California Insurance Code 1760-1780
1760. (a) Any person may negotiate and effect insurance to protect himself, herself, or itself against loss, damage, or liability with any nonadmitted insurer. (b) Every person that effects insurance governed by this chapter shall pay the tax imposed by Part 7.5 (commencing with Section 13201) of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. 1760.5. (a) The provisions of this chapter limiting the insurance that may be placed with nonadmitted insurers and requiring any report thereof shall not apply to: (1) Reinsurance of the liability of an admitted insurer. (2) Insurance against perils of navigation, transit or transportation upon hulls, freights or disbursements, or other shipowner interests; upon goods, wares, merchandise and all other personal property and interests therein, in the course of exportation from or importation into any country, or transportation coastwise, including transportation by land or water from point of origin to final destination and 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. (3) Aircraft or spacecraft insurance. (4) Insurance on property or operations of railroads engaged in interstate commerce. (b) The insurance specified in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subdivision (a) may be placed with a nonadmitted insurer only by and through a special lines' surplus line broker. The license of a special lines' surplus line broker shall be applied for and procured and shall be subject to the same fees for filing on issuance in the same manner as the license of a surplus line broker, except that in lieu of the bond required by Section 1765, there shall be 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, and 1775.5. (c) The commissioner may address to any licensed special lines' surplus line broker a written request for full and complete information respecting the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of any nonadmitted insurer with whom the licensee has dealt or proposes to deal in the transaction of insurance specified in paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) of subdivision (a). 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, order in writing the licensee to place no further insurance business on property located or operations conducted within or on the lives of persons who are residents of this state 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. (d) The commissioner may, in respect to business written or placed under the provisions of this section, require information and reports thereof that the commissioner considers necessary, convenient, or advisable. (e) Each placing of insurance in violation of this chapter is a misdemeanor. (f) The commissioner may revoke, suspend, or deny any license granted pursuant to this code in accordance with the procedure provided in Article 13 (commencing with Section 1737) of Chapter 5, or any certificate of authority granted pursuant to this code in accordance with the procedure provided in Section 704 whenever the commissioner finds that the licensee or holder of the certificate has committed a violation of this section. (g) The premium for insurance placed by or through a special lines' surplus line broker pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the tax imposed upon the broker based upon gross premiums paid for insurance placed under authority conferred by the license. (h) Special lines' surplus line brokers may advertise and solicit in conformity with Section 1773, except that they are not subject to the limitation that any nonadmitted insurer's name appearing in the advertisements or solicitations must be authorized to accept placements under Section 1765.1. 1760.6. 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. 1760.7. 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 with an insurer whose eligibility has been withdrawn pursuant to Section 1765.1. 1761. Except as provided in sections 1760 and 1760.5, a person within this State shall not transact any insurance on property located or operations conducted within, or on the lives or persons of residents of this State with nonadmitted insurers, except by and through a surplus line broker licensed under this chapter and upon the terms and conditions prescribed in this chapter. 1762. For purposes of Sections 1764, 1764.1, and 1764.3, the term "certificate" means a surplus line broker certificate as defined in Section 48. 1763. (a) A surplus line broker may solicit and place insurance, other than as excepted in Section 1761, with nonadmitted insurers only if that insurance can not be procured from insurers admitted for the particular class or classes of insurance and that actually write the particular type of insurance in this state. Each surplus line broker shall be responsible to ensure that a diligent search is made among insurers that are admitted to transact and are actually writing the particular type of insurance in this state before procuring the insurance from a nonadmitted insurer. Each surplus line broker shall file with the commissioner or his or her designee, within 60 days of placing any insurance with a nonadmitted insurer, a written report, that shall be kept confidential, regarding the insurance. This report shall include the name and address of the 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. (b) It shall be prima facie evidence that a diligent search among admitted insurers has been made if the standardized form filed as required by subdivision (a) establishes that three admitted insurers that actually write the particular type of insurance in this state have declined the risk, or that fewer than three admitted insurers actually write the particular type of insurance. The commissioner, or his or her designee, may review the form for the accuracy of the information provided on it, including, but not limited to, whether the listed insurers actually write that type of insurance, and whether 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. (c) It shall be conclusively presumed that insurance is placed in violation of this section if the insurance is actually placed with a nonadmitted insurer at a lower rate of premium or lower premium than the lowest rate of premium or the lowest premium that could be obtained from an admitted insurer unless, at the time the 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. (d) Statements filed under this section are not subject to public inspection unless the commissioner determines that the public interest or the welfare of the filing broker requires that any statement be made public. (e) For purposes of this section, "type of insurance" means the hazard or combination of hazards covered by a contract of insurance. (f) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section shall not apply to insurance issued or delivered in this state by a nonadmitted Mexican insurer by and through a surplus line broker affording coverage exclusively in the Republic of Mexico on property located temporarily or permanently in, or operations conducted temporarily or permanently within, the Republic of Mexico. (g) This section does not apply to the extension of coverage by a 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. 1763.1. (a) The commissioner may by order declare eligible for placement with a nonadmitted insurer and exempt from all requirements of Section 1763 except the filing of a confidential written report, any type of insurance coverage or risk for which he or she finds, after a public hearing, that there is not a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers. The commissioner or his or her designee shall maintain an export list showing all those exempt coverages and risks. 