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IC 27-7-10-2
"Completed operations liability" defined
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "completed operations liability"
means liability arising out of the installation, maintenance, or repair
of any product at a site that is not owned or controlled by:
(1) any person who performs that work; or
(2) any person who hires an independent contractor to perform
that work.
However, the term includes liability for activities that are completed
or abandoned before the date of the occurrence giving rise to the
liability.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-3
"Domicile" defined
Sec. 3. As used in this chapter to determine the state in which a
purchasing group is domiciled, "domicile" means the following:
(1) For a corporation, the state in which the purchasing group
is incorporated.
(2) For an unincorporated entity, the state of its principal place
of business.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-4
"Hazardous financial condition" defined
Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "hazardous financial condition"
means that, based on its present or reasonably anticipated financial
condition, a risk retention group, although not yet financially
impaired or insolvent, is unlikely to be able to:
(1) meet obligations to policyholders with respect to known
claims and reasonably anticipated claims; or
(2) pay other obligations in the normal course of business.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-5
"Insurance" defined
Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "insurance" means primary
insurance, excess insurance, reinsurance, surplus lines insurance, and
any other arrangement for shifting and distributing risk that is
determined to be insurance under the laws of Indiana.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-6
"Liability" defined
Sec. 6. (a) As used in this chapter, "liability" means legal liability
for damages (including costs of defense, legal costs and fees, and
other claims expenses) because of injuries to other persons, damage
to their property, or other damage or loss to other persons, resulting
from or arising out of:
(1) any business (whether profit or nonprofit), trade, product,
services (including professional services), premises, or
operations; or
(2) any activity of any state or local government, or any agency
or political subdivision of state or local government.
(b) The term "liability" does not include:
(1) personal risk liability; or
(2) an employer's liability with respect to its employees other
than legal liability under the Federal Employers' Liability Act
(45 U.S.C. 51 et seq.).
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-7
"Personal risk liability" defined
Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "personal risk liability" means
liability for damages because of injury to any person, damage to
property, or other loss or damage resulting from any personal,
familial, or household responsibilities or activities, rather than from
responsibilities or activities referred to in section 6(a) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-8
"Plan of operation or feasibility study" defined
Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "plan of operation or feasibility
study" means an analysis that presents the expected activities and
results of a risk retention group including, at a minimum, the
following:
(1) Information sufficient to verify that the members of the risk
retention group are engaged in businesses or activities similar
or related with respect to the liability to which those members
are exposed by virtue of any related, similar, or common
business, trade, product, services, premises, or operations.
(2) For each state in which the risk retention group intends to
operate, the coverages, deductibles, coverage limits, rates, and
rating classification systems for each line of insurance the group
intends to offer.
(3) Historical and expected loss experience of the proposed
members of the risk retention group and national experience of
similar exposures to the extent that this experience is
reasonably available.
(4) Pro forma financial statements and projections.
(5) Appropriate opinions by a qualified, independent casualty
actuary, including a determination of minimum premium or
participation levels required to commence operations and to
prevent a hazardous financial condition.
(6) Identification of management, underwriting, and claims
procedures, marketing methods, managerial oversight methods,
investment policies, and reinsurance agreements.
(7) Identification of each state in which the risk retention group
has obtained, or sought to obtain, a charter and license, and a
description of its status in each state.
(8) Such other matters as may be prescribed by the
commissioner of the state in which the risk retention group is
chartered for liability insurance companies authorized by the
insurance laws of that state.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-9
"Product liability" defined
Sec. 9. (a) As used in this chapter, "product liability" means
liability for damages because of any personal injury, death,
emotional harm, consequential economic damage, or property
damage (including damages resulting from the loss of use of
property) arising out of the manufacture, design, importation,
distribution, packaging, labeling, lease, or sale of a product.
(b) The term "product liability" does not include the liability of a
person for damages described in subsection (a) if the product
involved was in the possession of that person when the incident
giving rise to the liability occurred.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-10
"Purchasing group" defined
Sec. 10. As used in this chapter, "purchasing group" means any
group that:
(1) has as one of its purposes the purchase of liability insurance
on a group basis;
(2) purchases liability insurance:
(A) only for its group members; and
(B) only to cover the liability with respect to which the
businesses or activities of the group members are similar or
related;
(3) is composed of members whose businesses or activities are
similar or related with respect to the liability to which the
members are exposed by virtue of any related, similar, or
common business, trade, product, services, premises, or
operations; and
(4) is domiciled in any state.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-12
"State" defined
Sec. 12. As used in this chapter, "state" means any state of the
United States or the District of Columbia.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-13
Establishment of risk retention groups; certificate of authority;
submission of plan of operation or feasibility study; revision of
plan; required information
Sec. 13. (a) This section governs the establishment of a risk
retention group in Indiana.
