Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee

 

 

HB 1729

 

Brief Description:  Licensing surplus line brokers.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Benson, Hatfield, McIntire, Cairnes, Roach, Simpson and Keiser.

 

Brief Summary of Bill

 

$A nonresident may be licensed by the Insurance Commissioner as a "surplus lines" broker.

 

 

Hearing Date:  2/16/01

 

Staff:  Thamas Osborn (786‑7129).

 

Background: 

 

A "surplus lines" insurer is an insurance company that does not have a certificate of authority issued by the Insurance Commissioner to transact business in the state, and may only operate under certain rules, specified by statute.  The insurance offered by such a broker must be of a type  that is not available from other authorized insurers, and the broker must be licensed as a surplus lines broker.

 

Currently, an individual must be a resident of the state to be licensed as a surplus lines broker.

 

Summary of Bill: 

 

The Insurance Commissioner is authorized to license a nonresident person as a surplus lines broker if he or she meets all other requirements of the law, and if his or her state or province of residence extends a similar privilege to Washington residents.  A nonresident surplus lines licensee is subject to the commissioner's supervision as though he or she were a resident of this state.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

 

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.