SENATE BILL NO. 379

INTRODUCED BY S. STANG

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT SUBMITTING TO THE QUALIFIED ELECTORS A PROVISION SETTING THE MONTANA LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSESSMENT AT 2 PERCENT OF AN ASSOCIATION MEMBER'S LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS WRITTEN IN THIS STATE; AMENDING SECTION 33-10-227, MCA; PROVIDING A CONTINGENT VOIDNESS PROVISION; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 33-10-227, MCA, is amended to read:

"33-10-227. Assessments -- abatement -- basis for ratesetting. (1) For the purpose of providing the funds necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the association, the board of directors shall assess the member insurers, separately for each account . The board shall collect the assessments after 30 days' written notice to the member insurers before payment is due.

(2) There are two classes of assessments, as follows:

(a) Class A assessments must be made for the purpose of meeting administrative costs and other general expenses not related to a particular impaired insurer.

(b) Class B assessments totaling 2% for each account of the member insurer's premiums in this state on policies covered by the account must be made annually to carry out the powers and duties of the association under 33-10-219 and 33-10-220(1) with regard to an impaired insurer.

(3) (a) The amount of any Class A assessment for each account must be determined by the board. The amount of any Class B assessment must be divided among the accounts in the proportion that the premiums received by the impaired insurer on the policies covered by each account bear to the premiums received by the insurer on all covered policies.

(b) Class B assessments against member insurers for each account must be in the proportion that the premiums received on business in this state by each assessed member insurer on policies covered by each account bear to the premiums received on business in this state by all assessed member insurers.

(c) Assessments for funds to meet the requirements of the association with respect to an impaired insurer must be made as necessary to implement the purposes of this part. Classification of assessments under subsection (2) and computation of assessments under this subsection must be made with a reasonable degree of accuracy, recognizing that exact determinations may not always be possible.

(4) The association may abate or defer, in whole or in part, the assessment of a member insurer if, in the opinion of the board, payment of the assessment would endanger the ability of the member insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations or the assessment, in whole or in part, would violate Article VIII, section 17, of the Montana constitution. The association may also abate, defer, or credit, in whole or in part and in the same pro rata basis as those assessments were calculated, the payment of any assessment by all member insurers for any year if in the opinion of the association, the payment would result in more funds than necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the association under 33-10-219 and 33-10-220 with regard to an impaired insurer. The total of all assessments upon a member insurer for each account may not in any 1 calendar year exceed 2% of annual premiums to pay valid consumer claims in Montana on behalf of financially impaired insurance companies.

(5) In the event an assessment against a member insurer is abated or deferred, in whole or in part, because of the limitations set forth in subsection (4), the amount by which the assessment is abated or deferred must be assessed against the other member insurers in a manner consistent with the basis for assessments set forth in this section. If the maximum assessment, together with the other assets of the association in either account, does not provide in any 1 year in either account an amount sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of the association, the necessary additional funds must be assessed as soon as permitted by this part.

(6) If a 1% assessment for any subaccount of the life insurance account and the annuity account in any 1 year does not provide an amount sufficient to carry out the responsibilities of the association, then pursuant to subsection (3)(b), the board shall assess all subaccounts of the life insurance account and the annuity account for the necessary additional amount, subject to the maximum assessment stated in subsection (4).

(7) The board may, by an equitable method as established in the plan of operation, refund to member insurers, in proportion to the contribution of each insurer to that account, the amount by which the assets of the account exceed the amount the board finds is necessary to carry out during the coming year the obligations of the association with regard to that amount, including assets accruing from net realized gains and income from investments. A reasonable amount may be retained in any account to provide funds for the continuing expenses of the association and for future losses if refunds are impractical.

(8) It is proper for any member insurer, in determining its premium rates and policyowner dividends as to any kind of insurance within the scope of this part, to consider the amount reasonably necessary to meet its assessment obligations under this part.

(9) The association shall issue to each insurer paying an assessment under this part a certificate of contribution, in a form prescribed by the commissioner, for the amount paid. All outstanding certificates must be of equal dignity and priority without reference to amounts or dates of issue. A certificate of contribution may be shown by the insurer in its financial statement as an asset in that form and for the amount, if any, and period of time that the commissioner may approve."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Submission to electorate. This amendment shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Montana at the tax election to be held in 1999 by printing on the ballot the full title of this act and the following:

SHALL THE MONTANA LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE GUARANTY ASSESSMENT FEE TAX BE INCREASED ANNUALLY TO 2% OF A MEMBER'S ANNUAL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS WRITTEN IN THIS STATE IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER TO GUARANTEE OBLIGATIONS OF IMPAIRED INSURANCE COMPANIES?

[]	FOR assessing life and health insurance companies 2% of annual premiums to pay valid consumer claims in Montana on behalf of financially impaired insurance companies.

[]	AGAINST assessing life and health insurance companies 2% of annual premiums to pay valid consumer claims in Montana on behalf of financially impaired insurance companies.

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Contingent voidness. If Constitutional Initiative No. 75, enacting Article VIII, section 17, of the Montana constitution is declared invalid, this act is void.

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. If approved by the electorate, this act is effective July 1, 1999.

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