PRINTER'S NO. 937
No. 843 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY DAWIDA, ANDREZESKI AND FATTAH, APRIL 17, 1989
REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, APRIL 17, 1989
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of May 17, 1921 (P.L.682, No.284), entitled "An 2 act relating to insurance; amending, revising, and 3 consolidating the law providing for the incorporation of 4 insurance companies, and the regulation, supervision, and 5 protection of home and foreign insurance companies, Lloyds 6 associations, reciprocal and inter-insurance exchanges, and 7 fire insurance rating bureaus, and the regulation and 8 supervision of insurance carried by such companies, 9 associations, and exchanges, including insurance carried by 10 the State Workmen's Insurance Fund; providing penalties; and 11 repealing existing laws," authorizing stock insurers to 12 establish more than one class or series of shares and to 13 permit different voting rights according to the class of 14 shares; providing for requirements relating to minimum 15 capital surplus for certain insurers; increasing capital 16 requirements for certain insurance companies; requiring 17 insurance companies to disclose certain data; providing for 18 the review of rate filings and for compliance with requests 19 for data and information; providing for a liability 20 underwriting services plan and for a notice of intent to 21 withdraw; and providing for penalties. 22 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 23 hereby enacts as follows: 24 Section 1. Section 206(c) of the act of May 17, 1921 25 (P.L.682, No.284), known as The Insurance Company Law of 1921, 26 amended July 9, 1976 (P.L.948, No.184), is amended to read: 27 Section 206. Minimum Capital Stock and Financial
1 Requirements To Do Business.--* * * 2 (c) Stock casualty companies, organized under this act for 3 any of the purposes of insurance mentioned in subdivision (c) of 4 section two hundred and two (202) of this act, must have a paid 5 up capital stock of not less than [one hundred thousand dollars 6 ($100,000); except (i) companies organized for the purpose of 7 credit insurance, which must have a paid up capital stock of not 8 less than two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000); (ii) 9 companies organized for the purposes mentioned in clause (11) 10 subdivision (c) of section two hundred and two (202) of this 11 act, which must have a paid up capital stock of not less than 12 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000); (iii) companies 13 organized for the purpose of workmen's compensation insurance as 14 provided for in clause (14) subdivision (c) of section two 15 hundred and two (202) of the act, which must have a paid up 16 capital stock of not less than seven hundred fifty thousand 17 dollars ($750,000); and (iv) companies organized to guarantee 18 the fidelity of persons and contracts of suretyship, which must 19 have a paid up capital stock of at least two hundred and fifty 20 thousand dollars ($250,000)] five hundred thousand dollars 21 ($500,000). Stock casualty companies organized under this act 22 may undertake two or more classes of insurance mentioned in 23 subdivision (c) of section two hundred and two (202) of this 24 act, by providing at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) 25 [additional] paid up capital stock for each [additional] class 26 of insurance; except [in case credit or fidelity and surety 27 insurance is added to any other line or lines, in which case the 28 additional] that the paid up capital stock for credit insurance 29 shall be one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), and the 30 [additional] paid up capital stock for fidelity and surety 19890S0843B0937 - 2 -
1 insurance shall be two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000); and 2 except that the paid up capital stock in the case of insurance 3 for the purposes mentioned in clause (11) subdivision (c) of 4 section two hundred and two (202) of this act [is added to any 5 other line or lines, in which case the additional paid up 6 capital stock] shall be five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) 7 and except that the paid up capital stock in the case of 8 workmen's compensation insurance as provided for in clause (14) 9 subdivision (c) of section two hundred and two (202) of the act 10 [is added to any other line or lines in which case the 11 additional paid up capital stock] shall be seven hundred fifty 12 thousand dollars ($750,000). Any [such] stock casualty company 13 [with a paid up capital stock of three hundred thousand dollars 14 ($300,000) may transact all of the] organized under this act to 15 undertake two or more classes of insurance mentioned in 16 subdivision (c) of section two hundred and two (202) of this 17 act[, except credit, livestock, and fidelity and surety 18 insurance, and except insurance for the purposes mentioned in 19 clause (11) and except workmen's compensation insurance as 20 provided for in clause (14) thereof;] and a company with a paid 21 up capital stock of one million nine hundred fifty thousand 22 dollars ($1,950,000) may transact all of the classes of 23 insurance mentioned in subdivision (c) of section two hundred 24 and two (202) of this act. Every such company shall, in addition 25 thereto, have a surplus paid in at least equal to fifty per 26 centum (50%) of the [subscribed capital stock] required paid up 27 capital. 28 * * * 29 Section 2. The act is amended by adding sections to read: 30 Section 206.1. Exclusion from Minimum Financial 19890S0843B0937 - 3 -