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 shall not be required to be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Any such 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 eligibility 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 eligibility 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 eligible 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. (b) The surplus line advisory organization authorized by Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section 1780.50) shall pay the costs for a maximum of two public hearings per year held by the commissioner or his or her designee pursuant to this section. (c) Except for the removal of a type of insurance from the export list pursuant to subdivision (a), nothing in this section shall authorize the commissioner to declare any type of insurance ineligible for exportation. 1763.2. (a) A licensed surplus line broker may originate surplus lines business, or may accept that business from any other originating licensee duly licensed for the type or types of insurance involved, and may compensate those licensees therefor. (b) For any information involved in any insurance transaction described in subdivision (a), or involved in the eligibility of the risk for placement with a surplus line broker, the originating licensee shall use due care and diligence in the collection, preparation, and transmission of the information to the surplus line broker. 1763.5. 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. 1764. (a) A licensed surplus line broker may issue evidence of insurance, including binders, covernotes, and certificates evidencing the placement of insurance with an eligible nonadmitted insurer, and with prior written authority, may issue policies of the insurer. (b) Certificates may be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 1764.2. The certificates shall be in the name of the surplus line broker and not in the name of the nonadmitted insurer, shall be signed by the surplus line broker, and shall contain all of the matters specified in Insurance Code Section 381. (c) Policies may only be issued pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1764.2. The policies shall contain all of the matters specified in Section 381 and shall be countersigned by the surplus line broker. 1764.1. (a) (1) Every nonadmitted insurer, in the case of insurance to be purchased by a resident of this state pursuant to Section 1760, and surplus line broker, in the case of any insurance with a nonadmitted carrier to be transacted by the surplus line broker, shall be responsible to ensure that, at the time of accepting an application for an insurance policy, other than a renewal of that policy, issued by a nonadmitted insurer, the signature of the applicant on the disclosure statement set forth in subdivision (b) is obtained. In fulfillment of this responsibility, the nonadmitted insurer and the surplus line broker may rely, if it is reasonable under all the circumstances to do so, on the disclosure statement received from a licensee involved in the transaction as prima facie evidence 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 his or her 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 any 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. (2) In a case in which the applicant has not received and completed the signed disclosure form required by this section, he or she may cancel the insurance so placed. The cancellation shall be on a pro rata basis as to premium, and the applicant shall be entitled to the return of any broker's fees charged for the placement. (b) The following notice shall be provided to policyholders and applicants for insurance as provided by subdivision (a), and shall be printed in English and in the language principally used by the surplus line broker and nonadmitted insurer to 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: "NOTICE: 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. CALIFORNIA MAINTAINS A LIST OF ELIGIBLE SURPLUS LINE INSURERS APPROVED BY THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER. ASK YOUR AGENT OR BROKER IF THE INSURER IS ON THAT LIST, OR VIEW THAT LIST AT THE INTERNET WEB SITE OF THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE: www.insurance.ca.gov. 5. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE INSURER, YOU SHOULD ASK QUESTIONS OF YOUR INSURANCE AGENT, BROKER, OR "SURPLUS LINE" BROKER OR CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, AT THE FOLLOWING TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER: ____. 6. IF YOU, AS THE APPLICANT, REQUIRED THAT THE INSURANCE POLICY YOU HAVE PURCHASED BE BOUND 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." (c) When a contract is issued to an industrial insured neither the nonadmitted insurer nor the surplus line broker is required to provide the notice required in this section except on the confirmation of insurance, the certificate of placement, or the policy, whichever is first provided to the insured, nor is the insurer or surplus line broker required to obtain the insured's signature. The producer shall ensure that the notice affixed to the confirmation of insurance, certificate of placement, or the policy is provided to the insured. The producer shall insert the current toll-free telephone number of the Department of Insurance as provided in paragraph 5 of the notice. (1) An industrial insured is an insured: (A) Which employs at least 25 employees on average during the prior 12 months; and (B) Which has aggregate annual premiums for insurance for all risks other than workers' compensation and health coverage totaling no less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); or (C) Which obtains insurance through the services of a full-time employee acting as an insurance manager or a continuously retained insurance consultant. A "continuously retained insurance consultant" does not include: (i) an agent or broker through whom the insurance is being placed, (ii) a subagent or subproducer involved in the transaction, or (iii) an agent or broker that is a business organization employing or contracting with a person mentioned in clauses (i) and (ii). (2) The surplus line broker shall be responsible to ensure that the applicant is an industrial 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. (d) For purposes of compliance with the requirement of subdivision (a) that the signature of the applicant be obtained, the following shall apply: (1) If the insurance transaction is not conducted at an in-person, face-to-face meeting, the applicant's signature on the disclosure form may be transmitted by the applicant to the agent or broker via facsimile or comparable electronic transmittal. (2) In the case of commercial lines coverage, or personal 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. (e) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), this section shall not apply to insurance issued or delivered in this state by a nonadmitted Mexican insurer by and through a surplus line broker affording coverage exclusively in the Republic of Mexico on property located temporarily or permanently in, or operations conducted temporarily or permanently within, the Republic of Mexico. 1764.2. 