitted insurers, trade associations representing admitted insurers, agents and brokers, and consumer groups. The hearing and findings shall not be required to be conducted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. An order by the commissioner shall continue in effect until terminated by the commissioner. Where the commissioner receives written
comments or testimony or otherwise determines, prior to a hearing, that a type of insurance on the export list is more available, in the admitted market, the commissioner may remove the type of insurance from the list. The permissibility of any type of insurance to remain on the list is subject to an annual affirmative finding by the commissioner, however, when written comment or testimony is received prior to a hearing, the permissibility of that type of insurance to remain on the export list shall be reviewed at the next hearing and that type of insurance may not remain on the export list without an affirmative decision by the commissioner or his or her designee that there is not a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers. The commissioner or his or her designee shall notify all surplus line brokers of any removal. For purposes of this section, the commissioner shall not be
authorized to include on the export list as permissible for placement with a nonadmitted insurer, automobile or motor vehicle liability insurance, insurance on residential property, as defined under Section 10087, or any insurance written by the California FAIR plan.
Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 457. Effective January 1, 2007.
Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 1134, Sec. 1.5. Effective January 1, 1994.
In addition to the requirements of Section 1763, no surplus line broker shall solicit from, or place with, any nonadmitted insurer, any insurance covering private passenger automobiles if that insurance contains in whole or in part the limits of coverage provided under the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan unless the surplus line broker, producing agent, broker, or insured has first submitted to the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan a properly completed and executed application in accordance with the requirements of the plan for the coverage provided by the plan and the plan itself has determined that the application is ineligible for the limits of coverage applied for and so notifies the surplus line broker or insured in writing.
For purposes of this section, a private passenger automobile includes motorcycles, but does not include a fleet of five or more automobiles rated for business use and used in a business.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 16. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
Section 1764.2. The policies shall contain all of the matters specified in Section 381 and shall be countersigned by the surplus line broker.
Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 201, Sec. 9. (AB 1813) Effective January 1, 2020.
that the disclosure statement and appropriate signature from the applicant have been obtained. The surplus line broker shall maintain a copy of the signed disclosure statement in the broker’s records for a period of at least five years. These records shall be made available to the commissioner and the insured upon request. This disclosure shall be signed by the applicant, and is not subject to a limited power of attorney agreement between the applicant and an agent or broker or a surplus line broker. The disclosure statement shall be in boldface 16-point type on a freestanding document. In addition, every policy issued by a nonadmitted insurer and every certificate evidencing the placement of insurance shall contain, or have affixed to it by the insurer or surplus line broker, the disclosure statement set
forth in subdivision (b) in boldface 16-point type on the front page of the policy.
advertise, solicit, or negotiate the sale and purchase of surplus line insurance. The surplus line broker and nonadmitted insurer shall use the appropriate bracketed language for application and issued policy disclosures:
1. The insurance policy that you [have purchased] [are applying to purchase] is being issued by an insurer that is not licensed by the State of California. These companies are called “nonadmitted” or “surplus line” insurers.
2. The insurer is not subject to the financial solvency regulation and enforcement that apply to California licensed insurers.
3. The insurer does not participate in any of the insurance guarantee funds created
by California law. Therefore, these funds will not pay your claims or protect your assets if the insurer becomes insolvent and is unable to make payments as promised.
4. The insurer should be licensed either as a foreign insurer in another state in the United States or as a non-United States (alien) insurer. You should ask questions of your insurance agent, broker, or “surplus line” broker or contact the California Department of Insurance at the toll-free number 1-800-927-4357 or internet website www.insurance.ca.gov. Ask whether or not the insurer is licensed as a foreign or non-United States (alien) insurer and for additional information about the insurer. You may also visit the NAIC’s internet website at www.naic.org. The NAIC—the National Association of Insurance Commissioners—is the regulatory support organization created and
governed by the chief insurance regulators in the United States.
5. Foreign insurers should be licensed by a state in the United States and you may contact that state’s department of insurance to obtain more information about that insurer. You can find a link to each state from this NAIC internet website: https://naic.org/state_web_map.htm.
6. For non-United States (alien) insurers, the insurer should be licensed by a country outside of the United States and should be on the NAIC’s International Insurers Department (IID) listing of approved nonadmitted non-United States insurers. Ask your agent, broker, or “surplus line” broker to obtain more information about that
insurer.
