Senate Bill No. 74–Committee on Finance
February 1, 1999
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Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
SUMMARY—Revises provisions governing insurance guaranty associations. (BDR 57-814)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
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EXPLANATION – Matter in
bolded italics is new; matter between brackets
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
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Section 1. NRS 687A.033 is hereby amended to read as follows:1-2
687A.033 1. "Covered claim" means an unpaid claim or judgment,1-3
including a claim for unearned premiums, which arises out of and is within1-4
the coverage of an insurance policy to which this chapter applies issued by1-5
an insurer which becomes an insolvent insurer , if one of the following1-6
conditions exists:1-7
(a) The claimant or insured, if a natural person, is a resident of this state1-8
at the time of the insured event.1-9
(b) The claimant or insured, if other than a natural person, maintains its1-10
principal place of business in this state at the time of the insured event.1-11
(c) The property from which the first party property damage claim arises1-12
is permanently located in this state.1-13
(d) The claim is not a covered claim pursuant to the laws of any other1-14
state and the premium tax imposed on the insurance policy is payable in1-15
this state pursuant to NRS 680B.027.2-1
2. The term does not include:2-2
(a)2-3
insurer, insurance pool or underwriting association, as recovered by2-4
subrogation2-5
(b) That part of a loss which would not be payable because of a2-6
provision for a deductible or a self-insured retention specified in the2-7
policy.2-8
(c)2-9
filed with the association after2-10
(1) Eighteen months after the date of the order of liquidation; or2-11
(2) The final date set by the court for the filing of claims against the2-12
liquidator or receiver of the insolvent insurer2-13
whichever is earlier. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to a2-14
claim for workers’ compensation that is reopened pursuant to the2-15
provisions of NRS 616C.390.2-16
(d)2-17
but is not reported to the association before the expiration of the period2-18
specified in subparagraph (1) or (2) of paragraph (c).2-19
(e) An obligation to make a supplementary payment for adjustment or2-20
attorney’s fees and expenses, court costs or interest and bond premiums2-21
incurred by the insolvent insurer before the appointment of a liquidator ,2-22
unless the expenses would also be a valid claim against the insured.2-23
(f) A first party or third party claim brought by or against an insured,2-24
if the aggregate net worth of the insured and any affiliate of the insured,2-25
as determined on a consolidated basis, is more than $25,000,000 on2-26
December 31 of the year immediately preceding the date the insurer2-27
becomes an insolvent insurer.2-28
Sec. 2. NRS 687A.060 is hereby amended to read as follows: 687A.060 1. The association:2-30
(a) Is obligated to the extent of the covered claims existing before the2-31
determination of insolvency and arising within 30 days after the2-32
determination of insolvency, or before the2-33
policy if that date is less than 30 days after the determination, or before the2-34
insured replaces the policy or on request cancels the policy if he does so2-35
within 30 days2-36
2-37
2-38
2-39
2-40
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2-43
to pay a covered claim is limited to the payment of:3-1
(1) The entire amount of the claim, if the claim is for workers’3-2
compensation pursuant to the provisions of chapters 616A to 616D,3-3
inclusive, or chapter 617 of NRS;3-4
(2) More than $100 but not more than $300,000 for each policy, if3-5
the claim is for the return of unearned premiums; or3-6
(3) The limit specified in a policy or $300,000, whichever is less, for3-7
each occurrence for any covered claim other than a covered claim3-8
specified in subparagraph (1) or (2).3-9
(b) Shall be deemed the insurer to the extent of its obligations on the3-10
covered claims and to3-11
rights, duties and obligations of the insolvent insurer as if the insurer had3-12
not become insolvent. The rights include, without limitation, the right to3-13
seek and obtain any recoverable salvage and to subrogate a covered3-14
claim, to the extent that the association has paid its obligation under the3-15
claim.3-16
(c) Shall assess member insurers amounts necessary to pay the3-17
obligations of the association pursuant to paragraph (a) after an insolvency,3-18
the expenses of handling covered claims subsequent to an insolvency, the3-19
cost of examinations pursuant to NRS 687A.110, and other expenses3-20
authorized by this chapter. The assessment of each member insurer must be3-21
in the proportion that the net direct written premiums of the member insurer3-22
for the calendar year preceding the assessment bear to the net direct written3-23
premiums of all member insurers for the same calendar year. Each member3-24
insurer must be notified of the assessment not later than 30 days before it is3-25
due. No member insurer may be assessed in any year an amount greater3-26
than 2 percent of3-27
that member insurer for the calendar year preceding the assessment. If the3-28
