W. Va. Code R. § 114-20-2

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 114-20-2 - Definitions

2.1. "Admitted insurer" means an insurer licensed to do an insurance business in this state.

2.2. "Affiliate" means, with respect to an insured, any entity that controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with the insured. An entity has control over another entity if it directly or indirectly or acting through one or more persons owns, controls, or has the power to vote 25% or more of any class of voting securities of the other entity, or the entity controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or trustees of the other entity.

2.3. "Affiliated Group" means any group of entities that are all affiliated.

2.4. "Business entity" means a corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, or other legal entity.

2.5. "Capital," as used in the financial requirements of W. Va. Code § 33-12C-5, means funds paid in for stock or other evidence of ownership.

2.6. "Clearinghouse" means the entity established pursuant to NIMA to facilitate the receipt and distribution of premium taxes and transaction data related to nonadmitted insurance.

2.7. "Commissioner" means the West Virginia Insurance Commissioner.

2.8. "Eligible surplus lines insurer" means a nonadmitted insurer with which a surplus lines licensee may place surplus lines insurance.

2.9. "Evidence of Insurance" means written or printed statements evidencing the applicability and effectiveness of insurance coverages, including, but not limited to, policy forms, certificates, cover notes, binders and other traditionally acceptable evidences of insurance.

2.10. "Exempt commercial purchaser" means any person purchasing commercial insurance that, at the time of placement, employs or retains a qualified risk manager to negotiate insurance coverage, has paid aggregate nationwide commercial property and casualty insurance premiums in excess of $100,000 in the immediately preceding twelve months, and meets at least one of the following criteria:

2.10.a. Has net worth in excess of $20 million;

2.10.b. Generates annual revenues in excess of $50 million;

2.10.c. Employs more than 500 full-time or full-time equivalent employees per individual insured or is a member of an affiliated group employing more than 1000 employees in the aggregate;

2.10.d. Is a not-for-profit organization or public entity generating annual budgeted expenditures of at least $30 million; or

2.10.e. Is a municipality with a population in excess of 50,000 persons: Provided, that on January 1, 2015 and every five years thereafter, the amounts in subdivisions a, b and d of this subsection shall be adjusted to reflect the percentage change for such five-year period in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the federal Department of Labor.

2.11. "Export" means to place surplus lines insurance with a nonadmitted insurer.

2.12. "Export list" means a list published by the Commissioner of coverages and classes of insurance for which the commissioner has determined no general market exists with admitted insurers.

2.13. "Foreign decree" means any decree or order in equity of a court located in any United States jurisdiction, including a federal court of the United States, against any person engaging in the transaction of insurance in this state.

2.14. "Home state" means, with respect to an insured:

2.14.a. The state in which an insured maintains its principal place of business, or, in the case of an individual, the individual's principal residence; or

2.14.b. If 100% of the insured risk is located out of the state referred to in subdivision a of this subsection, the state to which the greatest percentage of the insured's taxable premium for that insurance contract is allocated.

2.15. "Individual" means any private or natural person as distinguished from a partnership, corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity.

2.16. "Insolvent Insurer" means any insurer which is determined to be insolvent in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty three of the West Virginia Code, or any insurer which is determined to be insolvent by the commissioner of any other state.

2.17. "Insurance" means any of the lines of authority listed in W. Va. Code § 33-1-10.

2.18. "Insurance producer" means a person required to be licensed under the laws of this state to sell, solicit or negotiate insurance.

2.19. "Insurer" means any person, corporation, association, partnership, reciprocal exchange, interinsurer, Lloyds insurer, insurance exchange syndicate, fraternal benefit society, and any other legal entity engaged in the business of making contracts of insurance.

2.20. "Kind of insurance" means one of the types of insurance required to be reported in the annual statement which must be filed with the Commissioner by admitted insurers.

2.21. "License" means a document issued by the Commissioner authorizing an individual to act as a surplus lines licensee of the lines of authority specified in the document. The license itself does not create any authority, actual, apparent or inherent, in the holder to represent to commit an insurer.

2.22. "Licensed Insurer" means an insurer licensed by the commissioner to do insurance business in the state of West Virginia.

2.23. "Line of insurance" means coverage afforded under the particular policy that is being placed.

2.24. "Model allocation schedule and reporting form" means the current version of the NAIC model allocation schedule and reporting form for surplus lines insurers.

2.25. "Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2010" or "NRRA" means those provisions incorporated as Subtitle B of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, P.L. 111-517.

2.26. "Nonadmitted Insurance Multi-State Agreement" or "NIMA" means the model agreement first adopted by the NAIC on December 16, 2010, to facilitate the collection, allocation and disbursement of premium taxes attributable to the placement of nonadmitted insurance, provide for uniform methods of allocation and reporting among nonadmitted insurance risk classifications, and share information among states relating to nonadmitted insurance taxes; such term includes the agreement's allocation tables and any changes made thereto in response to changes of the laws of signatory states; a copy of the model agreement is attached as appendix A.

2.27. "Nonadmitted insurer" means an insurer not licensed to do an insurance business in this state.

2.28. "Person" means any natural person or other entity, including, but not limited to individuals, partnerships, associations, trusts or corporations.

2.29. "Policy" or "contract" means any contract of insurance.

2.30. "Producer" means an individual insurance producer.

2.31. "Signatory state" or "participating state" means a state that has entered into NIMA.

2.32. "Surplus lines insurance" or "excess lines insurance" means any property and casualty insurance in this state of properties, risks or exposures, located or to be performed in the state, permitted to be placed through a surplus lines licensee with a nonadmitted insurer eligible to accept such insurance.

2.33. "Surplus Lines Insurer" means an insurer not licensed by the commissioner to do insurance business, and considered to be a nonadmitted insurer, in the state of West Virginia.

2.34. "Surplus Lines Licensee" means an individual licensed pursuant to the provisions of this rule and W. Va. Code § 33-12C-8 for the purposes of placing insurance on risks resident, located or to be performed in this state, with a surplus lines insurer.

2.35. "Surplus Lines Market" means the entire scope of insurance business on risks resident, located or to be performed in this state, to be placed with a surplus lines insurer.

2.36. "Surplus lines transaction" means the solicitation, negotiation, procurement or effectuation with a surplus lines insurer of an insurance contract or certificate of insurance. It also means any renewal, cancellation, endorsement, audit, or other adjustment to the insurance contract.

2.37. "Wet marine and transportation insurance" means:

2.37.a. Insurance upon vessels, crafts, hulls and other interest in them or with relation to them;

2.37.b. Insurance of marine builder's risks, marine war risks and contracts of marine protection and indemnity insurance;

2.37.c. Insurance of freight and disbursements pertaining to a subject of insurance within the scope of this subsection;

2.37.d. Insurance of personal property and interests therein, in the course of exportation from or importation into any country, or in the course of transportations coastwise or on inland water, including transportation by land, water or air from point of origin to final destination, in connection with any and all risks or perils of navigation, transit or transportation, and while being prepared for and while awaiting shipment, and during any incidental delays, transshipment, or reshipment; provided, however, that insurance of personal property and interests therein shall not be considered wet marine and transportation insurance if the property has;

2.37.d.1. Been transported solely by land;

2.37.d.2. Reached its final destination as specified in the bill of lading or other shipping document; or

2.37.d.3. The insured no longer has an insurable interest in the property.

W. Va. Code R. § 114-20-2