7. California maintains a “List of Approved Surplus Line Insurers (LASLI).” Ask your agent or broker if the insurer is on that list, or view that list at the internet website of the California Department of Insurance: www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/120-company/07-lasli/lasli.cfm.
8. If you, as the applicant, required that the insurance policy you have purchased be effective immediately, either because existing coverage was going to lapse within two business days or because you were required to have coverage within two business days, and you did not receive this disclosure form and a request for your signature until after coverage became effective, you have
the right to cancel this policy within five days of receiving this disclosure. If you cancel coverage, the premium will be prorated and any broker’s fee charged for this insurance will be returned to you.”
insurance coverage subject to Section 675 and any umbrella coverage associated therewith, where an applicant requires that insurance coverage be bound immediately, either because existing coverage will lapse within two business days of the time the insurance is bound or because the applicant is required to have coverage in place within two business days, and the applicant cannot meet in person with the agent or broker to sign the disclosure form, the agent or broker may obtain the signature of the applicant within five days of binding coverage, provided that the applicant may cancel the insurance so placed within five days of receiving the disclosure form from the agent or broker. The cancellation shall be on a pro rata basis, and the applicant shall be entitled to the rescission or return of any broker’s fees charged for the placement. When a policy is canceled, the broker shall inform the applicant that the broker’s fee must be returned and that the premium must be prorated.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 18. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
No surplus line broker shall issue any evidence of insurance or cause or purport to cause any risk to be insured by a nonadmitted insurer or advise any home state insured or home state insured applicant for insurance that coverage has been or will be obtained from a nonadmitted insurer unless:
been issued by the nonadmitted insurer and delivered to the insured or his or her representative.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 83, Sec. 19. (AB 315) Effective July 15, 2011. Operative July 21, 2011, by Sec. 34 of Stats. 2011, Ch. 83.
If the surplus line broker acts in reliance on advice received in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 1764.2, the broker shall deliver the policy to the home state insured or his or her representative, and, if the delivery is not made within 30 days after the date of the issuance of the certificate or upon which the risk has been bound or the home state insured or the home state insured applicant has been advised that coverage has been or will be obtained, he or she shall deliver to the insured either of the following:
outside the United States, a cover note, placing slip, or similar document evidencing coverage issued or certified to by any broker located outside the United States who actually placed that insurance with the nonadmitted insurer.
Amended by Stats. 1982, Ch. 454, Sec. 103.
The prior written authority, policy of insurance or copy of evidence that insurance has been bound referred to in Section 1764.2, shall contain authentication by all persons assuming any risk of loss, and, if there is more than one such person, both it and any document issued or certified by the placing broker pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1764.3 , shall contain a specification of whether their obligation is joint or several, and if the latter, the proportion of the obligation assumed by each person.
Added by Stats. 1953, Ch. 467.
If insurance results from a transaction in which any provision of Sections 1764.2 to 1764.4 is violated, such insurance is subject to cancellation by the insured or by order of the commissioner. Such cancellation shall be without penalty to the insured.
Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 15, Sec. 210. (AB 109) Effective April 4, 2011. Operative October 1, 2011, by Sec. 636 of Ch. 15, as amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 39, Sec. 68.
Any person who willfully violates Section 1760.5, 1761, 1763, 1764, 1764.1, 1764.2, 1764.3, 1764.4, 1765.1, 1765.2, 1767, or 1780 is guilty of a public offense and punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both.
Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 534, Sec. 46. (AB 1699) Effective January 1, 2018.
sum of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), conditioned that the licensee will fully and faithfully comply with the requirements of this chapter, and all applicable provisions of this code. The bond shall be subject to Sections 1662 and 1663. A surplus line broker bond is not required for an individual licensed as a surplus line broker who transacts only on behalf of a licensed surplus line broker organization.
the commissioner. The fee for adding or removing from any surplus line broker’s license issued to an organization the name of any natural person, named thereon, shall be twenty-nine dollars ($29). The commissioner shall require that the qualifying examination provided by subdivision (a) of Section 1676 be taken by any natural person named by the organization to exercise its agency or brokerage powers who would be required to take and pass the qualifying examination. That natural person or persons and the organization are in all other respects subject to the provisions of this chapter and the insurance laws.
licensed under this chapter shall provide two hours of appropriate training to its employees who solicit, negotiate, or effect insurance coverage placed by a nonadmitted insurer. The training shall be given to each eligible employee every five years. The surplus line advisory organization authorized pursuant to Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section 1780.50) shall develop the curriculum for the training.
violation of any provision of this code.
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