maximum assessment, together with the other assets of the association, does3-29
not provide in any 1 year an amount sufficient to make all necessary3-30
payments, the money available may be prorated and the unpaid portion3-31
must be paid as soon as money becomes available. The association may pay3-32
claims in any order , including the order in which3-33
received or in groups or categories. The association may exempt or defer,3-34
in whole or in part, the assessment of any member insurer if the assessment3-35
would cause the3-36
insurer to reflect amounts of capital or surplus less than the minimum3-37
amounts required for a certificate of authority by any jurisdiction in which3-38
the member insurer is authorized to transact insurance. During the period of3-39
deferment, no dividends may be paid to shareholders or policyholders.3-40
Deferred assessments must be paid when payment will not reduce capital or3-41
surplus below required minimums. Payments must be refunded to those3-42
companies receiving larger assessments3-43
or, in the discretion of4-1
assessments. Each member insurer must be allowed a premium tax credit4-2
for any amounts paid4-3
(1) For assessments made before January 1, 1993, at the rate of 104-4
percent per year for 10 successive years beginning March 1, 1996; or4-5
(2) For assessments made on or after January 1, 1993, at the rate of4-6
20 percent per year for 5 successive years beginning with the calendar year4-7
following the calendar year in which4-8
(d) Shall investigate claims brought against the fund and adjust,4-9
compromise, settle and pay covered claims to the extent of the4-10
4-11
claims.4-12
(e) Shall notify such persons as the commissioner directs pursuant to4-13
paragraph (a) of subsection 2 of NRS 687A.080.4-14
(f) Shall act on claims through its employees or through one or more4-15
member insurers or other persons designated as servicing facilities.4-16
Designation of a servicing facility is subject to the approval of the4-17
commissioner, but the designation may be declined by a member insurer.4-18
(g) Shall reimburse each servicing facility for obligations of the4-19
association paid by the facility and for expenses incurred by the facility4-20
while handling claims on behalf of the association, and pay the other4-21
expenses of the association authorized by this chapter.4-22
2. The association may:4-23
(a) Appear in, defend and appeal any action on a claim brought against4-24
the association.4-25
(b) Employ or retain persons necessary to handle claims and perform4-26
other duties of the association.4-27
(c) Borrow money necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter in4-28
4-29
(d) Sue or be sued.4-30
(e) Negotiate and become a party to contracts necessary to carry out the4-31
purposes of this chapter.4-32
(f) Perform other acts necessary or proper to effectuate the purposes of4-33
this chapter.4-34
(g) If, at the end of any calendar year, the board of directors finds that4-35
the assets of the association exceed its liabilities as estimated by the board4-36
of directors for the coming year, refund to the member insurers in4-37
proportion to the contribution of each that amount by which the assets of4-38
the association exceed the liabilities.4-39
(h) Assess each member insurer equally4-40
year for administrative expenses not related to the insolvency of any4-41
5-1
Sec. 3. NRS 696B.415 is hereby amended to read as follows: 696B.415 1. Upon the issuance of an order of liquidation with a5-3
finding of insolvency against a domestic insurer, the commissioner shall5-4
apply to the district court for authority to disburse money to the Nevada5-5
insurance guaranty association or the Nevada life and health insurance5-6
guaranty association out of the5-7
insurer, as money becomes available, in amounts equal to disbursements5-8
made or to be made by the association for claims-handling expense and5-9
covered-claims obligations upon the presentation of evidence that5-10
disbursements have been made by the association. The commissioner shall5-11
apply to the district court for authority to make similar disbursements to5-12
insurance guaranty associations in other jurisdictions if one of the Nevada5-13
associations is entitled to like payment5-14
relating to insolvent insurers in the jurisdiction in which the organization is5-15
domiciled.5-16
2. The commissioner, in determining the amounts available for5-17
disbursement to the Nevada insurance guaranty association, the Nevada life5-18
and health insurance guaranty association, and similar organizations in5-19
other jurisdictions, shall reserve sufficient assets for the payment of the5-20
expenses of administration.5-21
3. The commissioner shall establish procedures for the ratable5-22
allocation of disbursements to the Nevada insurance guaranty association,5-23
the Nevada life and health insurance guaranty association, and similar5-24
organizations in other jurisdictions, and shall secure from each organization5-25
to which money is paid as a condition to advances in reimbursement of5-26
covered-claims obligations an agreement to return to the commissioner, on5-27
demand, amounts previously advanced which are required to pay claims of5-28
secured creditors and claims falling within the priorities established in5-29
paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection 1 of NRS 696B.420 .5-30
