(a) Some businesses and service providers in Oregon have experienced major problems in both the availability and affordability of commercial liability insurance. Premiums for such insurance policies have recently grown as much as 500 percent and the availability of such insurance in Oregon markets has greatly diminished.
(b) These businesses and service providers are essential to achieve goals such as increased workforce productivity, family self-sufficiency and the maintenance and improvement of the health of the citizens of Oregon. The lack of adequate commercial liability insurance threatens these businesses and services.
(2) The Legislative Assembly therefore declares it is the purpose of ORS 735.200 to 735.260 to remedy the problem of unavailable commercial liability insurance for these businesses and service providers by authorizing the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to assist in the establishment of a market assistance plan for providing commercial liability insurance for these businesses and service providers, or, if necessary, by requiring all insurers authorized to write commercial liability insurance in Oregon to be members of one or more joint underwriting associations created to provide commercial liability insurance for these businesses and service providers. [1987 c.774 §73]