2018.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For purposes of Sections 1764, 1764.1, and 1764.3, the term “certificate” means a surplus line broker certificate as defined in Section 48.

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.

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.

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.

Section 1764.2. The policies shall contain all of the matters specified in Section 381 and shall be countersigned by the surplus line broker.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

No surplus line broker shall place any coverage with a nonadmitted insurer for a home state insured unless 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, at the time of placement, the nonadmitted insurer meets the requirements of either subdivision (a) or (b):

line insurer as of January 1, 2011, and did not have the forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000) of capital and surplus as of January 1, 2011, that insurer shall have at least thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) of capital and surplus as of December 31, 2011, and at least forty-five million dollars ($45,000,000) of capital and surplus as of December 31, 2013.

At the time an order is issued pursuant to this subdivision to an insurer, the commissioner shall notify all surplus line brokers of the order.

(A) The use of multiple insurers is necessary to obtain coverage for 100 percent of the risk.

(B) At least 80 percent of the risk is placed with admitted insurers or insurers that are eligible nonadmitted insurers.

(C) The placing surplus line broker submits to the commissioner, or his or her designee, copies of all documentation relied upon by the surplus line broker to make the broker’s determination that the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of the ineligible insurer or insurers, are adequate to safeguard the interest of the insured under the policy. This documentation, and any other documentation regarding the ineligible insurer requested by the commissioner, shall be submitted no more than 30 days after the insurance is placed with the unlisted insurer for the initial placement by that broker with the particular ineligible insurer, and annually thereafter for as long as the broker continues to make placements with the ineligible insurer pursuant to this

paragraph.

(D) The insured has aggregate annual premiums for all risks other than workers’ compensation or health coverage totaling no less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).

thereof, and includes any portion of limits of coverage mandated by those laws.

insurer.

21, 2011, this section shall not be effective until the subsequent expiration of the policies of that insurer in effect on July 21, 2011. Nothing in the bill that amended this section during the 2011 portion of the 2011–12 Regular Session is intended to repeal or imply there is not authority to adopt, or to have adopted, or to continue in force, any regulation, or part thereof, with respect to surplus line insurance, which is not clearly inconsistent with it.

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:

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

documents as specified below, each showing the insurer’s condition as of a date not more than 12 months prior to submission:

(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:

(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.

(E) Financial reports filed pursuant to this section by alien insurers shall

conform to the following standards:

(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.

(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.

certificates, from a state where it is licensed.

treatment of policyholders.

deletions from that list.

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).

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.

substantial and knowledgeable business enterprises that are its policyholders and that effectively govern the insurer’s destiny in furtherance of their own business objectives.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

license filed by a corporation shall contain the names and addresses of all stockholders owning 10 percent or more of the corporation’s stock, and of all officers and directors of the corporation. Every licensed corporation shall file a written notice with the commissioner of all changes, except address changes, of its stockholders who own 10 percent or more of the corporation’s stock and of all officers and directors of the corporation.

Any natural person applying for a license to act as a surplus line broker shall prove his or her competency by showing he or she holds an existing license to act as a property broker-agent and casualty broker-agent, which requires passing the qualifying examination for that insurance broker’s license. Any natural person who is not a resident of California may prove his or her competency by showing that he or she holds an existing license for property and casualty in his or her resident state.

If an applicant for any license under this chapter, within one year from the date of the receipt by the commissioner of the application, whether or not the filing is complete, neither fully qualifies for and receives that license on a permanent basis, nor is denied its issue, such application is automatically denied without prejudice to the filing of a new application for the license.

A payment of premium to a surplus line broker acting for a person other than himself or herself in negotiating, continuing, or renewing any policy of insurance under this chapter shall be deemed to be payment to the insurer, notwithstanding any conditions or stipulations in the policy or contract. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to relieve a surplus line broker or special lines’ surplus line broker of any obligation owed to a home state insured or home state insured applicant.

