(a) The commissioner may by order declare permissible for placement for a home state insured with a nonadmitted insurer and exempt from all requirements of Section 1763 except the filing of a confidential written report, any type of insurance coverage or risk for which he or she finds, after a public hearing, that there is not a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers or that the type of coverage is for new, innovative products for which a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers has not had time to develop. The commissioner or his or her designee shall maintain an export list showing all those exempt coverages and risks. Additions to the export list may be made after a hearing, which may take place one or more times each year as deemed necessary by the commissioner. A public hearing shall be held annually or more often at the commissioner’s discretion and reasonable notice of a hearing shall be given to all interested parties including surplus line brokers, admitted insurers, trade associations representing admitted insurers, agents and brokers, and consumer groups. The hearing and findings shall not be required to be conducted in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. An order by the commissioner shall continue in effect until terminated by the commissioner. Where the commissioner receives written comments or testimony or otherwise determines, prior to a hearing, that a type of insurance on the export list is more available, in the admitted market, the commissioner may remove the type of insurance from the list. The permissibility of any type of insurance to remain on the list is subject to an annual affirmative finding by the commissioner, however, when written comment or testimony is received prior to a hearing, the permissibility of that type of insurance to remain on the export list shall be reviewed at the next hearing and that type of insurance may not remain on the export list without an affirmative decision by the commissioner or his or her designee that there is not a reasonable or adequate market among admitted insurers. The commissioner or his or her designee shall notify all surplus line brokers of any removal. For purposes of this section, the commissioner shall not be authorized to include on the export list as permissible for placement with a nonadmitted insurer, automobile or motor vehicle liability insurance, insurance on residential property, as defined under Section 10087, or any insurance written by the California FAIR plan.
(b) The surplus line advisory organization authorized by Chapter 6.1 (commencing with Section 1780.50) shall pay the costs for a maximum of two public hearings per year held by the commissioner or his or her designee pursuant to this section.
(c) Except for the removal of a type of insurance from the export list pursuant to subdivision (a), nothing in this section shall authorize the commissioner to declare any type of insurance impermissible for exportation.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 477, Sec. 1. (AB 1641) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018