(a) The authority shall issue policies of basic residential earthquake insurance, including an option for earthquake loss assessment policies for individual condominium unit properties, to any owner of a qualifying residential property, as long as the owner has secured a policy of residential property insurance from a participating insurer.

(1) For purposes of this section, earthquake loss assessment coverage shall be issued in a minimum amount of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for individual condominium units valued at more than one hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000). Earthquake loss assessment coverage shall be issued in a minimum amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for individual condominium units of one hundred thirty-five thousand dollars ($135,000) in value or less. The value of the land shall be excluded when determining the value of the condominium, as it relates to the earthquake loss assessment coverage offered by the authority.

(2) The panel shall submit to the board, and the board shall approve, rates for earthquake loss assessment coverage that reasonably balance the earthquake loss assessment coverages offered and the potential exposure to earthquake loss resulting from an earthquake loss assessment policy as compared to the coverages offered and the potential exposure to earthquake loss resulting from residential property other than individual condominium policies.

It is the intent of the Legislature, to the extent practicable, that rates charged by the authority to condominium loss assessment policyholders and residential property owner policyholders are treated equitably, and that a proportionate share of premiums is paid for potential exposure to loss, to the authority.

(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a participating or nonparticipating insurer from offering a condominium earthquake loss assessment policy for different amounts of coverage other than those offered by the authority.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 419, Sec. 8. (AB 2064) Effective January 1, 2015.)