1 Requirements.--(a) A fire or casualty company seeking a 2 certificate of authority to do business in Pennsylvania shall 3 satisfy and continue to comply with the minimum capital and 4 surplus requirements imposed by this act. 5 (b) An existing fire or casualty company with capital and 6 surplus that satisfies the requirements imposed by this act 7 shall comply and continue to comply with the requirements of 8 this act. 9 (c) An existing fire or casualty company that has capital 10 and surplus less than the minimum requirements imposed by this 11 act shall be required to continue to comply with the minimum 12 capital and surplus requirements imposed by this act at the time 13 its certificate of authority was granted and shall not be 14 required to meet the minimum requirements of this act. However, 15 any change in charter powers expanding the lines of insurance 16 the company may write, any acquisition or merger, any 17 transaction under section 337.6 or section 809 that results in a 18 transfer of ownership, acquisition of control through or 19 assignment of a management contract, or a change in the majority 20 of the board of directors as a result of a single event or 21 series of related events will require such company to comply 22 with the minimum capital and surplus requirements imposed by 23 this act. 24 Section 301.2. Classes of Shares.--Every stock insurance 25 company shall have power to create and issue one or more classes 26 of shares or one or more series of shares within any class 27 thereof, any or all of which classes or series may have full, 28 limited, multiple or fractional, or no voting rights, and such 29 designations, preferences, qualifications, privileges, 30 limitations, options, conversion rights and other special rights 19890S0843B0937 - 4 -
1 as shall be stated in the articles or in the resolution or 2 resolutions providing for the issue of such shares adopted by 3 the board of directors pursuant to authority expressly vested in 4 it by the articles. Except as otherwise provided by the 5 articles, each share shall be in all respects equal to every 6 other share. Different series of the same class of shares shall 7 not be construed to constitute different classes of shares for 8 the purpose of voting by classes under this act. Unless the 9 articles or by-laws otherwise provide, the board of directors 10 shall have the power, by resolution duly adopted, to issue from 11 time to time, in whole or in part, the classes or series of 12 shares authorized in the articles. The power to increase or 13 decrease or otherwise adjust the stated capital of a stock 14 insurance company, as in this act elsewhere provided, shall 15 apply to all or any such classes of shares authorized by this 16 section. 17 Section 3. Section 309 of the act is amended to read: 18 Section 309. Voting by Stockholders and Members; Proxies; 19 Record of Votes.--In the choice of directors or trustees, and at 20 all meetings of the company, each share of stock having voting 21 rights in a stock company, and each member in a mutual company, 22 shall be entitled to [one] vote: Provided, however, That, in the 23 case of mutual companies, other than mutual life companies, each 24 member shall be entitled to one vote or to a number of votes 25 based upon the insurance in force, the number of policies held, 26 or the amount of premiums paid; and in the case of mutual life 27 companies, each member shall be entitled to one vote. Proxies 28 may be authorized by written power of attorney. The record of 29 the votes made by the secretary, which shall show whether the 30 same were cast in person or by proxy, shall be evidence of all 19890S0843B0937 - 5 -
1 such elections. 2 Section 4. The act is amended by adding articles to read: 3 ARTICLE X-A. 4 DATA DISCLOSURE. 5 Section 1001-A. Reporting of Insurance Data.--By no later 6 than September 1, 1989, and each September 1 thereafter, each 7 insurer licensed to write property or casualty insurance in this 8 Commonwealth shall annually report its loss and expense 9 experience as provided in this act. However, an insurance 10 company whose market share, for a given line of insurance in the 11 most recent annual statement, is less than one per centum by 12 direct written premium volume, shall not be required to submit 13 the data listed in subsection (b)(1) through (12) for all types 14 of insurance included in that annual statement line, unless the 15 company is a member of a group of companies under the same 16 ownership or management, another member of which has a market 17 share of at least one per centum. Once exempted from reporting 18 by this section, a company shall not be required to submit data 19 unless and until it or another member of its group achieves a 20 market share of at least two per centum. Once required to report 21 by this section, a company shall not be exempted from submitting 22 data unless and until it and all other members of its group 23 achieve market shares of less than one per centum. The Insurance 24 Department may designate one or more rate-service organizations 25 to gather and compile such experience and data, provided that 26 the data are reported separately for each company. The 27 department shall require each insurer licensed to write property 28 or casualty insurance in this Commonwealth to provide the 29 required data in a data processing format prescribed by the 30 department. 19890S0843B0937 - 6 -