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 insured or applicant for insurance that coverage has been or will be obtained from a nonadmitted insurer unless: (a) The broker has prior written authority from the nonadmitted insurer to cause the risk to be insured; (b) The broker has received advice in the ordinary course of business that the coverage has been obtained; or (c) A policy of insurance covering the insured for the risk has actually been issued by the nonadmitted insurer and delivered to the insured or his or her representative. 1764.3. 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 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 insured or applicant has been advised that coverage has been or will be obtained, he or she shall deliver to the insured either of the following: (a) A photostatic copy of evidence that the insurance has been bound. (b) If the nonadmitted insurer is located 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. 1764.4. 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. 1764.5. 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. 1764.7. 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 in the state prison, or in a county jail for not exceeding one year or by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both. 1765. (a) A license under this chapter shall be applied for and renewed by the filing with the commissioner of a written application therefor, in accordance with Section 1652. (b) Subject to subdivision (f), the commissioner shall issue a license authorizing any applicant who is trustworthy and competent to transact an insurance brokerage business in a manner as to safeguard the interest of the insured, to act as a surplus line broker from the date of the license until the expiration date specified in Section 1630. (c) An applicant for a surplus line broker's license shall, as part of the application and a condition of the issuance of the license, file a bond to the people of the State of California in the 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. (d) The filing fee for a license to act as a surplus line broker shall be one thousand dollars ($1,000) every two years, or for any initial fractional license year. For an individual licensed as a surplus line broker who only transacts on behalf of a surplus line broker organization, the filing fee shall be five hundred dollars ($500) every two years, or for any initial fractional license year. Every applicant for a business entity license, as provided in subdivision (a) of Section 1765.2, shall provide the names of all persons who may exercise the power and perform the duties under the license. Whenever an organization licensed as a surplus line broker desires to change, remove, or add to the natural person or persons who are to transact insurance under authority of its license, it shall immediately file an application or notice with the commissioner for an endorsement changing its license accordingly, on a form prescribed by 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-four dollars ($24). 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. (e) The department is authorized to collect additional license fees resulting from the increases in license fees provided by Chapter 29 of the Statutes of 2008 and shall credit any overpayment resulting from reductions in license fees provided by that act. (f) A business entity 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. (g) The license shall be renewed in accordance with, and subject to, Sections 1717, 1718, 1719, and 1720. (h) The commissioner may deny, suspend, or revoke any license applied for or granted pursuant to this chapter on all or any one of the grounds and in accordance with the procedures provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 1666) and Article 13 (commencing with Section 1737) of Chapter 5, whenever the commissioner finds that the applicant or licensee has committed a violation of any provision of this code. 1765.1. No surplus line broker shall place any coverage with a nonadmitted insurer 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 following requirements: (a) (1) Has established its financial stability, reputation, and integrity, for the class of insurance the broker proposes to place, by satisfactory evidence submitted to the commissioner through a surplus line broker. (2) Meets one of the following requirements with respect to its financial stability: (A) Has capital and surplus that together total at least fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000). "Capital" shall be as defined in Section 36. "Surplus" shall be defined as assets exceeding the sum of liabilities for losses reported, expenses, taxes, and all other indebtedness and reinsurance of outstanding risks as provided by law and paid-in capital in the case of an insurer issuing or having outstanding shares of capital stock. The type of assets to be used in calculating capital and surplus shall be as follows: at least fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) 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 any 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 any 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 will not qualify as assets in the calculation of surplus. If less than fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000), the commissioner has affirmatively found that the capital and surplus is 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 any parent company, the underwriting profit and investment income trends, and the record of claims payment and claims handling practices of the nonadmitted insurer. (B) In the case of an "Insurance Exchange" created and authorized under the laws of individual states, maintains capital and surplus of not less than fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) in the aggregate. "Capital" shall be as defined in Section 36. "Surplus" shall be defined as assets exceeding the sum of liabilities for losses reported, expenses, taxes, and all other indebtedness and reinsurance of outstanding risks as provided by law and paid-in capital in the case of an insurer issuing or having outstanding shares of capital stock. The type of assets to be used in calculating capital and surplus shall be as follows: at least fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000) 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 any 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 any 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. In the case of an Insurance Exchange which maintains funds for the protection of all Insurance Exchange policyholders, 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 fifteen million dollars ($15,000,000). In the case of Insurance Exchanges that do not maintain funds for the protection of all Insurance Exchange policyholders, each individual syndicate seeking to accept surplus line placement of risks resident, located, or to be performed in this state shall meet the capital and surplus requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. (C) In the case of a syndicate that is part of a group consisting of incorporated individual insurers, or a combination of both incorporated 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) of paragraph (2). 