Montana § 33-11-104 - Risk Retention Groups Not Chartered In This State

§ 33-11-104. Risk Retention Groups Not Chartered In This State

Risk retention groups not chartered in this state. A risk retention group chartered in a state other than this state and seeking to do business as a risk retention group in this state must observe and abide by the laws of this state as follows: (1) Before offering insurance in this state, a risk retention group shall submit to the commissioner: (a) a statement identifying the state or states where the risk retention group is chartered and authorized as a casualty insurer, date of chartering, its principal place of business, and other information, including information on its membership, as the commissioner requires to verify that the risk retention group is qualified under 33-11-102 (8); (b) a copy of its plan of operation or a feasibility study and revisions of the plan or study submitted to its state of domicile. However, this provision relating to the submission of a plan of operation or a feasibility study does not apply with respect to any line or classification of liability insurance that was defined in the federal Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1981 (15 U.S.C. 3901 through 3904) before it was amended by Public Law 99-563, approved on October 27, 1986, and that was offered before that date by a risk retention group that had been chartered and operated for not less than 3 years before that date; and (c) a statement of registration that designates the commissioner as its agent for the purpose of receiving service of legal documents or process. (2) A risk retention group doing business in this state shall submit to the commissioner: (a) a copy of the group's financial statement submitted to its state of domicile, which must be certified by an independent public accountant and contain a statement of opinion on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves made by a member of the American academy of actuaries or by a qualified loss reserve specialist under criteria established by the national association of insurance commissioners; (b) a copy of each examination of the risk retention group as certified by the insurance regulatory official of the state in which the examination was conducted or public official conducting the examination; (c) upon request by the commissioner, a copy of any audit performed with respect to the risk retention group; and (d) any information as may be required to verify the group's continuing qualification as a risk retention group under 33-11-102 (8). (3) (a) Each risk retention group is liable for the payment of premium taxes and taxes on premiums of direct business for risks resident or located within this state and shall report to the commissioner the net premiums written for risks resident or located within this state. The risk retention group is subject to taxation and any applicable interest, fines, and penalties for nonpayment that apply to foreign admitted insurers. (b) To the extent that an insurance producer is used, the insurance producer shall report to the commissioner the premiums of direct business for risks resident or located within this state that the licensees have placed with or on behalf of a risk retention group not chartered in this state. (c) To the extent that an insurance producer is used, the insurance producer shall keep a complete and separate record of all policies procured from each risk retention group. The record is open to examination by the commissioner, as provided in 33-1-408 . The records must, for each policy and each kind of insurance provided under the policy, include the limit of liability, the time period covered, the effective date, the name of the risk retention group that issued the policy, the gross premium charged, and the amount of return premiums, if any. (4) Each risk retention group, its insurance producers, and its representatives shall comply with Title 33, chapter 18, part 2. (5) Each risk retention group shall comply with the provisions of Title 33, chapter 18, part 2, regarding deceptive, false, or fraudulent acts or practices. However, if the commissioner seeks an injunction regarding the risk retention group's conduct, the injunction must be obtained from a court of competent jurisdiction. (6) Each risk retention group shall submit to an examination by the commissioner to determine its financial condition if the insurance regulatory official of the jurisdiction where the group is chartered has not initiated an examination or does not initiate an examination within 60 days after a request by the commissioner. The examination must be coordinated to avoid unjustified repetition and be conducted in an expeditious manner in accordance with the national association of insurance commissioners examiners handbook. (7) Each policy issued by a risk retention group must contain, in 10-point type on the front page and the declaration page, the following notice: "NOTICE This policy is issued by your risk retention group. Your risk retention group may not be subject to all of the insurance laws and regulations of your state. State insurance insolvency guaranty funds are not available for your risk retention group." (8) The following acts by a risk retention group are prohibited: (a) the solicitation or sale of insurance by a risk retention group to any person who is not eligible for membership in the group; and (b) the solicitation or sale of insurance by or operation of a risk retention group that is in a hazardous financial condition or is financially impaired. (9) A risk retention group is not allowed to do business in this state if an insurer is directly or indirectly a member or owner of the risk retention group, other than in the case of a risk retention group all of whose members are insurers. (10) A risk retention group may not offer insurance policy coverage declared unlawful by the Montana supreme court. (11) A risk retention group not chartered in this state and doing business in this state shall comply with a lawful order issued in a voluntary dissolution proceeding or in a delinquency proceeding commenced by the insurance regulatory official of any state if there has been a finding of financial impairment after an examination under subsection (6). (12) Upon completion of registration requirements, the commissioner shall issue to the risk retention group a proper certificate of registration. (13) A risk retention group that violates any provision of this chapter is subject to fines and penalties, including revocation of the right to do business in this state, applicable to licensed insurers generally.