Chapter 549

2004 -- H 7425 AS AMENDED

Enacted 07/09/04

A N A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE

Introduced By: Representative Brian P. Kennedy

Date Introduced: January 29, 2004

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 27-34-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 27-34 entitled "Rhode

Island Insurers' Insolvency Fund" is hereby amended to read as follows:

27-34-8. Powers and duties of the fund. -- (a) The fund shall:

(1) Be obligated to pay covered claims existing prior to the determination of the

insolvency of a member insurer or arising within sixty (60) days after the determination of the

insolvency or before the policy expiration date if less than sixty (60) days after the determination

of insolvency or before the insured replaces the policy or causes its cancellation if he or she does

so within sixty (60) days of the determination. The obligations shall be satisfied by paying to the

claimant an amount as follows:

(i) The full amount of a covered claim for benefits under a workers' compensation

insurance coverage;

(ii) An amount not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), per policy for a covered

claim for the return of unearned premium;

(iii) An amount not exceeding three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000), per claimant

for all other covered claims. In no event shall the fund be obligated to pay a claimant an amount

in excess of the obligation of the insolvent insurer under the policy or coverage from which the

claim arises. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a covered claim shall not

include any claim filed with the fund after the final date set by the court for the filing of claims

against the liquidator or receiver of an insolvent insurer. The fund shall pay only that amount of

each unearned premium, which is in excess of one hundred dollars ($100);

(2) Be deemed the insurer to the extent of its obligation on the covered claims and to that

extent shall have all of the rights, duties and obligations of the insolvent insurer as if the insurer

had not become insolvent;

(3) Allocate claims paid and expenses incurred among the three (3) accounts separately,

and assess member insurers separately for each account amounts necessary to pay the obligations

of the fund under subdivision (1) of this subsection subsequent to an insolvency, the expenses of

handling covered claims subsequent to an insolvency and other expenses authorized by this

chapter. The assessments of each member insurer shall be in the proportion that the net direct

written premiums of the member insurer for the calendar year preceding the assessment on the

kinds of insurance in the account bears to the net direct written premiums of all member insurers

for the calendar year preceding the assessment on the kinds of insurance in the account. Each

member insurer shall be notified of the assessment not later than thirty (30) days before it is due.

No member insurer may be assessed in any one year on any account an amount greater than two

percent (2%) of that member insurer's net direct written premiums for the calendar year preceding

the assessment on the kinds of insurance in the account. If the maximum assessment, together

with the other assets of the fund in any account, does not provide in any one year in any account

an amount sufficient to make all necessary payments from that account, each member insurer

shall be assessed the additional amount that must be obtained to make all necessary payments of

the underfunded account from the other two accounts, subject to the same limitation of two

percent (2%) of that member insurer's net direct written premiums for the calendar year preceding

the assessment on the kinds of insurance in the account, subject to the limitation that the ability to

assess from different accounts to make all necessary payments from any underfunded account

shall lapse on December 31, ~~1998~~ 2005. The additional assessments shall be considered loans by

and between the separate accounts. Amounts borrowed under this subsection shall be paid back to

the separate accounts from which they were borrowed, out of assets, including, but not limited to,

existing and future assessments in the account receiving the loan. An interest charge shall be

levied on all amounts borrowed under this subsection based on the average prime rate of interest

for each year the money remains unpaid. If the amounts borrowed remain unpaid on the seventh

yearly anniversary as a result of the inability of the borrowing account to make repayment, then

the amount borrowed and interest which is not repaid, starting with the principal and interest of

the first year, shall be considered uncollectible. The funds available shall be prorated and the

unpaid portion shall be paid as soon after this as funds become available. The fund shall pay

claims in any order which it deems reasonable, including the payment of claims as they are

received from the claimants or in groups or categories of claims. The fund may exempt or defer,

in whole or in part, the assessment of any member insurer if the assessment would cause the

member insurer's financial statement to reflect amounts of capital or surplus less than the

minimum amounts required for a certificate of authority by any jurisdiction in which the member

insurer is authorized to transact insurance. However, during the period of deferment, no dividends

shall be paid to shareholders or policyholders. Deferred assessments shall be paid when the

payment will not reduce capital or surplus below required minimums. The payments shall be

refunded to those companies receiving larger assessments by virtue of the deferment, or, at the

election of any company, credited against future assessments.

(4) Investigate claims brought against the fund and adjust, compromise, settle, and pay

covered claims to the extent of the fund's obligation and deny all other claims, and may review

settlements, releases, and judgments to which the insolvent insurer or its insured were parties, to

determine the extent to which the settlements, releases, and judgments may be properly contested;

(5) Notify the insured as the commissioner directs under section 27-34-10(b)(1);

(6) Handle claims through its employees or through one or more insurers or other

persons designated as servicing facilities. Designation of a servicing facility is subject to the

approval of the commissioner, but the designation may be declined by a member insurer;

(7) Reimburse each servicing facility for obligations of the fund paid by the facility and

for expenses incurred by the facility while handling claims on behalf of the fund and shall pay the

other expenses of the fund authorized by this chapter; and

(8) (i) Obtain an irrevocable line of credit agreement from each member insurer in an

amount not to exceed the member insurer's maximum assessment pursuant to subdivision (3) of

this subsection to ensure the immediate availability of funds for the purposes of future claims and

expenses attributable to an insurer insolvency;

(ii) Any amount drawn from the fund under any line of credit shall be considered a

payment toward the member insurer's assessment provided for in subdivision (3) of this

subsection;

(iii) The member insurer shall provide funding to the fund under the line of credit within

three (3) business days of receipt of a written request from the fund for a draw-down under the

line of credit;

(iv) The line of credit agreement shall be subject to prior review and approval by the

commissioner at the time of origination and any subsequent renewal. It shall include any

commercially reasonable provisions the fund or the commissioner may deem advisable, including

a provision that the line of credit is irrevocable or for a stated period of time and provides for

thirty (30) day notice to the fund and the commissioner that the line is being terminated or not

renewed;

(v) If a line of credit is not given as provided for in this section, the member insurer shall

be responsible for the payment of an assessment of up to the member's proportionate share of the

applicable maximum as set forth in this subsection which shall be paid into a pre-insolvency

assessment fund in each account.

(b) The fund may:

(1) Employ or retain those persons necessary to handle claims and perform other duties

of the fund;

(2) Borrow funds necessary to effect the purposes of this chapter in accord with the plan

of operation;

(3) Sue or be sued;

(4) Negotiate and become a party to any contracts necessary to carry out the purpose of

this chapter;

(5) Perform any other acts necessary or proper to effectuate the purpose of this chapter;

and

(6) Refund to the member insurers in proportion to the contribution of each member

insurer to that account that amount by which the assets of the account exceed the liabilities, if, at

the end of any calendar year, the board of directors finds that the assets of the fund in any account

exceed the liabilities of that account as estimated by the board of directors for the coming year.

SECTION 2. – Joint Study Commission –

(a) There shall be established a joint study commission comprised of ten (10) members,

five (5) from the house of representatives, four (4) from the majority party and one from the

minority party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house; and five (5) from the senate, four (4)

from the majority party and one from the minority party to be appointed by the president of the

senate. The commission shall study and examine the stabilization, fiscal health, and proper

functioning of the Rhode Island Workers’ Compensation system and the Rhode Island Insurers’

Insolvency Fund.

(b) Upon the passage of this act, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of

the speaker of the house and the president of the senate. The speaker of the house and the

president of the senate shall select co-chairpersons from among the members. Vacancies shall be

filled in like manner as the original appointment.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC01188

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