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. (b) (1) In addition, to be eligible as a surplus line insurer, an insurer not domiciled in one of the United States or its territories shall have in force in the United States an irrevocable trust account in a qualified United States financial institution, for the protection of United States policyholders, of not less than five million four hundred thousand dollars ($5,400,000) and consisting of cash, securities acceptable to the commissioner which are authorized pursuant to Sections 1170 to 1182, inclusive, readily marketable securities acceptable to the commissioner that are listed on a regulated United States national or principal regional security exchange, or clean and irrevocable letters of credit acceptable to the commissioner and issued by a qualified United States financial institution. The trust agreement 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 any calculation. (2) In the case of a syndicate seeking eligibility under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the syndicate shall, in addition to the requirements of that subparagraph, at a minimum, maintain in the United States a trust account in an amount satisfactory to the commissioner that is not less than the amount required by the domiciliary state of the syndicate's trust. The trust account shall comply with the terms and conditions specified in paragraph (1). (3) In the case of a group of incorporated insurers under common administration that maintains a trust fund of not less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) in a qualified United States financial 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). (c) Has caused to be provided to the commissioner the following documents: (1) The financial documents as specified below, each showing the insurer's condition as of a date not more than 12 months prior to submission: (A) A copy of an annual statement, prepared in the form prescribed by the NAIC. For an alien insurer, in lieu of an annual statement, a licensee may submit a form as set forth by regulation and as prepared by the insurer, and, if listed by the IID, a copy of the complete information as required in the application for listing by the IID. (B) A copy of an audited financial report on the insurer's condition that meets the standards of subparagraph (D) for foreign insurers or subparagraph (E) for alien insurers. (C) If the insurer is an alien: (i) A certified copy of the trust agreement referenced in subdivision (b). (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: (i) Financial documents shall be certified. (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. (v) An audited financial report shall be prepared in a form and using language and groupings substantially the same as the relevant sections of the insurer's annual statement filed with its domiciliary jurisdiction, and presenting comparatively the amounts as of December 31 of the most recent calendar year and the amounts as of December 31 of the preceding year. (E) Financial reports filed pursuant to this section by alien insurers shall conform to the following standards: (i) Except as provided in clause (ii) of subparagraph (C), financial documents should be certified, if certification of a financial document is not available, the document shall be verified. (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) of paragraph (1) on the form submitted in lieu of an annual statement should follow the most recent ISI 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. (v) An audited financial report shall be prepared in accord with either (I) Generally Accepted Auditing Standards that prescribe Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or (II) International Accounting Standards as published and revised from time to time by the International Auditing Guidelines published by the International Auditing Practice Committee of the International Federation of Accountants; and shall include financial statement notes and a summary of significant accounting practices. (F) The commissioner may accept, in lieu of a document described above, any 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 which 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. (2) A certified copy of the insurer's license issued by its domiciliary jurisdiction, plus a certification of good standing, certificate of compliance, or other equivalent certificate, from either that jurisdiction or, if the jurisdiction does not issue those certificates, from any state where it is licensed. (3) Information on the insurer's agent in California for service of process, including the agent's full name and address. The agent's address must include a street address where the agent can be reached during normal business hours. (4) The complete street address, mailing address, and telephone number of the insurer's principal place of business. (5) A certified or verified explanation, report, or other statement, from the insurance regulatory office or official of the insurer's domiciliary jurisdiction, concerning the insurer's record regarding market conduct and consumer complaints; or, if that information cannot be obtained from that jurisdiction, then any other information that the licensee can procure to demonstrate a good reputation for payment of claims and treatment of policyholders. (6) A verified statement, from the insurer or licensee, on whether the insurer or any affiliated entity is currently known to be the subject of any order or proceeding regarding conservation, liquidation, or other receivership; or regarding revocation or suspension of a license to transact insurance in any jurisdiction; or otherwise seeking to stop the insurer from transacting insurance in any jurisdiction. The statement shall identify the proceeding by date, jurisdiction, and relief or sanction sought; and shall attach a copy of the relevant order. (7) A certified copy of the most recent report of examination or an explanation if the report is not available. (8) A list of all California surplus line brokers authorized by the insurer to issue policies on its behalf, and any additions to or deletions from that list. (d) (1) Has provided any additional information or documentation required by the commissioner that is relevant to the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of the nonadmitted insurer. In making a determination concerning financial stability, reputation, and integrity of the nonadmitted insurer, the commissioner shall consider any analyses, findings, or conclusions made by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in its review of the insurer for purposes of inclusion on or exclusion from the list of authorized nonadmitted insurers maintained by the NAIC. The commissioner may, but shall not be required to, rely on, adopt, or otherwise accept any analyses, findings, or conclusions of the NAIC, as the commissioner deems appropriate. In the case of a syndicate seeking eligibility under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), the commissioner may, but shall not be required to, rely on, adopt, or otherwise accept any analyses, findings, or conclusions of any state, as the commissioner deems appropriate, as long as that state, in its method of regulation and review, meets the requirements of paragraph (2). (2) The regulatory body of the state shall regularly receive and review the following: (A) an audited financial statement of the syndicate, prepared by a certified or chartered public accountant; (B) an opinion of a qualified actuary with regard to the syndicate's aggregate reserves for payment of losses or claims and payment of expenses of adjustment or settlement of losses or claims; (C) a certification from the qualified United States financial institution that acts as the syndicate's trustee, respecting the existence and value of the syndicate's trust fund; and (D) information concerning the syndicate's or its manager's operating history, business plan, ownership and