A resident surplus line broker at all times shall maintain in good faith an office in this state and if he or she maintains more than one surplus line office in this state, he or she shall designate one of them as his or her principal surplus line office in this state and shall notify the commissioner of that designation. He or she shall report to the commissioner the addresses of all surplus line offices maintained by him or her in this state and any change in location of any of those offices. A nonresident surplus line broker at all times shall maintain in good faith an office in the state or territory of the United States in which he or she is licensed as a resident surplus line broker, and if he or she maintains more than one surplus line office in that state, he or she shall designate one of them as his or her principal surplus line office in that state and shall notify the commissioner of the designation. A resident licensee shall report to the commissioner the addresses of all surplus line offices maintained in this state and any change in location of any of those offices. Nonresident licensees shall report to the commissioner the addresses of all surplus line offices maintained in the state or territory of the United States in which the resident surplus line license is maintained and any change in location of any of those offices.

A resident surplus line broker shall keep in this state complete records of the business transacted by him or her for California home state insureds with nonadmitted insurers under his or her license as a surplus line broker including all of the following documentation for each policy:

necessary to make that allocation. A nonresident surplus line broker shall keep in the state where he or she is licensed as a resident surplus line broker complete records of the business transacted by him or her for California home state insureds with nonadmitted insurers under his or her California nonresident surplus line broker license, including subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive. The commissioner may waive or modify any of the foregoing requirements by issuance of a notice published on the department’s Internet Web site.

Whenever required so to do by the commissioner, such surplus line broker shall furnish to the commissioner a list of the admitted insurers from which the entire amount of insurance desired was not obtainable.

The commissioner, whenever he deems necessary, may examine the books and accounts of any surplus line broker for the purpose of determining whether or not the broker is conducting his business in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. For the purpose of making such examination such broker shall allow the commissioner free access at all times to all the broker’s books and papers, and the commissioner shall thoroughly inspect and examine all of the broker’s affairs.

The costs and expenses of all examinations by the commissioner shall be paid as prescribed in Section 736.

Surplus line brokers may advertise and solicit using print, electronic media, direct mail, and all other advertising or marketing media. These advertisements and solicitations may include a description of nonadmitted insurance products available through the surplus line broker, and may include the name of any nonadmitted insurer, provided that all of the following apply:

published on the department’s Internet Web site.

“business done” or “business transacted” means all insurance business conducted by the surplus line broker for a home state insured or directly procured by the home state insured. If two or more persons licensed as surplus line brokers are involved in placing a policy, only the one who is responsible for filing the confidential written report pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1763, shall be considered transacting business for tax purposes and then only one licensed surplus line broker shall include the policy in his or her sworn statement. The surplus line broker who is required to include the policy in his or her own statement is either (1) the one who is responsible for negotiating, effecting the placement, remitting the premium to the nonadmitted insurer or its representatives, and filing the confidential written report pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1763, or (2) the one surplus line broker who is delegated the responsibility for the filing of the confidential written report pursuant to

subdivision (a) of Section 1763 pursuant to a written agreement that is (A) by and among the surplus line brokers referenced in paragraph (1) and this paragraph involved in the transaction, (B) signed by the surplus line brokers referenced in paragraph (1) and this paragraph involved in the transaction, and (C) provides by its terms that the agreement shall be made available to the commissioner or his or her designee, upon request.

referred to as the “invoice date.”

installment is billed in any month, the commissioner determines, in his or her discretion, that the installment billing method used does not unduly burden the commissioner’s ability to accurately determine the amount of premium paid by the insured.

referenced in paragraph (2), shall be business done on the date of the most recent invoice issued on or before July 20, 2011, that included premium tax charges. This paragraph is enacted to address the July 21, 2011, effective date of the federal Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (P.L. 111-203), and shall remain in effect only until October 18, 2012.

All such reports and statements shall be made on blanks furnished to the surplus line broker by the commissioner on application therefor.

($20,000).

On or before February 1 of each year, the commissioner shall post on the department’s Internet Web site the installment payment forms prescribed by the commissioner to accompany surplus line tax remittances if monthly installment payments are required by Section 1775.1. Failure to secure those forms shall not relieve any broker from making or paying monthly installment payments.

