(1) Before authorizing the release of any deposit or excess portion thereof to the insurer, as provided in s. 625.62, the office or department shall require the insurer to file with the office or department a written statement in such form and with such verification as the office or department deems advisable setting forth the facts upon which it bases its entitlement to such release.

(2) If release of the deposit is claimed by the insurer upon the ground that its liabilities in this state, as to which the deposit was originally made and is held, have been assumed by another insurer authorized to transact insurance in this state, the insurer shall file with the office a duly attested copy of the contract or agreement of such reinsurance.

(3) Upon being satisfied by such statement and such other information and evidence as the office or department may reasonably require, and by such examination, if any, of the affairs of the insurer as it deems advisable to make, that the insurer is entitled to the release of its deposits or excess portions thereof as provided in s. 625.62, the office or department shall release, or authorize the custodian bank or trust company in the case of deposits made under s. 625.55 to release, the deposit or excess portion thereof to the insurer or its authorized representative. The office and department shall have no liability as to any such release so made or authorized by it in good faith.

(4) The department may release a deposit upon sending notification by certified mail to the public official having supervision over insurers in another state, province, or country that has filed a notification of reliance on a deposit made pursuant to s. 625.51(2) unless the release is denied in writing to the department by another state, province, or country within 90 days. The department has no liability as to any such release so made or authorized by it in good faith.

(5) Upon the failure of the office or department to release any deposit whether in the form of a certificate of deposit or otherwise or any excess portion thereof, requested as provided in s. 625.62 upon compliance by the insurer with the requirements of this section or within 90 days after receipt of the insurer’s written request, whichever is later, the office or department shall, upon petition by the insurer, post or cause to be posted a notice of pendency of the insurer’s request, at the place customarily used for the posting of public notices, at the courthouse of each county, and shall make a copy of such notice available to the established news agencies having offices at Tallahassee, Florida. The commission or department may by rule prescribe the general form of such notice, shall specify the insurer’s name, or may list such names when more than one request is pending at the same time. Such notice shall state therein that such insurer or insurers have petitioned for the release and return of deposits pursuant to and in compliance with s. 625.62 and this section; that the office or department has no information upon which to base a finding that the insurer or insurers named in the notice are not lawfully entitled to obtain the release and return of such deposits; and that, unless such information is presented to it within 90 days from the date specified in the notice, such deposits must be returned to the insurer or insurers. In the event that no such information is presented to the office or department within such 90-day period, it shall thereupon release and return the deposit or deposits as requested by the insurer or insurers whose request was not challenged. In the event that such information is presented to the office or department within that period, it shall refuse to release or return the deposit of the insurer or insurers concerned and shall hold a hearing with respect thereto upon the request of such insurer or insurers.

History.—s. 179, ch. 59-205; s. 3, ch. 63-19; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 133, 134, 809(1st), ch. 82-243; ss. 57, 187, 188, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 899, ch. 2003-261.