1 Section 1002-A. Commercial Insurance.--(a) The report 2 required for commercial insurance by section 1001-A shall 3 include, but not be limited to, the following specific types of 4 insurance (which shall be shown separately) written by each 5 insurer: 6 (1) Political subdivision liability insurance, reported 7 separately in the following categories: 8 (i) municipalities; 9 (ii) school districts or schools; and 10 (iii) authorities and other political subdivisions. 11 (2) Public official liability insurance. 12 (3) Dram shop liability insurance. 13 (4) Commercial day-care center liability insurance for 14 facilities licensed and regulated by the Department of Public 15 Welfare. 16 (5) Products liability insurance. 17 (6) Medical malpractice insurance. 18 (7) Attorneys malpractice insurance. 19 (8) Architects and engineers malpractice insurance. 20 (9) Officers and directors liability insurance. 21 (10) Commercial motor vehicle insurance reported separately 22 for voluntary and involuntary writings, for each of the 23 following coverages: 24 (i) bodily injury liability insurance; 25 (ii) property damage liability insurance; 26 (iii) first party benefits insurance; 27 (iv) uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; and 28 (v) physical damage insurance (comprehensive insurance and 29 collision insurance combined). 30 The automobile insurance plan shall provide the data for the 19890S0843B0937 - 7 -
1 involuntary market; however, all insurance companies writing 2 commercial motor vehicle insurance shall report the data for the 3 voluntary market. 4 (b) The required report shall include the following data by 5 type of insurance, both specific to this Commonwealth and also 6 to the United States, except where otherwise noted. The data 7 shall be compiled for the previous calendar year, accident year, 8 or policy year, as determined by the Insurance Department, 9 ending on the thirty-first day of December, and evaluated as of 10 the thirty-first day of March of the following year: 11 (1) Direct written premiums at collected rate levels. 12 (2) Direct earned premiums at collected rate levels. 13 (3) Net investment income, excluding both realized and 14 unrealized capital gains and losses, using estimates where 15 necessary, broken down by line in accordance with the NAIC 16 insurance expense exhibit method. 17 (4) Net investment income, including realized capital gains 18 and losses (which shall be shown separately) but excluding 19 unrealized capital gains and losses, using estimates where 20 necessary, broken down by line in accordance with the NAIC 21 insurance expense exhibit method. 22 (5) Net investment income, including realized capital gains 23 and losses (which shall be shown separately) and including 24 unrealized capital gains and losses (which shall be shown 25 separately), using estimates where necessary, broken down by 26 line in accordance with the NAIC insurance expense exhibit 27 method. 28 (6) Incurred loss development for all available years 29 beginning with 1983, and determined as the sum of the following 30 developments, which shall be shown separately: 19890S0843B0937 - 8 -
1 (i) dollar amount of paid claims; plus 2 (ii) reserves for reported claims; plus 3 (iii) reserves for incurred but not reported claims; plus 4 (iv) paid allocated loss adjustment expenses; plus 5 (v) reserves for allocated loss adjustment expenses. 6 (7) Incurred claim count development for all available years 7 beginning with 1983, and determined as the sum of the following 8 developments, which shall be shown separately: 9 (i) number of claims closed with payment; plus 10 (ii) number of claims closed without payment; plus 11 (iii) number of claims pending. 12 (8) Incurred expenses, including commissions, other 13 acquisition costs, general expenses, unallocated loss adjustment 14 expenses, taxes, licenses and fees, all of which shall be shown 15 separately. 16 (9) Net underwriting gain or loss. 17 (10) Net operating gain or loss, including net realized 18 investment income but excluding unrealized investment income. 19 (11) The total number of incurred claims and corresponding 20 losses and loss distributions broken down into components of 21 economic loss, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. 22 (12) For all ceded reinsurance agreements with unrelated 23 insurers entered into with the current reporting year, except 24 those negotiated on an individual risk basis, the names and 25 addresses of reinsurance intermediaries and fronting companies 26 that provide reinsurance services and coverage. Information 27 shall include, but not be limited to, limits and types of 28 coverage provided, restrictions and loss retention. For 29 individual risk reinsurance agreements allocated to 30 Pennsylvania, the company shall identify the three leading 19890S0843B0937 - 9 -
