Chapter 618

618.24(3) (3) Bonds. A bond satisfies sub. (1) (b) if it is issued by an insurer authorized to do a surety business in this state and is conditioned on nonperformance of any obligation to such persons as the commissioner considers appropriate to achieve the purposes of sub. (1) (b). Each such bond shall cover any claims that arise out of occurrences prior to termination of the bond, and shall not be terminable on any ground without at least 30 days’ notice to the commissioner. Each such bond shall be in such form and be renewed at such intervals as the commissioner reasonably requires.

618.24 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (6).

618.25 618.25 Requirements for unincorporated nondomestic insurers. No nondomestic individual underwriter or syndicate may be authorized to do business in this state unless:

618.25(1) (1) It complies with such requirements stated in s. 618.24 as are applicable to an unincorporated insurer;

618.25(2) (2) It files undertakings with the commissioner to comply with legal controls and institutional practices for securing the performance of obligations that are functionally equivalent to those imposed on nondomestic insurance corporations, even if in detail the controls and practices are dissimilar; and

618.25(3) (3) The commissioner is satisfied that it keeps records and can supply information that will enable the commissioner to protect fully the interests of insureds, creditors and the public in this state.

618.25 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (21).

618.26 618.26 Requirements for nondomestic fraternals.

618.26(1) (1) Strict compliance. No nondomestic fraternal may be authorized to do business in this state unless it complies strictly with all of the following requirements:

618.26(1)(a) (a) Financial requirements. The financial requirements of ss. 614.19 and 623.11.

618.26(1)(b) (b) Other requirements. The requirements of s. 180.1506, 611.54 (1) (a) as incorporated by s. 614.54, the reporting requirement of s. 611.54 (2) as incorporated by s. 614.54 whenever removal is made involuntarily under the laws of the domicile, s. 611.57 as incorporated by s. 614.57, and ss. 614.10, 614.12 (1) (c), 614.41 (2) and 614.82 (1).

618.26(1)(c) (c) Requirements applicable to new fraternals. For 5 years after the initial issuance of a certificate of authority in its domiciliary jurisdiction, the requirements of s. 614.29 (2); and if the fraternal has transacted an insurance business for less than 5 years or has not paid in full all organizational and promotional expenses, it must still have initial expendable surplus considered by the commissioner to be adequate, subject to the limits of s. 614.19.

618.26(2) (2) Substantial compliance.

618.26(2)(a) (a) General. No nondomestic fraternal may be authorized to do business in this state unless it everywhere complies substantially with ss. 611.24 to 611.26 as incorporated by s. 614.24, except that the approval requirement of s. 611.25 (2) does not apply.

618.26(2)(b) (b) Corporate reorganization or transformation. When any corporate reorganization, transformation or liquidation of a nondomestic fraternal, or any levy to cover a deficiency under a law comparable to s. 614.19 (3), is proposed by it or approved by the domiciliary commissioner or by another official act, notice shall be given to the commissioner promptly.

618.26(3) (3) Orders imposing and eliminating restrictions. The commissioner may issue orders under s. 614.03 that are applicable to nondomestic fraternals.

618.26(4) (4) Other requirements. After a hearing, the commissioner may by order apply any provision of ch. 614 to a nondomestic fraternal upon a finding that it is necessary for the protection of the interests of its members, creditors or the public in this state.

618.26 History History: 1975 c. 373, 421; 1989 a. 303; 1999 a. 85.

618.26 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1975: This section closely parallels s. 618.21. [Bill 643-S]

618.28 618.28 Exemptions from Wisconsin law.

618.28(1) (1) Exemptions. Any nondomestic insurer authorized to do business in this state may apply for and the commissioner may make an order exempting it from any requirement otherwise applicable to it, if the commissioner finds after a hearing:

618.28(1)(a) (a) That in the absence of the statutory requirement in this state the requirement would not be imposed on the insurer or on a similar Wisconsin insurer by the law of the insurer’s domicile;

618.28(1)(b) (b) That exemption from the requirement will not endanger the interests of insureds, creditors or the public in this state; and

618.28(1)(c) (c) That the exemption will not give the insurer an unfair competitive advantage over domestic insurers.

618.28(2) (2) Notice and hearing. The hearing may not be held until at least 30 days after notice has been given to competing insurers authorized to do business in this state by publication in the administrative register or otherwise in a manner considered adequate by the commissioner. Any such insurer may appear in the hearing and state its position on sub. (1) (c).

618.28 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1991 a. 316.

618.31 618.31 Changes in business plan.