control, experience and ability, together with any other pertinent factors, and any 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. (e) Has established that: (1) All documents required by subdivisions (c) and (d) have been filed. Each of the documents appear after review to be complete, clear, comprehensible, unambiguous, accurate, and consistent. (2) The documents affirm that the insurer is not subject in any jurisdiction to an order or proceeding that: (A) Seeks to stop it from transacting insurance. (B) Relates to conservation, liquidation, or other receivership. (C) Relates to revocation or suspension of its license. (3) The documents affirm that the insurer has actively transacted insurance for the three years immediately preceding the filing made under this section, unless an exemption is granted. As used in this paragraph, "insurer" does not include a syndicate of underwriting entities. The commissioner may grant an exemption if the licensee has applied for exemption and demonstrates either of the following: (A) The insurer meets the condition for any exception set forth in subdivision (a), (b), or (c) of Section 716. (B) If the insurer has been actively transacting insurance for at least 12 months, and the licensee demonstrates that the exemption is warranted because the insurer's current financial strength, operating history, business plan, ownership and control, management experience, and ability, together with any other pertinent factors, make three years of active insurance transaction unnecessary to establish sufficient reputation. (4) The documents confirm that the insurer holds a license to issue insurance policies (other than reinsurance) to residents of the jurisdiction that granted the license unless an exemption is granted. The commissioner may grant an exemption if the licensee has applied for an exemption and demonstrates that the exemption is warranted because the insurer proposes to issue in California only commercial coverage, and is wholly owned and actually controlled by substantial and knowledgeable business enterprises that are its policyholders and that effectively govern the insurer's destiny in furtherance of their own business objectives. (5) The information filed pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) or otherwise filed with or available to the commissioner, including reports received from California policyholders, shall indicate that the insurer makes reasonably prompt payment of claims in this state or elsewhere. (6) The information available to the commissioner shall not indicate that the insurer offers in California a licensee products or rates that violate any provision of this code. (f) Has been placed on the list of eligible surplus line insurers by the commissioner. The commissioner shall establish a list of all surplus line insurers that have met the requirements of subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, and shall publish a master list at least semiannually. Any insurer receiving approval as an eligible 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 eligible 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 eligibility. Upon receipt of notice, the surplus line broker shall make no further placements with the insurer. Nothing in this subdivision shall limit the commissioner's discretion to withdraw an insurer's eligibility. (g) (1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe, and determines after a public hearing, that any insurer on the list established pursuant to subdivision (f), (A) is in an unsound financial condition, (B) does not meet the eligibility 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. (2) If the commissioner determines that an insurer's immediate removal from the list is necessary to protect the public or an insured or prospective insured of the insurer, or, in the case of an application by an insurer to be placed on the list which 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. Any 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. (3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), in any case where the commissioner is basing a decision to remove an insurer from the list, or deny an application to be placed on the list, on the failure of the insurer or applicant to comply with, meet or maintain any of the objective criteria established by this section, or by regulation adopted pursuant to this section, the commissioner may so specify this fact in the order, and no hearing shall be required to be held on the order. (4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), the commissioner may, without prior notice or hearing, remove from the list established pursuant to subdivision (f) any insurer that has failed or refused to timely provide documents required by this section, or any regulations adopted to implement this section. In the case of removal pursuant to this paragraph, the commissioner shall notify all surplus line brokers of the action. (h) In addition to any other statements or reports required by this chapter, the commissioner may also address to any licensee a written request for full and complete information respecting the financial stability, reputation and integrity of any nonadmitted insurer with whom the licensee has dealt or proposes to deal in the transaction of insurance business. 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, order the licensee in writing to place no further insurance business on property located or operations conducted within or on the lives of persons who are residents of this state with the nonadmitted insurer on behalf of any person. Any placement in the nonadmitted insurer made by a licensee after receipt of that order is a violation of this chapter. The commissioner may issue an order 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. (i) The commissioner shall require, at least annually, the submission of records and statements as are reasonably necessary to ensure that the requirements of this section are maintained. (j) The commissioner shall establish by regulation a schedule of fees to cover costs of administering and enforcing this chapter. (k) (1) Insurance may be placed on a limited basis with insurers not on the list established pursuant to this section if all of the following conditions are met: (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 appear on the list of 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 unlisted insurer or insurers, are adequate to safeguard the interest of the insured under the policy. This documentation, and any other documentation regarding the unlisted 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 unlisted insurer, and annually thereafter for as long as the broker continues to make placements with the unlisted 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). (2) Insurance may not be placed pursuant to paragraph (1) if any of the following applies: (A) The unlisted insurer has for any reason been objected to by the commissioner pursuant to this section, removed from the list, or denied placement on the list. (B) The insurance includes coverage for employer-sponsored medical, surgical, hospital, or other health or medical expense benefits payable to the employee by the insurer. (C) The insurance is mandatory under the laws of the federal government, this state, or any political subdivision thereof, and includes any portion of limits of coverage mandated by those laws. (D) The insured is a multiple employer welfare arrangement, as defined in Section 1002(40)(A) of Title 29 of the United States