Sec. 443.210. ASSESSMENTS. (a) As soon as practicable, but not later than the fourth anniversary of the date of an order of receivership of an insurer issuing assessable policies, the receiver shall make a report to the receivership court setting forth:

(1) the reasonable value of the assets of the insurer;

(2) the insurer's probable total liabilities;

(3) the probable aggregate amount of the assessment necessary to pay all claims of creditors and expenses in full, including expenses of administration and costs of collecting the assessment; and

(4) a recommendation as to whether an assessment should be made and in what amount.

(b) Upon the basis of the report provided in Subsection (a), including any supplements and amendments to the report, the receivership court may approve, solely on application by the receiver, one or more assessments against all members of the insurer who are subject to assessment. The order approving the assessment shall provide instructions regarding notice of the assessment, deadlines for payment, and other instructions to the receiver regarding collection of the assessment.

(c) Subject to any applicable legal limits on ability to assess, the aggregate assessment must be for the amount that the sum of the probable liabilities, the expenses of administration, and the estimated cost of collection of the assessment, exceeds the value of existing assets, with due regard being given to assessments that cannot be collected economically.

(d) After levy of assessment under Subsection (b), the receiver shall petition the receivership court for an order directing each member who has not paid the assessment pursuant to the levy to show cause why a judgment for the assessment should not be entered.

(e) At least 20 days before the return day of the order to show cause, the receiver shall give notice of the order to show cause to each member liable on the assessment. Notice must be given by first class mail mailed to the member's last known address as it appears on the insurer's records, by publication, or by another method of notification as directed by the receivership court. Failure of the member or subscriber to receive the notice of the assessment or of the order, within the time specified in the assessment or order or at all, is not a defense in a proceeding to collect the assessment.

(f) If a member does not appear and serve verified objections upon the receiver on or before the return day of the order to show cause under Subsection (d), the receivership court shall make an order adjudging the member liable for the amount of the assessment against the member under Subsection (d) together with costs, and the receiver shall have a judgment against the member for the amount of the assessment and costs in the order.

(g) If on or before the return day of the order to show cause, the member appears and serves verified objections upon the receiver, the receivership court may hear and determine the matter or may appoint a referee to hear it and make an order as the facts warrant. In the event that the receiver determines that the objections do not warrant relief from assessment, the member may request the receivership court to review the matter and vacate the order to show cause.

(h) The receiver may enforce any order or collect any judgment under Subsection (f) by any lawful means.

(i) Any assessment of a subscriber or member of an insurer made by the receiver pursuant to the order of receivership court fixing the aggregate amount of the assessment against all members or subscribers and approving the classification and formula made by the receiver under this section is prima facie correct.

(j) Any claim filed by an assessee who fails to pay an assessment, after the conclusion of any legal action by the assessee objecting to the assessment, is deemed a late filed claim under Section 443.251.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 995 (H.B. 2157), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.

Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.210 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(w), eff. September 1, 2007.

Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.210 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(w), eff. September 1, 2007.