A surplus line broker may place any coverage with a California-approved nonadmitted insurer if the insurer is domiciled in the Republic of Mexico and the placement covers only liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle, aircraft, or boat in the Republic of Mexico, or if, at the time of placement, the nonadmitted insurer meets the following requirements:
(a) (1) Has established its financial stability, reputation, and integrity, for the class of insurance the broker proposes to place, by satisfactory evidence submitted to the commissioner through a surplus line broker.
(2) Meets one of the following requirements with respect to its financial stability:
(A) Has capital and surplus that together total at least forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000). “Capital” shall be as defined in Section 36. “Surplus” shall be defined as assets exceeding the sum of liabilities for losses reported, expenses, taxes, and all other indebtedness and reinsurance of outstanding risks as provided by law and paid-in capital in the case of an insurer issuing or having outstanding shares of capital stock. The type of assets to be used in calculating capital and surplus shall be as follows: at least twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be in the form of cash, or securities of the same character and quality as specified in Sections 1170 to 1182, inclusive, or in readily marketable securities listed on regulated United States’ national or principal regional securities exchanges. The remaining assets shall be in the form just described or in the form of investments of substantially the same character and quality as described in Sections 1190 to 1202, inclusive. In calculating capital and surplus under this section, the term “same character and quality” shall permit, but not require, the commissioner to approve assets maintained in accordance with the laws of another state or country. The commissioner shall be guided by the limitations, restrictions, or other requirements of this code or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual in determining whether assets substantially similar to those described in Sections 1190 to 1202, inclusive, qualify. The commissioner shall retain the discretion to disapprove or disallow an asset that is not of a sound quality, or that he or she deems to create an unacceptable risk of loss to the insurer or to policyholders. Letters of credit shall not qualify as assets in the calculation of surplus. If capital and surplus together total less than forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000), the commissioner has affirmatively found that the capital and surplus are adequate to protect California policyholders. The commissioner shall consider, on determining whether to make this finding, factors such as quality of management, the capital and surplus of a parent company, the underwriting profit and investment income trends, and the record of claims payment and claims handling practices of the nonadmitted insurer.
(B) In the case of an “Insurance Exchange” created and authorized under the laws of individual states, maintains capital and surplus of not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in the aggregate. “Capital” shall be as defined in Section 36. “Surplus” shall be defined as assets exceeding the sum of liabilities for losses reported, expenses, taxes, and all other indebtedness and reinsurance of outstanding risks as provided by law and paid-in capital in the case of an insurer issuing or having outstanding shares of capital stock. The type of assets to be used in calculating capital and surplus shall be as follows: at least twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) shall be in the form of cash, or securities of the same character and quality as specified in Sections 1170 to 1182, inclusive, or in readily marketable securities listed on regulated United States’ national or principal regional securities exchanges. The remaining assets shall be in the form just described or in the form of investments of substantially the same character and quality as described in Sections 1190 to 1202, inclusive. In calculating capital and surplus under this section, the term “same character and quality” shall permit, but not require, the commissioner to approve assets maintained in accordance with the laws of another state or country. The commissioner shall be guided by the limitations, restrictions, or other requirements of this code or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Accounting Practices and Procedures Manual in determining whether assets substantially similar to those described in Sections 1190 to 1202, inclusive, qualify. The commissioner shall retain the discretion to disapprove or disallow an asset that is not of a sound quality, or that he or she deems to create an unacceptable risk of loss to the insurer or to policyholders. Letters of credit shall not qualify as assets in the calculation of surplus. Each individual syndicate seeking to accept surplus line placements of risks resident, located, or to be performed in this state shall maintain minimum capital and surplus of not less than six million four hundred thousand dollars ($6,400,000). Each individual syndicate shall increase the capital and surplus required by this paragraph by one million dollars ($1,000,000) each year until it attains a capital and surplus of forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000).
(C) In the case of a syndicate that is part of a group consisting of incorporated individual insurers, or a combination of both incorporated and unincorporated insurers, that at all times maintains a trust fund of not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in a qualified United States financial institution as security to the full amount thereof for the United States surplus line policyholders and beneficiaries of direct policies of the group, including all policyholders and beneficiaries of direct policies of the syndicate, and the full balance in the trust fund is available to satisfy the liabilities of each member of the group of those syndicates, incorporated individual insurers or other unincorporated insurers, without regard to their individual contributions to that trust fund, and the trust complies with the terms of and conditions specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), the syndicate is excepted from the capital and surplus requirements of subparagraph (A). The incorporated members of the group shall not be engaged in any business other than underwriting as a member of the group and shall be subject to the same level of solvency regulation and control by the group’s domiciliary regulator as are the unincorporated members.
