Brief Description: Allowing title insurance companies to provide a guarantee covering its agents.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit and Morton.

Hearing Date: 3/17/05

Staff: Jon Hedegard (786-7127).

Background:

Title insurance offers protection against the risk that the title to the specified property may be encumbered. Prior to issuing a policy, title companies conduct a title search in order to determine possible encumbrances. Title insurers and their agents are licensed and regulated by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC).

Current Financial Regulation of Title Insurers.
In order to be authorized to conduct business in Washington, a title insurance company must
obtain a certificate of authority from the OIC . The certificate will not be issued unless the
title insurer makes a guaranty fund deposit with the OIC. The amount required to be deposited is on the size of the largest county in which the insurer is authorized to transact business. The amount ranges from $10,000 for a county with a population under 15,000 up to $200,000 for a county with a population over 500,000.

Current Financial Regulation of Title Agents.
In order for a title insurance agent to obtain, renew, or reinstate a license, the agent must demonstrate financial responsibility to the OIC by showing evidence of: (1) a fidelity bond or fidelity insurance providing coverage of $200,000 with a deductible of no more than $10,000; and (2) a surety bond of $10,000. The surety bond is not required if the bond or insurance in (1) does not have a deductible.

Summary of Bill:

Additional methods for title agents to satisfy their financial responsibility requirements is created. A title agent does not need to provide a fidelity bond or fidelity insurance if an authorized title insurance company in Washington provides a guarantee accepting financial responsibility up to $200,000 for fraudulent acts committed by the title agent or the agent's employees. The guarantee is subject to the approval of the OIC. A title company may only accept financial responsibility for its properly appointed title insurance agents.

A title agent may meet the requirement for a fidelity bond, surety bond, or fidelity insurance by purchasing the bond or insurance through the surplus lines.

If a title agent works for two or more title companies and a fraudulent act occurs, the title company that issued the commitment or policy is financially responsible for the loss. If no commitment or policy has been issued, any liability will be shared proportionally among each title company for which the agent was appointed. The proportionality formula is based on the amount of the premium remitted by the agent to the title companies in the previous year. Title agents must comply within 30 days after the effective date of the bill.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.