1 intermediaries placing the reinsurance and the number of 2 individual risks that are reinsured on that basis per line of 3 business. The data shall be held confidential; however, a 4 summary statement of the cost and availability of reinsurance 5 shall be made part of the report requirement of section 1006-A. 6 (13) Any other information requested by the Insurance 7 Department. 8 (c) The Insurance Department shall promulgate rules and 9 regulations setting forth procedures governing the reporting 10 requirements of this article that shall include, but not be 11 limited to: 12 (1) provisions to guarantee confidentiality of the data with 13 regard to information relevant to individual claims; and 14 (2) standard and uniform definitions for information 15 required to be submitted to the department pursuant to this 16 article, that shall be consistent with generally accepted 17 actuarial principles. 18 Section 1003-A. Private Passenger Motor Vehicle Insurance.-- 19 (a) The report required for private passenger motor vehicle 20 insurance by section 1001-A shall include, but not be limited 21 to, private passenger motor vehicle insurance reported 22 separately for voluntary and involuntary writings, for each of 23 the following coverages: 24 (1) bodily injury liability insurance; 25 (2) property damage liability insurance; 26 (3) first party benefits insurance; 27 (4) uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance; 28 (5) comprehensive insurance; and 29 (6) collision insurance. 30 The automobile insurance plan shall provide the data for the 19890S0843B0937 - 10 -
1 involuntary market; however, all insurance companies writing 2 private passenger motor vehicle insurance shall report the data 3 for the voluntary market. 4 (b) The required report shall include the following private 5 passenger motor vehicle data, both specific to this Commonwealth 6 and also to the United States, except where otherwise noted. The 7 data for the coverages in clauses (1) through (4) of subsection 8 (a) shall be compiled for the previous accident year ending on 9 the thirty-first day of December and evaluated as of the thirty- 10 first day of March of the following year, whereas the data for 11 the comprehensive and collision coverages shall be compiled for 12 the previous calendar year. Furthermore, all data required by 13 clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (8) and (9) of this subsection shall 14 be broken down by Pennsylvania rating territories. 15 (1) Direct written premiums at collected and current rate 16 levels; however, the current rate level information is not 17 required on a countrywide basis. 18 (2) Direct earned premiums at collected and current rate 19 levels; however, the current rate level information is not 20 required on a countrywide basis. 21 (3) Written exposures. 22 (4) Earned exposures. 23 (5) Net investment income, excluding both realized and 24 unrealized capital gains and losses, using estimates where 25 necessary, broken down by line in accordance with the NAIC 26 insurance expense exhibit method. 27 (6) Net investment income, including realized capital gains 28 and losses (which shall be shown separately) but excluding 29 unrealized capital gains and losses, using estimates where 30 necessary, broken down by line in accordance with the NAIC 19890S0843B0937 - 11 -
1 insurance expense exhibit method. 2 (7) Net investment income, including realized capital gains 3 and losses (which shall be shown separately) and including 4 unrealized capital gains and losses (which shall be shown 5 separately), using estimates where necessary, broken down by 6 line in accordance with the NAIC insurance expense exhibit 7 method. 8 (8) Incurred loss development for all available years 9 beginning with 1983, and determined as the sum of the following 10 developments, which shall be shown separately: 11 (i) dollar amount of paid claims; plus 12 (ii) reserves for reported claims; plus 13 (iii) reserves for incurred but not reported claims; plus 14 (iv) paid allocated loss adjustment expenses; plus 15 (v) reserves for allocated loss adjustment expenses. 16 (9) Incurred claim count development for all available years 17 beginning with 1983, and determined as the sum of the following 18 developments, which shall be shown separately: 19 (i) number of claims closed with payment; plus 20 (ii) number of claims closed without payment; plus 21 (iii) number of claims pending. 22 (10) Incurred expenses, including commissions, other 23 acquisition costs, general expenses, unallocated loss adjustment 24 expenses, taxes, licenses and fees, all of which shall be shown 25 separately. 26 (11) Net underwriting gain or loss. 27 (12) Net operating gain or loss, including net realized 28 investment income but excluding unrealized investment income. 29 (13) The total number of incurred claims and corresponding 30 losses and loss distributions, broken down into components of 19890S0843B0937 - 12 -