(b) (1) In addition, to be approved as a surplus line insurer, an insurer not domiciled in one of the United States or its territories shall have in force in the United States an irrevocable trust account in a qualified United States financial institution, for the protection of United States policyholders, of not less than five million four hundred thousand dollars ($5,400,000) and consisting of cash, securities acceptable to the commissioner that are authorized pursuant to Sections 1170 to 1182, inclusive, readily marketable securities acceptable to the commissioner that are listed on a regulated United States national or principal regional security exchange, or clean and irrevocable letters of credit acceptable to the commissioner and issued by a qualified United States financial institution. The trust agreement shall be in a form acceptable to the commissioner. The funds in the trust account may be included in any calculation of capital and surplus, except letters of credit, which shall not be included in the calculation.
(2) In the case of a syndicate seeking approval under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the syndicate shall, in addition to the requirements of that subparagraph, at a minimum, maintain in the United States a trust account in an amount satisfactory to the commissioner that is not less than the amount required by the domiciliary state of the syndicate’s trust. The trust account shall comply with the terms and conditions specified in paragraph (1).
(3) In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration that maintains a trust fund of not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in a qualified United States financial institution for the payment of claims of its United States policyholders, their assigns, or successors in interest and that complies with the terms and conditions of paragraph (1) that has continuously transacted an insurance business outside the United States for at least three years, that is in good standing with its domiciliary regulator, whose individual insurer members maintain standards and a financial condition reasonably comparable to admitted insurers, that submits to this state’s authority to examine its books and bears the expense of examination, and that has an aggregate policyholder surplus of ten billion dollars ($10,000,000,000), the group is excepted from the capital and surplus requirements of subdivision (a).
(c) Unless available from the NAIC or other public source, has caused to be provided to the commissioner the following documents:
(1) The financial documents as specified below, each showing the insurer’s condition as of a date not more than 12 months prior to submission:
(A) A copy of an annual statement, prepared in the form prescribed by the NAIC. For an alien insurer, in lieu of an annual statement, a licensee may submit a form as set forth by regulation and as prepared by the insurer, and, if listed by the IID, a copy of the complete information as required in the application for listing by the IID.
(B) A copy of an audited financial report on the insurer’s condition that meets the standards of subparagraph (D) for foreign insurers or subparagraph (E) for alien insurers.
(C) If the insurer is an alien:
(i) A certified copy of the trust agreement referenced in subdivision (b).
(ii) A verified copy of the most recent quarterly statement or list of the assets in the trust.
(D) Financial reports filed pursuant to this section by foreign insurers shall conform to the following standards:
(i) Financial documents shall be certified.
(ii) An audited financial report shall constitute a supplement to the insurer’s annual statement, as required by the annual statement instructions issued by the NAIC.
(iii) An audited financial report shall be prepared by an independent certified public accountant or accounting firm in good standing with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and in all states where licensed to practice; and be prepared in conformity with statutory accounting practices prescribed, or otherwise permitted, by the insurance regulator of the insurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction.
(iv) An audited financial report shall include information on the insurer’s financial position as of the end of the most recent calendar year, and the results of its operations, cashflows, and changes in capital and surplus for the year then ended.
(v) An audited financial report shall be prepared in a form and using language and groupings substantially the same as the relevant sections of the insurer’s annual statement filed with its domiciliary jurisdiction, and presenting comparatively the amounts as of December 31 of the most recent calendar year and the amounts as of December 31 of the preceding year.
(E) Financial reports filed pursuant to this section by alien insurers shall conform to the following standards:
(i) Except as provided in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C), financial documents should be certified. If certification of a financial document is not available, the document shall be verified.
(ii) Financial documents should be expressed in United States dollars, but may be expressed in another currency, if the exchange rate for the other currency as of the date of the document is also provided.
(iii) The responses provided pursuant to subparagraph (A) on the form submitted in lieu of an annual statement should follow the most recent Insurance Solvency International Guide to Alien Reporting Format, “Standard Definitions of Accounting Items.” Responses that do not agree with a standard definition shall be fully explained in the form.
(iv) An audited financial report shall be prepared by an independent licensed auditor in the insurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction or in any state.
(v) An audited financial report shall be prepared in accord with either (I) Generally Accepted Auditing Standards that prescribe Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or (II) International Accounting Standards as published and revised from time to time by the International Auditing Guidelines published by the International Auditing Practice Committee of the International Federation of Accountants, and shall include financial statement notes and a summary of significant accounting practices.
(F) The commissioner may accept, in lieu of a document described above, a certified or verified financial or regulatory document, statement, or report if the commissioner finds that it possesses reliability and financial detail substantially equal to or greater than the document for which it is proposed to be a substitute.
