(a) The Commissioner may consider a surplus lines insurer to be eligible if the nonadmitted insurer:
(1) If a United States domestic insurer has capital and surplus or its equivalent under the laws of its domiciliary jurisdiction which equals the greater of:
a. 1. The minimum capital and surplus requirements under the law of this State; or
2. Fifteen million dollars.
b. The requirements of this paragraph (a)(1) may be satisfied by an insurer possessing less than the minimum capital and surplus upon an affirmative finding of acceptability by the Commissioner. The finding must be based upon such factors as quality of management, capital and surplus of any parent company, company underwriting profit and investment income trends, market availability, and company record and reputation within the industry. The Commissioner may not make an affirmative finding of acceptability when the nonadmitted insurer's capital and surplus is less than $4,500,000; or
(2) The insurer is listed on the Quarterly Listing of Alien Insurers maintained by the International Insurers Department of the NAIC if the insurer is not domiciled in the United States or its territories.
(b) This section shall not be deemed to require the Commissioner to determine the actual financial condition or claims practices of any nonadmitted insurer; and the status of eligibility shall indicate only that the insurer appears to be sound financially and to have satisfactory claims practices, and that the Commissioner has no credible evidence to the contrary.