618.31(1) (1) Notification. Within 5 years after the initial issuance of a certificate of authority to a nondomestic insurer by its domiciliary jurisdiction no substantial change may be made in the business plan and the insurer may not substantially deviate from it unless notice of the proposed action is filed with the commissioner 30 days in advance of the proposed effective date. The commissioner at least 5 days before the proposed effective date may request that the effective date be deferred for an additional period not exceeding 30 days.

618.31(2) (2) Disapproval.

618.31(2)(a) (a) Applicability in this state. If the commissioner finds that effectiveness of the proposed change within this state would be contrary to the laws of this state or to the interests of insureds, creditors or the public in this state, the commissioner may prohibit the application of the change to this state.

618.31(2)(b) (b) Changes outside state. If the commissioner finds after a hearing that the application of the change outside of this state would endanger the interests of insureds, creditors or the public in this state, the commissioner may revoke the insurer’s certificate of authority unless it agrees not to make such a change.

618.31 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (6); 1991 a. 316.

618.32 618.32 Transfer of business.

618.32(1) (1) Report to commissioner. Any action by which a nondomestic insurer proposes to transfer to another person or to reinsure any part of its insurance business in this state, other than in the normal and usual course of business, shall be reported to the commissioner not less than 30 days in advance of the proposed effective date. The commissioner may defer the effective date for an additional period not exceeding 30 days by written notice to the insurer before expiration of the initial 30-day period.

618.32(2) (2) Disapproval. The commissioner may, within the 30-day period or its extension, prohibit the proposed action if it would be contrary to the law or to the interests of insureds, creditors or the public in this state.

618.32 History History: 1971 c. 260.

618.34 618.34 Assessment by nondomestic company. Every nondomestic mutual insurer authorized in this state shall, immediately after making an assessment upon any of its members in this state, notify the commissioner thereof with a statement of the condition of the insurer, setting forth the facts showing the necessity for the assessment. No such insurer may make or increase any assessment because of its inability to collect assessments from its members in other states in which its policies were written in violation of law.

618.34 History History: 1971 c. 260.

618.36 618.36 Release from regulation.

618.36(1) (1) Continuance of regulation. A nondomestic insurer authorized under this chapter is subject to regulation under the applicable provisions of chs. 600 to 646 until released from regulation under this section.

618.36(2) (2) Application for release. A nondomestic insurer may apply for release from regulation by filing with the commissioner:

618.36(2)(a) (a) Its certificate of authority;

618.36(2)(b) (b) A schedule of its outstanding liabilities from policies issued in this state, to residents of this state, or on risks located in this state and from other business transactions in this state;

618.36(2)(c) (c) A plan for securing the discharge of such liabilities; and

618.36(2)(d) (d) Such other information as the commissioner reasonably requires.

618.36(3) (3) Release order. The commissioner shall release the insurer from regulation if he or she finds:

618.36(3)(a) (a) That the insurer has ceased to do any new business in this state;

618.36(3)(b) (b) That the discharge of existing liabilities to creditors in this state is sufficiently secured; and

618.36(3)(c) (c) That the release would not otherwise be prejudicial to the interests of insureds, creditors or the public in this state, or of all insureds, creditors and the public in the United States if this state is the state of entry of the insurer into the United States.

618.36(4) (4) Notification or publication. The commissioner may, before deciding on the release, require the insurer to notify all agents or other classes of potentially interested persons in a manner he or she prescribes, or in a manner he or she prescribes to publish at its own expense its intention to withdraw. The notice shall advise affected persons to communicate to the commissioner any objections they may have to the withdrawal.

618.36(5) (5) Deposits and subjection to jurisdiction. The commissioner may, as a prerequisite for releasing the insurer, require a deposit under s. 601.13, a bond issued by a surety authorized in this state, or other appropriate security or reinsurance in an amount sufficient to secure the proper discharge of the insurer’s liabilities in this state. The commissioner may also require an agreement to remain subject to the jurisdiction of the commissioner and the courts of this state with respect to any matter arising out of business done in this state prior to the release.

618.36 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1977 c. 339; 1979 c. 89 s. 543; 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (5), (7).

618.37 618.37 Revocation of certificate of authority. Whenever there are grounds for delinquency proceedings against a nondomestic insurer under ch. 645, the commissioner may, after a hearing, revoke, suspend or limit its certificate of authority. No such action shall affect insurance already issued and the insurer shall remain subject to regulation until released under s. 618.36.

618.37 History History: 1971 c. 260.

618.39 618.39 Assisting unauthorized insurers.

618.39(1) (1) Conduct prohibited. No person may do an insurance business in this state if the person knows or should know that the result is or might be the illegal placement of insurance with an unauthorized insurer or the subsequent servicing of an insurance policy illegally placed with an unauthorized insurer.