(b) A risk retention group may be organized and may obtain a
certificate of authority under IC 27-1-6 to write only liability
insurance pursuant to this chapter. Except as otherwise provided in
this chapter, a risk retention group established under this section
shall comply with:
(1) all laws and rules that apply to insurers that are chartered
and licensed in Indiana; and
(2) sections 14 through 22 of this chapter;
to the extent that the requirements referred to in subdivisions (1) and
(2) are not a limitation on the laws, rules, or requirements of this
state.
(c) Before a risk retention group to be established under this
section may offer insurance in any state, the organizers of the risk
retention group shall submit for approval to the commissioner of this
state a plan of operation or feasibility study. The risk retention group
shall submit an appropriate revision in the event of any subsequent
material change in an item of the plan of operation or feasibility
study, within ten (10) days of the change. A risk retention group
established under this section may not offer any additional kinds of
liability insurance, in Indiana or any other state, until a revision of
the plan of operation or feasibility study is approved by the
commissioner.
(d) At the time that an application is submitted for a certificate of
authority for a risk retention group, the organizers of the risk
retention group shall provide to the commissioner of this state, in
summary form, the following information:
(1) The identity of the initial members of the group.
(2) The identity of those individuals who organized the group
or who will provide administrative services or otherwise
influence or control the activities of the group.
(3) The amount and nature of initial capitalization of the group.
(4) The types of insurance coverage to be afforded by the group.
(5) The states in which the group intends to operate.
(e) Upon receiving the information required by subsection (d), the
commissioner of this state shall forward the information to the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The requirement
to provide information to the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners under this section is in addition to all other
requirements of this chapter, and providing this information does not
satisfy the requirements of sections 14 through 22 or any other
sections of this chapter.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-14
Foreign risk retention groups seeking to do or doing business in
Indiana; required information
Sec. 14. (a) A risk retention group that is chartered and licensed
in a state other than Indiana and that seeks to do business in Indiana
shall comply with this section and with sections 15 through 22 of this
chapter.
(b) Before offering insurance in Indiana, a risk retention group
shall submit to the commissioner the following:
(1) A statement that sets forth the following:
(A) The state or states in which the risk retention group is
chartered and licensed as a liability insurance company.
(B) The date on which the charter of the group was issued.
(C) The group's principal place of business.
(D) Any other information (including information on the
membership of the group) that the commissioner may require
to verify that the group meets the definition of risk retention
group in section 11 of this chapter.
(2) A copy of the plan of operations or feasibility study, and of
any revisions of that plan or study, submitted by the risk
retention group to the state in which the group is chartered and
licensed.
(3) A copy of the group's charter or license from its chartering
state.
(4) A statement of registration (for which a filing fee shall be
determined by the commissioner) that designates the
commissioner as its agent for the purpose of receiving service
of legal documents or process.
(c) A risk retention group that is chartered and licensed in a state
other than Indiana and that is doing or seeks to do business in Indiana
shall submit a copy of any revision of its plan of operation or
feasibility study to the commissioner of this state at the same time
that the revision is submitted to the commissioner of the group's
chartering state.
(d) A risk retention group that is chartered and licensed in a state
other than Indiana and that is doing business in Indiana shall submit
to the commissioner of this state the following:
(1) A copy of the group's financial statement submitted to the
state in which the risk retention group is chartered and licensed,
which must be certified by an independent public accountant
and must contain a statement of opinion on loss and loss
adjustment expense reserves made by a member of the
American Academy of Actuaries or by a qualified loss reserve
specialist (under criteria established by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners).
(2) A copy of each examination of the risk retention group as
certified by the commissioner or public official conducting the
examination.
(3) Upon request by the commissioner, a copy of any
information or document pertaining to any outside audit
performed with respect to the risk retention group.
(4) Such information as may be required to verify that the group
continues to meet the definition of risk retention group in
section 11 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-15
Premium taxes and taxes on premiums; liability; report of
premiums; policy records
Sec. 15. (a) A risk retention group is liable for the payment of
premium taxes and taxes on premiums of direct business for risks
resident or located within Indiana, and shall report to the
commissioner of this state the net premiums written for risks resident
or located within Indiana. A risk retention group that is chartered and
licensed in a state other than Indiana is subject to taxation, and any
applicable fines and penalties related thereto, on the same basis as a
foreign admitted insurer.
(b) A licensed insurance producer who is utilized under section 30
of this chapter in soliciting, negotiating, or procuring liability
insurance from a risk retention group that is chartered and licensed
in a state other than Indiana shall report to the commissioner the
premiums for direct business for risks resident or located within
Indiana that the insurance producer has placed with or on behalf of
a risk retention group that is not chartered in Indiana.