1 economic loss, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. 2 (14) For all ceded reinsurance agreements with unrelated 3 insurers entered into with the current reporting year, except 4 those negotiated on an individual risk basis, the names and 5 addresses of reinsurance intermediaries and fronting companies 6 that provide reinsurance services and coverage. Information 7 shall include, but not be limited to, limits and types of 8 coverage provided, restrictions and loss retention. For 9 individual risk reinsurance agreements allocated to 10 Pennsylvania, the company shall identify the three leading 11 intermediaries placing the reinsurance and the number of 12 individual risks that are reinsured on that basis per line of 13 business. The data shall be held confidential; however, a 14 summary statement of the cost and availability of reinsurance 15 shall be made part of the report requirement of section 1005-A. 16 (15) Any other information requested by the Insurance 17 Department. 18 Section 1004-A. Rules and Regulations.--The Insurance 19 Department shall promulgate rules and regulations setting forth 20 procedures governing the reporting requirements of this article 21 that shall include, but not be limited to: 22 (1) provisions to guarantee confidentiality of the data with 23 regard to information relevant to individual claims; and 24 (2) standard and uniform definitions for information 25 required to be submitted to the department pursuant to this 26 article, that shall be consistent with generally accepted 27 actuarial principles. 28 Section 1005-A. Actuarial Impact Statement Regarding 29 Judicial Decisions.--Any insurance company or rating 30 organization, acting on behalf of more than one insurance 19890S0843B0937 - 13 -
1 company, may file an actuarial study detailing the impact of any 2 appellate judicial decision it believes will have a significant 3 impact on the price or availability of insurance. 4 Section 1006-A. Department Utilization.--The Insurance 5 Department shall utilize the reports submitted by insurers 6 pursuant to this article, or any portions of these reports, in 7 determining whether the rates or rating plans, or any subsequent 8 modifications thereof, for property or casualty insurance in 9 this Commonwealth, are excessive, inadequate or unfairly 10 discriminatory, or for any other purpose. The department shall 11 annually summarize the data compiled pursuant to this act, and 12 file a report and findings with the standing committees of the 13 General Assembly having jurisdiction over insurance affairs. The 14 department shall be authorized to audit, at its discretion, any 15 of the data submitted under this article. 16 Section 1007-A. Requirement for Doing Business.--Each 17 insurance company shall file all of the information required 18 under this article with the Insurance Department as a 19 prerequisite to obtaining permission to write coverage, to 20 continue to do business, or to file for rate adjustments. 21 Section 1008-A. Penalty.--Each insurer who fails to comply 22 with the terms of section 1001-A, 1002-A or 1003-A shall pay an 23 administrative penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and 24 thereafter a further administrative penalty of two hundred 25 dollars ($200) daily until all sections are complied with. 26 ARTICLE X-B. 27 REVIEW OF RATE FILINGS. 28 Section 1001-B. Filings.--(a) The Insurance Department is 29 authorized to audit, at its discretion, all data submitted in 30 support of rules, rates or rating plans. 19890S0843B0937 - 14 -
1 (b) Public notice shall be given of any public hearing or 2 other opportunities for any interested party or person to 3 present information on filings of rules, rates or rating plans. 4 (c) All filings of rules, rates and rating plans presented 5 to the department shall be part of the public record. 6 (d) The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations 7 establishing procedures for the review of rules, rates and 8 rating plans for property and casualty insurance, which shall 9 include, but not be limited to: 10 (1) Uniform definitions of actuarial terms used in filings 11 of rules, rates and rating plans. 12 (2) Standard formats and standard methodologies for the 13 submission or modification of rules, rates and rating plans. An 14 insurance company may provide additional information beyond the 15 standard data base established by the department. 16 ARTICLE X-C. 17 REQUESTS FOR DATA AND INFORMATION; COMPLIANCE. 18 Section 1001-C. Requests for Data and Information.--Any 19 person or entity licensed or otherwise authorized to engage in 20 the business of insurance in this Commonwealth shall comply with 21 calls for data and any other information that may be made by the 22 Insurance Department. Compliance with such calls, relating to 23 the conduct of the business of insurance, shall include the 24 following actions: 25 (1) The provision of all data or information requested 26 within thirty (30) calendar days of the date that the request is 27 first received unless a different time to respond is provided by 28 the department or granted as a result of a formal request by the 29 entity to which the request is made. Where data or information 30 is not readily available in the form or format in which it is 19890S0843B0937 - 15 -
