§435. Solvency and eligibility requirements

A. A surplus lines broker shall place surplus lines insurance only with surplus lines insurers that are:

(1) Financially sound.

(2) Authorized in their domiciliary jurisdictions to write the type of insurance placed.

B. A surplus lines broker shall not place coverage with a surplus lines insurer, unless, at the time of placement, the surplus lines broker has determined that the surplus lines insurer qualifies under one of the following Paragraphs:

(1)(a) If it is a foreign insurer that it has capital and surplus or its equivalent under the laws of its domiciliary jurisdiction which equals the greater of:

(i) The minimum capital and surplus requirements under the laws of this state.

(ii) Fifteen million dollars.

(b) The requirements of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph may be satisfied by an insurer's possessing less than the minimum capital and surplus upon an affirmative finding of acceptability by the commissioner. The finding shall be based upon such factors as quality of management, capital and surplus of any parent company, company underwriting profit and investment income trends, market availability, and company record and reputation within the industry. In no event shall the commissioner make an affirmative finding of acceptability when an unauthorized insurer's capital and surplus is less than four million five hundred thousand dollars.

(2)(a) If it is an alien insurer, it shall be listed by the International Insurers Department of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners on its Quarterly Listing of Alien Insurers.

(b) The commissioner may waive the requirement in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph upon an affirmative finding of the insurer's meeting the requirements for capital and surplus or acceptability pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(3) If it is a domestic insurer, it is a domestic surplus lines insurer as provided for in R.S. 22:436.1.

C. In addition to any other statements or reports required by this Subpart, the commissioner of insurance may request from any surplus lines broker full and complete information respecting the financial stability, reputation, and integrity of any unauthorized insurer with whom any such surplus lines broker has dealt, or proposes to deal, in the transaction of insurance business. The surplus lines broker shall promptly furnish in written or printed form so much of the information requested as he can produce.

Acts 1958, No. 125. Amended by Acts 1960, No. 148, §1; Acts 1966, No. 175, §1; Acts 1972, No. 239, §1; Acts 1979, No. 196, §1; Acts 1981, No. 856, §1; Acts 1983, No. 714, §1; Acts 1993, No. 902, §1; Acts 1995, No. 819, §1; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 71, §1, eff. May 10, 1996; Acts 1997, No. 1340, §§1, 2, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 868, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 22:1262 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 503, §§1, 2; Acts 2013, No. 203, §1, eff. June 10, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 193, §1.

NOTE: Former R.S. 22:435 redesignated as R.S. 22:165 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.