(c) A licensed insurance producer who is utilized under section 30
of this chapter in soliciting, negotiating, or procuring liability
insurance from a risk retention group that is chartered and licensed
in a state other than Indiana shall keep a complete and separate
record of all policies procured from each such risk retention group.
The record kept under this subsection must be open to examination
by the commissioner and must, for each policy and each kind of
insurance provided, include the following information:
(1) The limit of liability.
(2) The time period covered.
(3) The effective date.
(4) The name of the risk retention group that issued the policy.
IC 27-7-10-16
Foreign risk retention groups; compliance with business practice
provisions
Sec. 16. (a) All risk retention groups that are chartered and
licensed in other states and that are doing business in Indiana and all
agents and representatives of those risk retention groups shall comply
with:
(1) IC 27-4-1-4.5 concerning unfair claims settlement practices;
and
(2) IC 27-4 concerning deceptive, false, or fraudulent acts or
practices.
(b) However, any injunction sought by the commissioner of this
state regarding conduct described in subsection (a)(2) must be
obtained from a court.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-17
Examination of foreign risk retention groups
Sec. 17. A risk retention group that is licensed and chartered in a
state other than Indiana shall submit to an examination by the
commissioner of this state to determine its financial condition if the
commissioner of the jurisdiction in which the group is chartered and
licensed has not initiated an examination or does not initiate an
examination within sixty (60) days after a request by the
commissioner of this state. Any examination conducted by the
commissioner of this state under this section shall be coordinated to
avoid unjustified repetition and conducted in an expeditious manner
and in accordance with the NAIC's Examiner Handbook.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-18
Notice; applications and policies
Sec. 18. Every application form for insurance from a risk retention
group, and every policy (on its front and declaration pages) issued by
a risk retention group, must contain in ten (10) point type the
following notice:
IC 27-7-10-19
Prohibited acts
Sec. 19. The following acts by a risk retention group are
prohibited:
(1) The solicitation or sale of insurance by a risk retention
group to any person who is not eligible for membership in the
group.
(2) The solicitation or sale of insurance by, or operation of, a
risk retention group that is in hazardous financial condition or
financially impaired.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-20
Insurance company membership in risk retention group
Sec. 20. A risk retention group may not do business in Indiana if
an insurance company is directly or indirectly a member or owner of
that risk retention group, other than in the case of a risk retention
group all of whose members are insurance companies.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-21
Prohibited coverage
Sec. 21. The terms of any insurance policy issued by any risk
retention group may not provide, or be construed to provide,
coverage prohibited generally by Indiana law or declared unlawful
by the Indiana supreme court.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-22
Financial impairment of foreign risk retention group; violations of
chapter; compliance requirements
Sec. 22. (a) A risk retention group that is not chartered in Indiana
and that is doing business in Indiana shall comply with a lawful order
issued in a voluntary dissolution proceeding or in a delinquency
proceeding commenced by a state commissioner if there has been a
finding of financial impairment after an examination under section
17 of this chapter.
(b) A risk retention group that violates any provision of this
chapter is subject to fines and penalties, including revocation of its
right to do business in Indiana, that are applicable to licensed
insurers generally.
(c) In addition to complying with the other requirements of
sections 14 through 22 of this chapter, a risk retention group
operating in Indiana before April 1, 1988, shall, before May 1, 1988,
comply with section 14(a) of this chapter.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-23
Insurance insolvency guaranty fund
Sec. 23. (a) A risk retention group may not be required or
permitted to join or contribute financially to any insurance
insolvency guaranty fund, or similar mechanism, in Indiana. Neither
a risk retention group, nor its insureds, nor claimants against its
insureds may receive any benefit from any such fund for claims
arising under the insurance policies issued by the risk retention
group.
(b) When a purchasing group obtains insurance covering its
members' risks from an insurer that is not authorized in Indiana or
from a risk retention group, no risks, wherever resident or located,
are covered by an insurance guaranty fund or similar mechanism in
Indiana.