1 requested, such data and information shall be generated, 2 organized and presented in the form or format requested by the 3 department, provided that upon written request the person or 4 licensee shall have an additional thirty (30) days to generate, 5 organize and present all data and information requested. The 6 commissioner may grant additional thirty (30) day extensions to 7 the time to respond to a request for data or information upon 8 request. 9 (2) The provision of copies of actual records or documents 10 requested, including, but not limited to, letters, guidelines, 11 lists, memoranda, directives, notices and any form of 12 communication which relates to data or information requested. 13 Section 1002-C. Penalties.--Any person or entity which fails 14 to comply with this article shall pay up to a maximum 15 administrative penalty of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and be 16 subject to a further administrative penalty of two hundred 17 dollars ($200) daily until full compliance occurs. 18 ARTICLE X-D. 19 NOTICE OF INTENT TO WITHDRAW. 20 Section 1001-D. Notice Required.--(a) Whenever an insurer 21 licensed to write property and casualty insurance as described 22 in section 1001-A decides to withdraw from any line, subline or 23 classification of business, the insurance company shall file 24 with the Insurance Department a notice detailing the intent to 25 withdraw. The notice shall include, but not be limited to, the 26 reasons for withdrawal, the number of policyholders affected, 27 the effective date of the withdrawal, if the withdrawal is 28 Statewide or national, and a listing of potential sources for 29 replacement coverage for insureds. This notice of withdrawal by 30 insurers shall be filed at least sixty days prior to the 19890S0843B0937 - 16 -
1 effective date of the withdrawal. 2 (b) The Insurance Department shall use this information to 3 assist in determining market conditions. 4 (c) The department shall not permit any insurer licensed to 5 write property and casualty insurance to withdraw from any line 6 or classification of business without complying with the 7 provisions of this article. 8 ARTICLE X-E. 9 PENNSYLVANIA LIABILITY UNDERWRITING SERVICES PLAN. 10 Section 1001-E. Definitions.--The following words and 11 phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given 12 to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates 13 otherwise: 14 (1) "Board," means the board of directors of the plan. 15 (2) "Commercial liability insurance," means insurance 16 coverage against the legal liability of the insured against 17 loss, damage or expense incident to a claim arising out of the 18 death or injury of any person or property damage as the result 19 of or incident to the lawful conduct of a business enterprise or 20 public purpose. The term includes such insurance coverage of 21 governmental entities, including political subdivisions as 22 specified in section 1002-A(1)(i), (ii) and (iii). 23 (3) "Commissioner," means the Insurance Commissioner of the 24 Commonwealth. 25 (4) "Department," means the Insurance Department of the 26 Commonwealth. 27 (5) "Plan," means the Pennsylvania Liability Underwriting 28 Services Plan. 29 (6) "Surplus lines agent," means an individual, partnership 30 or corporation that is duly licensed as such by the commissioner 19890S0843B0937 - 17 -
1 to effect placement of insurance coverage with an unlicensed 2 insurer, and who may receive a commission therefor. 3 Section 1002-E. Creation of Plan.--The Pennsylvania 4 Liability Underwriting Services Plan is created as a legal 5 entity with all the rights which are reasonable and necessary to 6 fulfill its purpose, including, but not limited to, the 7 following: 8 (1) To own property. 9 (2) To enter into contracts. 10 (3) To sue and be sued, provided that no judgment against 11 the Plan shall create any liability in the individual members. 12 Section 1003-E. Purpose.--The Plan shall assist in the 13 placement of commercial liability insurance for eligible 14 Pennsylvania commercial risks and public entities that have 15 tried and failed to find such coverage. 16 Section 1004-E. Membership.--Every commercial liability 17 insurer admitted to do business in this Commonwealth shall, as a 18 condition of its authority to write such kinds of insurance 19 within this Commonwealth, be a member of the Plan and have the 20 rights and obligations as hereinafter described. The 21 commissioner may require that the surplus lines insurance 22 companies participate in the Plan. 23 Section 1005-E. Participation.--Each member of the Plan 24 shall participate in funding the administrative costs of the 25 plan, to the extent that application fees do not defray those 26 costs, and in the review of applications for insurance. Each 27 member's share of participation obligations shall be equitable 28 and set forth in the plan of operation. However, members of the 29 Plan shall not be required to review application of eligible 30 commercial risks or public entities where the member has not 19890S0843B0937 - 18 -