Each surplus line broker required to make monthly installment payments shall remit them on or before the first day of the third calendar month following the end of the accounting month in which the business was done. The annual payment under Section 1775.5 shall be in lieu of an installment payment under this section for the accounting month of December. Remittances for those payments shall be made payable to the commissioner and shall be made by electronic fund transfer in accordance with Section 1775.8 or delivered to the office of the commissioner, accompanied by an installment payment form prescribed by the commissioner if remittance by electronic fund transfer is not mandatory under Section 1775.8.

months and apply it in reduction of the taxable premiums on business done by him or her in that succeeding calendar month or months. Even though no payment shall be payable by the broker, he or she shall file a return showing that his or her return premiums exceeded his or her gross premiums.

monthly installment payments for any calendar year exceeds the amount of annual tax for that year, the excess shall be treated as an overpayment of annual tax and be allowed as a credit or refund.

in that year, then he or she may either carry forward that excess to the next succeeding year and apply it as a credit against 3 percent of gross premiums on the business done by him or her in the succeeding year, or he or she may elect to receive, and thereupon be paid a refund equal to the amount of taxes theretofore paid by him or her on that excess of return premiums paid over gross premiums received.

insurance, less the following:

is received by the commissioner. The penalty and interest shall be applied as prescribed in Section 12636.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The commissioner, upon a showing of good cause, may extend for a period not to exceed 30 days, the time for filing a tax return or paying any amount required to be paid with the return. The extension may be granted at any time, provided that a request therefor is filed with the commissioner within, or prior to, the period for which the extension may be granted.

these terms shall have the following meanings:

funding for a known future cost over a long time horizon in current-value dollars using the principle of net present value discounting.

All tax moneys received by the commissioner pursuant to this chapter shall be transmitted to the State Treasurer to be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Insurance Tax Fund. Upon transmitting moneys to the State Treasurer, the commissioner shall furnish the Controller with a record of the amount transmitted and the surplus line brokers from whom the moneys have been received.

The money in the Insurance Tax Fund received from the commissioner pursuant to Section 1775.6 is hereby appropriated as follows:

Any surplus line broker who willfully fails or refuses to report to the commissioner any insurance on subject matter located within this state placed under his or her name with nonadmitted insurers, or who, by willful omission from the records required to be maintained by him or her for that purpose, attempts to evade the payment of taxes on any such insurance, is, in addition to being required to pay the tax, together with a penalty equal in amount to the tax, guilty of a misdemeanor.

It is a misdemeanor for any surplus line broker or special lines’ surplus line broker to accept or pay directly or indirectly any consideration or remuneration for or in connection with the placing of insurance that, if done by a person within this state, is governed by the provisions of this chapter, when the placing was not done by a person licensed therefor pursuant to this chapter.

It is a misdemeanor for any agent or broker to solicit, negotiate, or effect any insurance governed by the provisions of this chapter in nonadmitted insurers, except by and through a surplus line broker or special lines’ surplus line broker licensed pursuant to this chapter. Except in the case of insurance specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1760.5, it is a misdemeanor for any surplus line broker or special lines’ surplus line broker to accept, place, pay, or permit the payment of commission or other remuneration on insurance placed by him or her under authority of his or her license to any person other than one holding a license to act as an insurance agent, insurance broker, surplus line broker, or special lines’ surplus line broker, except that the business may be accepted by such surplus line broker or special lines’ surplus line broker directly from an insured or other person who would likewise be entitled to place the business directly with an admitted insurer without the solicitation, negotiation, or effecting thereof by an insurance agent or broker.

The commissioner may deny, suspend, or revoke any license issued pursuant to this code if he or she finds after notice and hearing in accordance with the procedure provided in Article 13 (commencing with Section 1737) of Chapter 5 that the licensee has violated any provisions of this section.

The permission granted in this chapter to place any insurance in a nonadmitted insurer shall not be deemed or construed to authorize any insurer to do business in this state.

Placement activities of a licensed surplus line broker in accordance with this chapter, including, but not limited to, policy issuance, shall not be deemed or construed to be business done by the insurer in this state.

When a surplus line broker’s license is revoked for any reason other than the insufficiency of his sureties, a new license shall not be issued to him within one year after such revocation and until all indebtedness of the broker on former business has been paid to the commissioner.

Every California home state insured for whom insurance has been effected with nonadmitted insurers shall, upon request in writing by the commissioner, produce for the commissioner’s examination all policies, contracts, and other documents evidencing that insurance, and shall disclose to the commissioner the amount of the gross premiums paid or agreed to be paid for

that

insurance. For refusal to obey that request, the insured shall forfeit to the State of California the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each refusal.

A licensee or applicant for a license under this chapter shall notify the commissioner, in writing, of any change in the address from which he intends to conduct his business.