Code, or any other arrangement among two or more employers that are not under common ownership or control, which is established or maintained for the primary purpose of providing insurance benefits to the employees of two or more employers. (E) Unlisted insurers represent a disproportionate portion of the lower layers of the coverage. (3) Nothing in this section is intended to alter any duties of a surplus line broker pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1765 or other laws of this state to safeguard the interests of the insured under the policy in recommending or placing insurance with a nonadmitted insurer. (4) Placements authorized by this subdivision are intended to provide sophisticated insurance purchasers with a means to obtain necessary commercial insurance coverage from nonadmitted insurers not listed by the commissioner in situations where it is not commercially possible to fully obtain that coverage from either admitted or listed insurers. This subdivision shall not be deemed to permit surplus line brokers to place with nonadmitted insurers common commercial or personal line coverages for insureds that can be placed with insurers that are admitted or listed pursuant to this section, whether the insured is an individual insured, or a group created primarily for the purpose of purchasing insurance. (l) As used in this section: (1) "Certified" means an originally signed or sealed statement, dated not more than 60 days before submission, made by a public official or other person, attached to a copy of a document, that attests that the copy is a true copy of the original, and that the original is in the custody of the person making the statement. (2) "Domiciliary jurisdiction" means the state, nation, or subdivision thereof under the laws of which an insurer is incorporated or otherwise organized. (3) "Domiciliary state of the syndicate's trust" means the state in which the syndicate's trust fund is principally maintained and administered for the benefit of the syndicate's policyholders in the United States. (4) "IID" means the International Insurers Department. (5) "Insurer" means (unless the context indicates otherwise) "nonadmitted" insurers that are either "foreign" or "alien" insurers, as those terms are defined in Sections 25, 27, and 1580, and syndicates whose members consist of individual incorporated insurers who are not 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 Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (15 U.S.C. Sec. 3901 et seq.) and the California Risk Retention Act of 1990 (Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 125) of Part 1 of Division 1), except insurers that are risk retention groups as defined by those acts. (6) "ISI" means Insurance Solvency International. (7) "Licensee" means a surplus line broker as defined in Section 47. (8) "NAIC" means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or its successor organization. (9) "NAIIO" means the Nonadmitted Alien Insurer Information Office of the NAIC or its successor office. (10) "State" means any state of the United States; the District of Columbia; a commonwealth, or a territory. (11) "Verified" means a document or copy accompanied by an originally signed statement, dated not more than 60 days before submission, from a responsible executive or official who has authority to provide the statement and knowledge whereof he or she speaks, attesting either under oath before a notary public, or under penalty of perjury under California law, that the assertions made in the document are true. (m) With respect to a nonadmitted insurer that is listed as an authorized surplus line insurer as of December 31, 1994, pursuant to Sections 2174.1 to 2174.14, inclusive, of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, this section shall not be effective until the subsequent expiration of the listing of that insurer. Nothing in the bill that amended this section during the 1994 portion of the 1993-94 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. 1765.2. (a) A license under this chapter may be issued to an individual or any legal business entity. If issued to a business entity or individual that maintains more than one surplus line office from which it transacts that business with California residents, it shall name the natural person or persons located at each such surplus line office maintained by the licensee who is or are to be responsible for the proper discharge at each office of all duties placed upon the licensee acting as a surplus line broker and each of these natural persons must be licensed as a surplus line broker. Each natural person shall meet all of the requirements for the license. (b) Every application for a 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. 1765.3. 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 fire and casualty broker-agent, which requires passing the qualifying examination for such an insurance broker's license. 1765.4. 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 such 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 such license. 1766. 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 an insured or applicant. 1767. 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. 1768. A resident surplus line broker shall keep in this state complete records of the business transacted by him or her with nonadmitted insurers under his or her license as a surplus line broker. 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 with nonadmitted insurers under his or her California nonresident surplus line broker license. After notice and hearing, the commissioner shall promulgate reasonable rules and regulations specifying the manner and type of records to be maintained by surplus line brokers and the location or locations where those records shall be kept. 1769. 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. 1770. 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. 1771. The costs and expenses of all examinations by the commissioner shall be paid as prescribed in Section 736. 1772. (a) A surplus line insurer may be sued upon any cause of action arising in this state under any surplus line insurance contract made by it, or any evidence of insurance issued or delivered by the surplus line broker, pursuant to the procedure set forth in Sections 1610 to 1620, inclusive. Any policy or evidence of insurance issued by the surplus line insurer or the surplus line broker shall contain a provision stating the substance of this section, and designating the person to whom the commissioner shall mail process. (b) Every surplus line insurer assuming a surplus line insurance shall be deemed thereby to have subjected itself to this chapter. (c) The remedies provided by this section shall be in addition to any other methods provided by law for service of process. 1773. 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: (a) the insurer is authorized to accept placements from the surplus line broker pursuant to Section 1765.1, (b) a nonadmitted insurer's name is not used in connection with any nonadmitted insurance product of that insurer, (c) the unlicensed status of the insurer or of the insurance products is disclosed in type of a size no smaller than any telephone number, address, or fax number appearing in the advertisement or solicitation, and (d) the advertisement or solicitation does not contain any assertion, representation, or statement with respect to the business of insurance, or with respect to any person in the conduct of his or her insurance business, that is untrue, deceptive, or misleading, and that is known, or that by the exercise of reasonable care should be known, to be untrue, deceptive, or misleading. If the insurance is available from an eligible nonadmitted insurer that is a member of a group of insurers, advertisements and solicitations in accordance with this section may include the name of the group. A surplus line broker's advertisements and solicitations shall not include any information about a nonadmitted insurer's premiums or rates. 