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Sec. 4. NRS 696B.420 is hereby amended to read as follows: 696B.420 1. The order of distribution of claims from the5-34
estate of the insurer on liquidation of the insurer must be as5-35
forth in this section.5-36
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each class must be paid in full or adequate money retained for the payment5-41
before the members of the next class receive any payment. No subclasses5-42
may be established within any class. Except as otherwise provided in5-43
subsection 2, the order of distribution and of priority must be as follows:6-1
(a) Administration costs and expenses, including, but not limited to, the6-2
following:6-3
(1) The actual and necessary costs of preserving or recovering the6-4
assets of the insurer;6-5
(2) Compensation for6-6
(3) Any necessary filing fees;6-7
(4) The fees and mileage payable to witnesses; and6-8
(5) Reasonable attorney’s fees.6-9
(b) Loss claims, including6-10
incurred, including third party claims,6-11
for liability for bodily injury or for injury to or destruction of tangible6-12
property which are not under policies, and6-13
insurance guaranty association, the Nevada life and health insurance6-14
guaranty association, and other similar statutory organizations in other6-15
jurisdictions .6-16
6-17
annuity policies, whether for death proceeds, annuity proceeds or6-18
investment values, must be treated as loss claims.6-19
6-20
6-21
by other benefits or advantages recovered or recoverable by the claimant6-22
may not be included in this class, other than benefits or advantages6-23
recovered or recoverable in discharge of familial obligations of support or6-24
6-25
as gratuities. No payment made by an employer to his employee may be6-26
treated as a gratuity.6-27
(c) Unearned premiums and small loss claims, including claims under6-28
nonassessable policies for unearned premiums or other premium refunds .6-29
6-30
6-31
(d) Claims of the Federal Government .6-32
(e) Claims of any state or local government, including, but not limited6-33
to, a claim of6-34
penalty or forfeiture.6-35
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exceed $1,000 to each employee, that have been earned within 1 year6-37
before the filing of the petition for liquidation. Officers of the insurer are6-38
not entitled to the benefit of this priority. The priority set forth in this6-39
paragraph must be in lieu of any other similar priority authorized by law as6-40
to wages or compensation of employees.6-41
6-42
falling within other classes6-43
section. Claims for a penalty or forfeiture must be allowed in this class only7-1
to the extent of the pecuniary loss sustained from the act, transaction or7-2
proceeding out of which the penalty or forfeiture arose, with reasonable and7-3
actual costs occasioned thereby. The remainder of7-4
be postponed to the class of claims7-5
7-6
(h) Judgment claims based solely on judgments. If a claimant files a7-7
claim and bases7-8
facts, the claim must be considered by the liquidator, who shall give the7-9
judgment such weight as he deems appropriate. The claim as allowed must7-10
receive the priority it would receive in the absence of the judgment. If the7-11
judgment is larger than the allowance on the underlying claim, the7-12
remaining portion of the judgment must be treated as if it were a claim7-13
based solely on a judgment.7-14
7-15
legal rate compounded annually on7-16
specified in paragraphs (a) to7-17
petition for liquidation or the date on which the claim becomes due,7-18
whichever is later, until the date on which the dividend is declared. The7-19
liquidator, with the approval of the court, may7-20
(1) Make reasonable classifications of claims for purposes of7-21
computing interest7-22
(2) Make approximate computations ; and7-23
(3) Ignore certain classifications and periods as de minimis.7-24
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paragraph7-27
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(1) Claims subordinated by NRS 696B.430;7-31
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(4) Claims or portions of claims the payment of which is provided by7-35
other benefits or advantages recovered or recoverable by the claimant; and7-36
7-37
7-38
notes, or similar obligations, and premium refunds on assessable policies.7-39
Interest at the legal rate must be added to each claim, as provided in7-40
paragraphs7-41
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(l) Proprietary claims of shareholders or other owners.8-1
2. If there are no existing or potential claims of the government against8-2
the estate, claims for wages have priority over8-3
paragraphs (c) to8-4
subsection must not be construed to require the8-5
accumulation of interest for claims as described in paragraph8-6
subsection 1.8-7
Sec. 5. NRS 696B.430 is hereby amended to read as follows: 696B.430 If an ancillary receiver in another state or foreign country,8-9
by whatever name called, fails to transfer to the domiciliary liquidator in8-10
this state any assets within his control other than special deposits,8-11
diminished only by the expenses, if any, of the ancillary receivership,8-12
claims filed in the ancillary receivership, other than special deposit claims8-13
or secured claims, must be placed in the class of claims8-14
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