§ 27-34-7. Board of directors. (a) The board of directors of the association shall consist of not less than five (5) nor more than eleven (11) persons serving terms as established in the plan of operation. The members of the board shall be selected by member insurers subject to the approval of the commissioner. Vacancies on the board shall be filled for the remaining period of the term by a majority vote of the remaining insurer members subject to the approval of the commissioner. Two (2) persons, may be public representatives, and may be appointed by the commissioner to the board of directors. Vacancies of positions held by public representatives shall be filled by the commissioner. A public representative may not be an officer, director or employee of an insurance company or any person engaged in the business of insurance. For the purposes of this section, term "director" shall mean an individual serving on behalf of an insurer member of the board of directors or a public representative on the board of directors.

(b) In approving selections to the board, the commissioner shall consider among other things whether all member insurers are fairly represented.

(c) Members of the board of directors may be reimbursed from the assets of the association for expenses incurred by them as members of the board of directors.

(d) Any board member who is an insurer in receivership shall be terminated as a board member, effective as of the date of the entry of the order of receivership. Any resulting vacancies on the board shall be filled for the remaining period of the term in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a).

(e) In the event that a director shall, because of illness, nonattendance at meetings or any other reason, be deemed unable to satisfactorily perform the designated functions as a director by missing three (3) consecutive board meetings, the board of directors may declare the office vacant and the member or director shall be replaced in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a).

(f) If the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe that a director failed to disclose a known conflict of interest with his or her duties on the board, failed to take appropriate action based on a known conflict or interest with his or her duties on the board, or has been indicted or charged with a felony, or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, the commissioner may suspend that director pending the outcome of an investigation or hearing by the commissioner or the conclusion of any criminal proceedings. A company elected to the board may replace a suspended director prior to the completion of an investigation, hearing or criminal proceeding. In the event that the allegations are substantiated at the conclusion of an investigation, hearing or criminal proceeding, the office shall be declared vacant and the member or director shall be replaced in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a).

History of Section. (P.L. 1988, ch. 407, § 2; P.L. 2002, ch. 292, § 61; P.L. 2010, ch. 91, § 1; P.L. 2010, ch. 117, § 1.)