(G) If one of the financial documents required to be submitted under subparagraphs (A) and (B) is dated within 12 months of submission, but the other document is not so dated, the licensee may use the outdated document if it is accompanied by a supplement. The supplement must meet the same requirements that apply to the supplemented document and must update the outdated document to a date within the prescribed time period, preferably to the same date as the nonsupplemented document.
(2) A certified copy of the insurer’s license issued by its domiciliary jurisdiction, plus a certification of good standing, certificate of compliance, or other equivalent certificate, from either that jurisdiction or, if the jurisdiction does not issue those certificates, from a state where it is licensed.
(3) Information on the insurer’s agent in California for service of process, including the agent’s full name and address. The agent’s address must include a street address where the agent can be reached during normal business hours.
(4) The complete street address, mailing address, and telephone number of the insurer’s principal place of business.
(5) A certified or verified explanation, report, or other statement from the insurance regulatory office or official of the insurer’s domiciliary jurisdiction concerning the insurer’s record regarding market conduct and consumer complaints, or, if that information cannot be obtained from that jurisdiction, then any other information that the licensee can procure to demonstrate a good reputation for payment of claims and treatment of policyholders.
(6) A verified statement, from the insurer or licensee, on whether the insurer or an affiliated entity is currently known to be the subject of an order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or other receivership; or regarding revocation or suspension of a license to transact insurance in any jurisdiction; or otherwise seeking to stop the insurer from transacting insurance in any jurisdiction. The statement shall identify the proceeding by date, jurisdiction, and relief or sanction sought, and shall attach a copy of the relevant order.
(7) A certified copy of the most recent report of examination or an explanation if the report is not available.
(8) A list of all California surplus line brokers authorized by the insurer to issue policies on its behalf, and any additions to or deletions from that list.
(d) (1) Has provided additional information or documentation required by the commissioner that is relevant to the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of the nonadmitted insurer. In making a determination concerning financial stability, reputation, and integrity of the nonadmitted insurer, the commissioner shall consider any analyses, findings, or conclusions made by the NAIC in its review of the insurer for purposes of inclusion on or exclusion from the list of authorized nonadmitted insurers maintained by the NAIC. The commissioner may, but shall not be required to, rely on, adopt, or otherwise accept any analyses, findings, or conclusions of the NAIC, as the commissioner deems appropriate. In the case of a syndicate seeking eligibility under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the commissioner may, but shall not be required to, rely on, adopt, or otherwise accept any analyses, findings, or conclusions of a state, as the commissioner deems appropriate, as long as that state, in its method of regulation and review, meets the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) The regulatory body of the state shall regularly receive and review the following: (A) an audited financial statement of the syndicate, prepared by a certified or chartered public accountant; (B) an opinion of a qualified actuary with regard to the syndicate’s aggregate reserves for payment of losses or claims and payment of expenses of adjustment or settlement of losses or claims; (C) a certification from the qualified United States financial institution that acts as the syndicate’s trustee, respecting the existence and value of the syndicate’s trust fund; and (D) information concerning the syndicate’s or its manager’s operating history, business plan, ownership and control, experience, and ability, together with any other pertinent factors, and any information indicating that the syndicate or its manager make reasonably prompt payment of claims in this state or elsewhere. The regulatory body of the state shall have the authority, either by law or through the operation of a valid and enforceable agreement, to review the syndicate’s assets and liabilities and audit the syndicate’s trust account, and shall exercise that authority with a frequency and in a manner satisfactory to the commissioner.
(e) Has established that:
(1) All documents required by subdivisions (c) and (d) have been filed. Each of the documents appear after review to be complete, clear, comprehensible, unambiguous, accurate, and consistent.
(2) The documents affirm that the insurer is not subject in any jurisdiction to an order or proceeding that:
(A) Seeks to stop it from transacting insurance.
(B) Relates to conservation, liquidation, or other receivership.
(C) Relates to revocation or suspension of its license.
(3) The documents affirm that the insurer has actively transacted insurance for the three years immediately preceding the filing made under this section, unless an exemption is granted. As used in this paragraph, “insurer” does not include a syndicate of underwriting entities. The commissioner may grant an exemption if the licensee has applied for exemption and demonstrates either of the following:
(A) The insurer meets the condition for any exception set forth in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 716.
(B) If the insurer has been actively transacting insurance for at least 12 months, and the licensee demonstrates that the exemption is warranted because the insurer’s current financial strength, operating history, business plan, ownership and control, management experience, and ability, together with any other pertinent factors, make three years of active insurance transaction unnecessary to establish sufficient reputation.