1774. (a) On or before the first day of March of each year the surplus line broker shall file with the commissioner a sworn statement of all business transacted under his or her surplus line license during the last preceding calendar year. Such statement shall contain an account of the business done by the surplus line broker for the prior year. (b) For purposes of this chapter, "business done" or "business transacted" under a surplus line broker's license means all insurance regarding which that surplus line broker is required to file a confidential written report with the commissioner or the commissioner' s designee pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1763. If two or more persons licensed as surplus line brokers are involved in placing a policy, only 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, shall be considered transacting under his or her surplus line broker's license. (c) The date on which the surplus line broker transacting a policy prepares a bill or invoice for payment of all or part of the premiums due, shall be considered the date on which that business was done or transacted, subject to paragraph (d). This date shall be shown on the face of the bill or invoice and shall be referred to as the "invoice date." (d) (1) The invoice date shall be no more than 60 days after the policy effective date and no more than 60 days after the insurance was placed with a nonadmitted insurer, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this section. (2) For purposes of this chapter, the amount of gross premium to be reported, if premiums are billed and payable in installments, shall be the amount of the installment premium, provided the amount and due date of each installment, or the basis for determining each installment, is identifiable in the policy or an endorsement, and either of the following conditions is satisfied: (A) Installments under the policy are not billed more frequently than once per month. (B) If more than one 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. 1775. All such reports and statements shall be made on blanks furnished to the surplus line broker by the commissioner on application therefor. 1775.1. (a) For the calendar year 1995, and each calendar year thereafter, every surplus line broker whose annual tax for the preceding calendar year was five thousand dollars ($5,000) or more shall make monthly installment payments on account of the annual tax on business done during the current calendar year imposed by Section 1775.5. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision, the commissioner may relieve a surplus line broker of his or her obligation to make monthly payments where the broker establishes to the satisfaction of the commissioner that either the broker has ceased to transact business in this state, or his or her annual tax for the current year will be less than five thousand dollars ($5,000). 1775.2. 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. 1775.3. 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. 1775.4. (a) The amount of the payment shall be 3 percent of the gross premiums less return premiums upon business done by the surplus line broker under the authority of his or her license during the calendar month ending two calendar months immediately preceding the due date of the payment, as specified in Section 1775.3, excluding gross premiums and return premiums paid by him or her upon business governed by the provisions of Section 1760.5. If during any calendar month those return premiums upon business done by a surplus line broker exceed the gross premiums upon the business done by him or her in that calendar month, then no payment shall be payable by him or her in respect to that calendar month, and he or she may carry forward that excess to the next succeeding calendar month or 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. (b) In determining the applicability of subdivision (a) of Section 1775.1 to a surplus line broker who has acquired the business of another surplus line broker, the amount of tax liability of the acquired broker for the immediately preceding calendar year shall be added to the amount of the tax liability of the acquiring broker for the immediately preceding calendar year. (c) All amounts paid, other than penalties and interest, shall be allowed as a credit on the annual tax imposed by Section 1775.5. (d) If the total amount of 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. (e) A penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the monthly payment due shall be levied upon and paid by any surplus line broker who fails to make the necessary payment within the time required, plus interest at the rate of 1 percent per calendar month or fraction thereof from the due date of the payment until the date payment is received by the commissioner, but not for any period after the due date of the annual tax. The penalty and interest shall be applied as prescribed in Section 12636.5 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. The commissioner may remit the penalty in a case where he or she finds, as a result of examination or otherwise, that the failure of, or delay in, payment arose out of excusable mistake or excusable inadvertence. (f) For any part of a payment required that was not made within the time required by law, when the nonpayment or late payment was due to fraud on the part of the taxpayer, a penalty of 25 percent of the amount unpaid shall be added thereto, in addition to all other penalties otherwise imposed. (g) The commissioner, upon a showing of good cause, may extend for not to exceed 10 days the time for making a monthly payment. 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. Any surplus line broker to whom an extension is granted shall, in addition to the monthly payment, pay interest at the rate of 1 percent per month, or fraction thereof, from the due date until the annual tax due date. 1775.5. (a) Every surplus line broker shall annually, on or before the first day of March of each year pay to the Insurance Commissioner for the use of the State of California a tax of 3 percent of the gross premiums less return premiums upon business done by him or her under authority of his or her license during the preceding calendar year, excluding any portions of premiums upon business done involving the risk finance portion of any blended finite risk product used in the financing element of state or federal Superfund environmental settlements involving remediation of soil or groundwater contamination or by the provisions of Section 1760.5. If during any calendar year 3 percent of such return premiums upon business done by a surplus line broker exceed 3 percent of the gross premiums upon such business done by him or her in that year, then he or she may either carry forward such excess to the next succeeding year and apply it as a credit against 3 percent of gross premiums on such business done by him or her in such 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 such excess of return premiums paid over gross premiums