Alabama § 27-3-8 - Authority to Transact Insurance - Kind or Combinations of Kinds - Special Surplus.

§ 27-3-8. Authority to Transact Insurance - Kind or Combinations of Kinds - Special Surplus.

(a) In addition to the minimum paid-in capital stock (stock insurers) or minimum surplus (mutual and reciprocal insurers) required by Section 27-3-7, special surplus shall be possessed by insurers hereafter applying for original certificates of authority in this state as follows:

(1) All stock insurers and foreign mutual and foreign reciprocal insurers which have actively transacted insurance in their states or countries of domicile as an authorized insurer for less than five years and which do not meet the requirements of paragraphs (2) a or (2) b of Section 27-3-4, when first authorized to transact insurance in this state shall have a surplus or additional surplus equal to 150 percent of the paid-up capital stock, if a stock insurer, or surplus, if a foreign mutual or foreign reciprocal insurer, otherwise required under Section 27-3-7 for the kinds of insurance to be transacted; and

(2) An insurer that has actively transacted insurance as an authorized insurer in its state or country of domicile for more than five years, or which meets the requirements of paragraphs (2) a or (2) b of Section 27-3-4, shall possess when first authorized in this state surplus, if a stock insurer, or additional surplus, if a mutual or reciprocal insurer, equal to 100 percent of the paid-in capital stock, if a stock insurer, or surplus, if a foreign mutual or foreign reciprocal insurer, otherwise required under Section 27-3-7.

(b) If within five years after date of its original certificate of authority to transact insurance in this state such an insurer requests authority to transact an additional kind or kinds of insurance, it shall not be so authorized unless it then possesses surplus, if a stock insurer, or additional surplus, if a mutual or reciprocal insurer, in such an amount as would be required under this section as for an original certificate of authority covering all the kinds of insurance the insurer then proposes to transact.

(c) After issuance of its original certificate of authority the insurer may use the special surplus required under this section in the normal course of its business only.

(d) Execution by a mutual or reciprocal surety insurer as sole surety of certain bonds or undertakings required or permitted by law or by certain political subdivisions, public bodies, or public officers is subject further to surplus requirement as provided in Section 27-24-3.