618.39(2) (2) Personal liability for violation. Any person who violates sub. (1) is personally liable to any claimant under the policy for any damage proximately caused by the person’s violation. That damage may include damage resulting from the necessity of replacing the insurance in an authorized insurer or the failure of the unauthorized insurer to perform the insurance contract.

618.39(3) (3) Standards by rule.

618.39(3)(a) (a) The office may by rule promulgate standards for any of the following:

618.39(3)(a)1. 1. Establishing that a person should know that the result of insurance business is or might be the illegal placement of insurance with an unauthorized insurer or the subsequent servicing of an insurance policy illegally placed with an unauthorized insurer.

618.39(3)(a)2. 2. Imposing requirements under s. 601.42 or 628.04 or sanctions or remedial measures under sub. (2) or s. 601.64, or any other applicable penalty or remedial provision of chs. 600 to 646, for a violation of this section.

618.39(3)(b) (b) Notwithstanding par. (a) 1., it is not necessary for the office to promulgate a rule under par. (a) 1. to establish that a person violated sub. (1).

618.39 History History: 1971 c. 260; 1975 c. 371, 421; 2001 a. 65.

618.39 Annotation Legislative Council Note, 1975: Sub. (2) is added as an effective sanction to suppress knowing placement of insurance with unauthorized insurers. It is adapted from Conn. Insurance Laws, Sec. 38-90. Insurance agents and others should guarantee performance of insurance contracts they negotiate knowingly with unlicensed insurers, unless legally negotiated under the surplus lines law. In addition, the sanctions of s. 601.64 apply to violators of this provision. [Bill 16-S]

subch. III of ch. 618 SUBCHAPTER III

PERMISSIBLE BUSINESS BY
UNAUTHORIZED INSURERS

618.40 618.40 Definitions. In this subchapter, unless the context requires otherwise:

618.40(1) (1) “Affiliated group” means all persons that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with, an insured.

618.40(2) (2) “Authorized insurer” means an insurer that is licensed, or authorized, to transact the business of insurance under the law of the home state.

618.40(3) (3) “Control” means, with respect to a person having control over another person, that the person does any of the following:

618.40(3)(a) (a) Directly or indirectly, or acting through one or more other persons, owns, controls, or has the power to vote 25 percent or more of any class of voting securities of a person.

618.40(3)(b) (b) Controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors or trustees of a person.

618.40(3m) (3m) “Domestic surplus lines insurer” means an insurer that has a certificate to do business as a domestic surplus lines insurer under s. 618.41 (13).

618.40(4) (4) 

618.40(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), “home state” means, with respect to an insured, one of the following:

618.40(4)(a)1. 1. The state in which the insured maintains its principal place of business or, in the case of an insured who is an individual, the individual’s principal residence.

618.40(4)(a)2. 2. If 100 percent of the insured risk is located outside of the state referred to in subd. 1., the state to which the greatest percentage of the insured’s taxable premium for that insurance contract is allocated.

618.40(4)(b) (b) If more than one insured from an affiliated group are named insureds on a single surplus lines insurance contract, “home state” means the state, as determined under par. (a), of the member of the affiliated group that has the largest percentage of premium attributed to it under the insurance contract.

618.40(5) (5) “Premium tax” means, with respect to unauthorized insurance, any tax, fee, assessment, or other charge imposed by this state directly or indirectly based on any payment made as consideration for an insurance contract for such insurance, including premium deposits, assessments, registration fees, and any other compensation given in consideration for a contract of insurance.

618.40(6) (6) “Principal place of business” means, with respect to determining the home state of an insured, the state where the insured maintains its headquarters and where the insured’s high-level officers direct, control, and coordinate the business activities of the insured.

618.40(7) (7) “Principal residence” means, with respect to determining the home state of an insured who is an individual, the state where the individual resides for the greatest number of days during a calendar year.

618.40(8) (8) “State” includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.

618.40(9) (9) “Surplus lines broker” means a person that is licensed in a state to sell, solicit, or negotiate insurance on properties, risks, or exposures located or to be performed in that state with unauthorized insurers.

618.40(10) (10) “Surplus lines insurance” means any insurance to which all of the following apply:

618.40(10)(a) (a) This state is the home state of the insured.

618.40(10)(b) (b) The insurance is permitted under this subchapter to be placed through a surplus lines agent or broker with an unauthorized insurer eligible to accept the insurance.

618.40(11) (11) “Unauthorized insurance” means any insurance permitted in a state to be placed directly or through a surplus lines broker with an unauthorized insurer eligible to accept such insurance.

618.40 History History: 2011 a. 224; 2017 a. 16.

618.41 618.41 Surplus lines insurance.