(c) When a purchasing group obtains insurance covering its
members' risks from an authorized insurer, only risks resident or
located in Indiana are covered by the state guaranty fund under
IC 27-6-8.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-24
Countersignature on policies
Sec. 24. A policy of insurance issued to a risk retention group or
to any member of that group is not required to be countersigned.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-25
Purchasing groups and their insurers; application of Indiana law;
exemptions
Sec. 25. A purchasing group and its insurer or insurers are subject
to all applicable Indiana laws, except that a purchasing group and its
insurer or insurers are exempt, in regard to liability insurance for the
purchasing group, from any law that would:
(1) prohibit the establishment of a purchasing group;
(2) make it unlawful for an insurer to provide or offer to
provide insurance on a basis providing, to a purchasing group
or its members, advantages based on their loss and expense
experience not afforded to other persons with respect to rates,
policy forms, coverages, or other matters;
(3) prohibit a purchasing group or its members from purchasing
insurance on a group basis as described in subdivision (2);
(4) prohibit a purchasing group from obtaining insurance on a
group basis because the group has not been in existence for a
minimum period of time or because any member has not
belonged to the group for a minimum period of time;
(5) require that a purchasing group have a minimum number of
members, common ownership or affiliation, or certain legal
form;
(6) require that a certain percentage of a purchasing group must
obtain insurance on a group basis; or
(7) otherwise discriminate against a purchasing group or any of
its members.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
commissioner under subsection (a) and furnish information required
under subsections (c) through (d).
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-27
Purchasing groups; purchase of insurance from risk retention
groups; limitations; notice to members; deductibles; aggregate
limits
Sec. 27. (a) A purchasing group may not purchase insurance from
a risk retention group that is not chartered in a state or from an
insurer not admitted in the state in which the purchasing group is
located, unless the purchase is effected through a licensed insurance
producer or broker acting under the surplus lines laws and
regulations of that state.
(b) A purchasing group that obtains liability insurance from an
insurer that is not admitted in Indiana or from a risk retention group
shall inform each of the members of the group who have a risk
resident or located in Indiana that the risk is not protected by an
insurance insolvency guaranty fund in Indiana and that the risk
retention group or insurer may not be subject to all insurance laws
and rules of Indiana.
(c) No purchasing group may purchase insurance providing for a
deductible or self-insured retention applicable to the group as a
whole. However, coverage may provide for a deductible or
self-insured retention applicable to individual members of the
purchasing group.
(d) Purchases of insurance by purchasing groups are subject to the
same standards regarding aggregate limits that are applicable to all
purchases of group insurance.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.178-2003,
SEC.50.
IC 27-7-10-28
Premium taxes; taxes on premiums; calculations
Sec. 28. Premium taxes and taxes on premiums paid for coverage
of risks resident or located in Indiana by a purchasing group or any
member of a purchasing group shall be:
(1) imposed at the same rate and subject to the same interest,
fines, and penalties that apply to premium taxes and taxes on
premiums paid for similar coverage from a similar insurance
source by other insureds; and
(2) paid first by the insurance source, and if not by the
insurance source, then by the insurance producer or broker for
the purchasing group, and if not by the insurance producer or
broker, then by the purchasing group, and if not by the
purchasing group, then by each of its members.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.178-2003,
SEC.51.
IC 27-7-10-30
Solicitation, negotiation, or procurement of liability insurance;
license requirements
Sec. 30. No individual, firm, association, limited liability
company, or corporation may act or aid in any manner in soliciting,
negotiating, or procuring liability insurance in Indiana from a risk
retention group unless the individual, firm, association, or
corporation is licensed as an insurance producer under IC 27-1-15.6.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.8-1993,
SEC.428; P.L.132-2001, SEC.11; P.L.178-2003, SEC.52.
IC 27-7-10-31
Purchasing groups; solicitation, negotiation, or procurement of
liability insurance; license requirements
Sec. 31. (a) No individual, firm, association, or corporation may
act or aid in any manner in soliciting, negotiating, or procuring
liability insurance in Indiana for a purchasing group from an
authorized insurer or a risk retention group chartered in a state unless
the individual, firm, association, or corporation is licensed as an
insurance producer under IC 27-1-15.6.
(b) No individual, firm, association, or corporation may act or aid
in any manner in soliciting, negotiating, or procuring liability
insurance coverage in Indiana for any member of a purchasing group
under a purchasing group's policy unless the individual, firm,
association, or corporation is licensed as an insurance producer under
IC 27-1-15.6.
(c) No individual, firm, association, or corporation may act or aid
in any manner in soliciting, negotiating, or procuring liability
insurance from an insurer not authorized to do business in Indiana on
behalf of a purchasing group located in Indiana unless the individual,
firm, association, or corporation is licensed as a surplus lines
producer under IC 27-1-15.8.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2. Amended by P.L.132-2001,
SEC.12; P.L.178-2003, SEC.53.
IC 27-7-10-33
Injunctions
Sec. 33. An order issued by any district court of the United States
enjoining a risk retention group from soliciting or selling insurance,
or operating in any state (or in all states, or in any territory or
possession of the United States), upon a finding that the risk
retention group is in hazardous financial or financially impaired
condition is enforceable in the courts of this state.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.
IC 27-7-10-34
Rules to implement chapter
Sec. 34. The commissioner, under IC 4-22-2, may adopt rules
necessary to implement this chapter.
As added by P.L.162-1988, SEC.2.