Rhode Island § 31-33-9 - Safety Responsibility Violations — General Provisions

§ 31-33-9. Self-insurers.

(a) Any person in whose name more than twenty-five (25) vehicles are registered in this state may qualify as a self-insurer by obtaining a certificate of self-insurance issued by the department of business regulation as provided in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The department of business regulation may, in its discretion, upon the application of such a person, issue a certificate of self-insurance when it is satisfied that the person is possessed, and will continue to be possessed of, the ability to pay judgment obtained against the person. The certificate may be issued authorizing a person to act as a self-insurer for either property damage or bodily injury, or both.

(c) Upon not less than five (5) days’ notice and a hearing pursuant to notice, the department of business regulation may upon reasonable grounds cancel a certificate of self-insurance. Failure to pay any judgment within thirty (30) days after the judgment shall have become final shall constitute a reasonable ground for the cancellation of a certificate of self-insurance.

(d) Entities applying to, or previously authorized to, permissibly self-insure are subject to the jurisdiction of the department of business regulation. The department of business regulation is authorized to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations that may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section including, but not limited to:

(1) Obtaining and reviewing financial statements and related information necessary to ascertain the applicant’s ability to self-insure.

(2) Apportioning the cost of review to the applicant in a manner similar to that utilized to charge insurance companies for review and analysis of their financial statements.

(3) Imposing and enforcing upon entities authorized to permissibly self-insure any and all claims handling and settlement practices required of insurers in the settlement of claims.