1 underwritten such coverage for two consecutive years preceding 2 the effective date of this section. 3 Section 1006-E. Board of Directors.--The Plan shall be 4 governed by nine directors and the Insurance Commissioner, who 5 shall serve as a non-voting ex officio chairman. The nine 6 directors shall be appointed to the board as voting members, by 7 the commissioner, each to serve a term of two years. Five 8 members shall be representatives of insurance companies, two 9 members shall be licensed insurance agents or brokers and two 10 members shall be consumers of commercial insurance. Members 11 shall serve as representatives of their employers, who may have 12 the right to substitute individuals with the prior approval of 13 the commissioner. 14 Section 1007-E. Voting Rights.--Whenever so designated by 15 the board pursuant to its plan of operation, each commercial 16 liability insurer shall be allotted votes in proportion to its 17 share of the Statewide total written premium during the prior 18 year relating to general liability coverage, plus the liability 19 portion, as determined by the commissioner, of commercial multi- 20 peril coverage. 21 Section 1008-E. Organization.--(a) Within sixty (60) days 22 following the issuance of an order by the commissioner to 23 establish a plan the board shall submit to the commissioner, for 24 his review, a proposed plan of operation of the Plan, consistent 25 with the provisions of this act, which shall provide for the 26 formation of the Plan and the economical and efficient 27 administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, 28 management of the Plan, preliminary assessment of all members 29 for initial expenses necessary to commence operations, 30 establishment of necessary facilities within this Commonwealth, 19890S0843B0937 - 19 -
1 assessment of members to defray continuing expenses, limits of 2 liability, eligibility requirements, procedures for securing 3 timely referrals and quotes on insurance applications and 4 governance of the Plan. 5 (b) The plan of operation shall be subject to approval by 6 the commissioner and shall take effect ten (10) days after 7 having been approved by him. If the commissioner disapproves the 8 proposed plan of operation, the commissioner shall specify his 9 objections and how the plan of operation may be made acceptable. 10 Following the receipt of objections from the commissioner, the 11 Plan shall, within fifteen (15) days, submit for review an 12 appropriately revised plan of operation, and, if the Plan fails 13 to do so or if the revised Plan so filed is unacceptable, the 14 commissioner shall promulgate a plan of operation. 15 (c) The Plan may, by its own initiative, subject to prior 16 approval by the commissioner, amend the plan of operation. 17 Section 1009-E. Application Fees.--Subject to approval by 18 the commissioner, the Plan shall require applications to be 19 accompanied by reasonable application fees, which may vary for 20 different classes of applicants. Initially, application fees 21 should not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) nor be less than 22 ten dollars ($10) for any class of insured and shall be reviewed 23 annually by the commissioner. The application fee is non- 24 refundable if the applicant is determined to be eligible for 25 coverage, regardless of whether coverage is found for the 26 applicant through the Plan. 27 Section 1010-E. Eligibility.--All applications for 28 commercial liability coverage may be eligible for consideration 29 by the Plan if they are accompanied by the application fee 30 appropriate to that class of risk, three refusals of coverage 19890S0843B0937 - 20 -
1 from admitted Pennsylvania commercial lines writers and one 2 refusal of coverage from a licensed surplus lines agent, and a 3 completed questionnaire as shall be supplied to the applicant by 4 the Plan and approved by the commissioner, except for 5 applications relating to: 6 (1) Insurance on motor vehicles. 7 (2) Insurance for pollution or environmental impairment. 8 (3) Insurance for workers' compensation and employers' 9 liability. 10 (4) Insurance for medical malpractice professional 11 liability. 12 (5) Insurance on activities conducted substantially outside 13 this Commonwealth unless the insurance is required by 14 Pennsylvania or Federal statute. 15 (6) Other risks as may be excluded by the Plan and approved 16 by the commissioner. 17 Section 1011-E. Immunity.--There shall be no liability or 18 cause of action against any member of the Plan or its agents or 19 employes, the Plan or its agents or employes, members of the 20 board of directors or the department or its representatives for 21 any action taken by or statement made by them in the performance 22 of their powers and duties under this article. 23 Section 1012-E. Funds.--All fees, assessments and other 24 moneys received by the Plan shall be deposited into a restricted 25 revenue account within the General Fund and are hereby 26 appropriated to the board for the purposes set forth in this 27 article. 28 Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L9L40JLW/19890S0843B0937 - 21 -