(4) The documents confirm that the insurer holds a license to issue insurance policies, other than reinsurance, to residents of the jurisdiction that granted the license unless an exemption is granted. The commissioner may grant an exemption if the licensee has applied for an exemption and demonstrates that the exemption is warranted because the insurer proposes to issue in California only commercial coverage, and is wholly owned and actually controlled by substantial and knowledgeable business enterprises that are its policyholders and that effectively govern the insurer’s destiny in furtherance of their own business objectives.
(5) The information filed pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) or otherwise filed with or available to the commissioner, including reports received from California policyholders, shall indicate that the insurer makes reasonably prompt payment of claims in this state or elsewhere.
(6) The information available to the commissioner shall not indicate that the insurer offers in California a licensee products or rates that violate any provision of this code.
(f) Has been placed on the list of approved surplus line insurers by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish a list of all surplus line insurers that have met the requirements of subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, and shall publish a master list at least semiannually. An insurer receiving approval as an approved surplus line insurer shall be added by addendum to the list at the time of approval, and shall be incorporated into the master list at the next date of publication. If an insurer appears on the most recent list, it shall be presumed that the insurer is an approved surplus line insurer, unless the commissioner or his or her designee has mailed or causes to be mailed notice to all surplus line brokers that the commissioner has withdrawn the insurer’s approval. Upon receipt of notice, the surplus line broker shall no longer advertise that the insurer is approved. Nothing in this subdivision shall limit the commissioner’s discretion to withdraw an insurer’s approval.
(g) (1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe, and determines after a public hearing, that an insurer on the list established pursuant to subdivision (f), (A) is in an unsound financial condition, (B) does not meet the approval requirements under subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, (C) has violated the laws of this state, or (D) without justification, or with a frequency so as to indicate a general business practice, delays the payment of just claims, the commissioner may issue an order removing the insurer from the list. Notice of hearing shall be served upon the insurer or its agent for service of process stating the time and place of the hearing and the conduct, condition, or ground upon which the commissioner would make his or her order. The hearing shall occur not less than 20 days, nor more than 30 days, after notice is served upon the insurer or its agent for service of process.
(2) If the commissioner determines that an insurer’s immediate removal from the list is necessary to protect the public or a home state insured or home state insured applicant of the insurer, or, in the case of an application by an insurer to be placed on the list that is being denied by the commissioner, the commissioner may issue an order pursuant to paragraph (1) without prior notice and hearing. At the time an order is served pursuant to this paragraph to an insurer on the list, the commissioner shall also issue and serve upon the insurer a statement of the reasons that immediate removal is necessary. An order issued pursuant to this paragraph shall include a notice stating the time and place of a hearing on the order, which shall be not less than 20 days, nor more than 30 days, after the notice is served.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), in a case where the commissioner is basing a decision to remove an insurer from the list, or deny an application to be placed on the list, on the failure of the insurer or applicant to comply with, meet, or maintain any of the objective criteria established by this section, or by regulation adopted pursuant to this section, the commissioner may specify this fact in the order, and a hearing shall not be required to be held on the order.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the commissioner may, without prior notice or hearing, remove from the list established pursuant to subdivision (f) an insurer that has failed or refused to timely provide documents required by this section, or regulations adopted to implement this section. In the case of removal pursuant to this paragraph, the commissioner shall notify all surplus line brokers of the action.
(h) In addition to other statements or reports required by this chapter, the commissioner may also address to a licensee a written request for full and complete information respecting the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of a nonadmitted insurer with whom the licensee has dealt or proposes to deal in the transaction of insurance business with a home state insured. The licensee so addressed 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, advise the licensee in writing that the insurer does not qualify as an approved insurer. Any placement in the nonadmitted insurer made by a licensee after receipt of that advisement shall be accompanied by a copy of the advisement. The commissioner may issue an advisement when documents submitted pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) do not meet the criteria of subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, or when the commissioner obtains documents on an insurer and the insurer does not meet the criteria of subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, and shall be authorized to not include or remove that insurer from the List of Approved Surplus Line Insurers.
(i) The commissioner shall require, at least annually, the submission of records and statements reasonably necessary to ensure that the requirements of this section are maintained.
(j) The schedule of fees to cover the costs of administering and enforcing this chapter are as follows:
(1) Initial application, six thousand one hundred thirteen dollars ($6,113).
(2) Renewal application, three thousand fifty-seven dollars ($3,057).
(3) Financial update, three hundred forty-one dollars ($341).
(4) Nonfinancial update, fifty dollars ($50).
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 534, Sec. 47. (AB 1699) Effective January 1, 2018.)