received. (b) For the purpose of determining such tax, the total premium charged for all such nonadmitted insurance placed in a single transaction with one underwriter or group of underwriters, whether in one or more policies, shall be allocated to this state in such proportion as the total premium on the insured properties or operations in this state, as computed on the exposure in this state on the basis of any single standard rating method in use in all states or countries where such insurance applies, bears to the total premium so computed in all states or countries in which such nonadmitted insurance may apply. This provision shall not apply to interstate motor transit operations conducted between this and other states. With respect to such operations surplus line tax shall be payable on the entire premium charged on all nonadmitted insurance, less the following: (1) Such portion of the premium as is determined, as herein provided, to have been charged for operations in other states taxing such premium on operations in such states of an insured maintaining its headquarters office in this state. (2) The premium for any operations outside of this state of an insured who maintains a headquarters operating office outside of this state and a branch office in this state. (c) A penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the payment due pursuant to this section shall be levied upon and paid by any surplus line broker who fails to make the necessary payment within the time required, plus interest at the rate of 1 percent per calendar month or fraction thereof, from March 1, the due date of the annual tax, until the date the payment 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. Any surplus line broker to whom an extension is granted shall, in addition to the tax, pay interest at the rate of 1 percent per month or fraction thereof from March 1, until the date of payment. The commissioner may remit the penalty in a case where the commissioner finds, as a result of examination or otherwise, that the failure of or delay in payment arose out of excusable mistake or excusable inadvertence. (d) For any part of a payment required by this section or by Section 1775.4 which was not made within the time required by law, when such nonpayment or late payment was due to fraud on the part of the broker, a penalty of 25 percent of the amount unpaid shall be added thereto, in addition to all other penalties otherwise imposed. (e) For the purposes of this section these terms shall have the following meanings: (1) "Blended finite risk product" means a contractual arrangement combining risk finance with traditional risk transfer, where a distinct portion of the program cost represents the funding of a known, existing, nonfortuitous future cost, obligation, responsibility, or liability at its discounted net present value, and another portion of the program cost represents risk transfer for losses which have yet to occur related to the cost, obligation, responsibility, or liability that is the subject of the program. (2) "Risk financing" means that portion of any blended finite risk product which represents the funding of a known, existing, nonfortuitous future cost, obligation, responsibility, or liability. (3) "Risk finance" or "financing element" means a method of funding for a known future cost over a long time horizon in current-value dollars using the principle of net present value discounting. 1775.6. 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. 1775.7. The money in the Insurance Tax Fund received from the commissioner pursuant to Section 1775.6 is hereby appropriated as follows: (a) To pay the refunds authorized by this chapter. (b) The balance of the money in the fund shall, on order of the Controller, be transferred to the State General Fund. 1775.8. (a) On and after January 1, 1994, and before January 1, 1995, every surplus line broker whose annual taxes for business done in calendar year 1992 or whose quarterly taxes for business done in calendar year 1993 exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) shall make payment by electronic funds transfer. On and after January 1, 1995, every surplus line broker whose annual taxes for business done in calendar year 1993 or in any calendar year thereafter exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) shall make payment by electronic funds transfer. The surplus line broker shall choose one of the acceptable methods described in Section 45 for completing the electronic funds transfer. (b) Payment is deemed complete on the date the electronic funds transfer is initiated, if settlement to the state's demand account occurs on or before the banking day following the date the transfer is initiated. If settlement to the state's demand account does not occur on or before the banking day following the date the transfer is initiated, payment is deemed to occur on the date settlement occurs. (c) (1) Any surplus line broker required to remit taxes by electronic funds transfer pursuant to this section who remits those taxes by means other than an appropriate electronic funds transfer, shall be assessed a penalty in an amount equal to 10 percent of the taxes due at the time of the payment. (2) If the department finds that a surplus line broker's failure to make payment by an appropriate electronic funds transfer in accordance with subdivision (a) is due to reasonable cause or circumstances beyond the surplus line broker's control, and occurred notwithstanding the exercise of ordinary care and in the absence of willful neglect, that surplus line broker shall be relieved of the penalty provided in paragraph (1). (3) Any surplus line broker seeking to be relieved of the penalty provided in paragraph (1) shall file with the department a statement under penalty of perjury setting forth the facts upon which the claim for relief is based. 1775.9. (a) If the commissioner determines that the amount of tax reported by the surplus line broker is less than the tax disclosed by the commissioner's examination, the commissioner shall permit the surplus line broker to provide additional information demonstrating that the surplus line broker owes a lesser amount. If within 60 days, or such additional time as the commissioner deems appropriate, the commissioner and the surplus line broker cannot agree on the amount owed, the commissioner shall propose in writing to the State Board of Equalization a deficiency assessment for the difference pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 12422 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. (b) Section 12636.5, Article 3 (commencing with Section 12421) and Article 4 (commencing with Section 12491) of Chapter 4 of, and Article 1 (commencing with Section 12951) and Article 2 (commencing with Section 12977) of Chapter 7 of, Part 7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code shall apply to surplus line brokers, except where inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, in which case this chapter shall govern. 1776. 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. 1778. 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. 1779. Every 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 such insurance, and shall disclose to the commissioner the amount of the gross premiums paid or agreed to be paid for such insurance. For refusal to obey such request, such insured shall forfeit to the State of California the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each refusal. 1780. 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.
