READ FIRST TIME 02/08/06.   

     AN ACT Relating to the pollution liability insurance agency; amending RCW 70.148.020, 70.148.050, 70.148.900, 70.149.900, and 82.23A.902; repealing 2000 c 16 s 4 and 1998 c 245 s 178 (uncodified); repealing 2000 c 16 s 5 and 1997 c 8 s 3 (uncodified); repealing 2005 c 428 s 4 (uncodified); and providing an expiration date.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 70.148.020 and 2005 c 518 s 942 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The pollution liability insurance program trust account is established in the custody of the state treasurer. All funds appropriated for this chapter and all premiums collected for reinsurance shall be deposited in the account. Expenditures from the account shall be used exclusively for the purposes of this chapter including payment of costs of administering the pollution liability insurance and underground storage tank community assistance programs. Expenditures for payment of administrative and operating costs of the agency are subject to the allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW and may be made only after appropriation by statute. No appropriation is required for other expenditures from the account.
     (2) Each calendar quarter, the director shall report to the insurance commissioner the loss and surplus reserves required for the calendar quarter. The director shall notify the department of revenue of this amount by the fifteenth day of each calendar quarter.
     (3) Each calendar quarter the director shall determine the amount of reserves necessary to fund commitments made to provide financial assistance under RCW 70.148.130 to the extent that the financial assistance reserves do not jeopardize the operations and liabilities of the pollution liability insurance program. The director shall notify the department of revenue of this amount by the fifteenth day of each calendar quarter. The director may immediately establish an initial financial assistance reserve of five million dollars from available revenues. The director may not expend more than fifteen million dollars for the financial assistance program.
     (4) During the 2005-2007 fiscal biennium, the legislature may transfer from the pollution liability insurance program trust account to the state general fund such amounts as reflect the excess fund balance of the account.
     (5) This section expires June 1, ((2007)) 2013.

Sec. 2   RCW 70.148.050 and 1998 c 245 s 115 are each amended to read as follows:
     The director has the following powers and duties:
     (1) To design and from time to time revise a reinsurance contract providing coverage to an insurer meeting the requirements of this chapter. Before initially entering into a reinsurance contract, the director shall prepare an actuarial report describing the various reinsurance methods considered by the director and describing each method's costs. In designing the reinsurance contract the director shall consider common insurance industry reinsurance contract provisions and shall design the contract in accordance with the following guidelines:
     (a) The contract shall provide coverage to the insurer for the liability risks of owners and operators of underground storage tanks for third party bodily injury and property damage and corrective action that are underwritten by the insurer.
     (b) In the event of an insolvency of the insurer, the reinsurance contract shall provide reinsurance payable directly to the insurer or to its liquidator, receiver, or successor on the basis of the liability of the insurer in accordance with the reinsurance contract. In no event may the program be liable for or provide coverage for that portion of any covered loss that is the responsibility of the insurer whether or not the insurer is able to fulfill the responsibility.
     (c) The total limit of liability for reinsurance coverage shall not exceed one million dollars per occurrence and two million dollars annual aggregate for each policy underwritten by the insurer less the ultimate net loss retained by the insurer as defined and provided for in the reinsurance contract.
     (d) Disputes between the insurer and the insurance program shall be settled through arbitration.
     (2) To design and implement a structure of periodic premiums due the director from the insurer that takes full advantage of revenue collections and projected revenue collections to ensure affordable premiums to the insured consistent with sound actuarial principles.
     (3) To periodically review premium rates for reinsurance to determine whether revenue appropriations supporting the program can be reduced without substantially increasing the insured's premium costs.
     (4) To solicit bids from insurers and select an insurer to provide pollution liability insurance to owners and operators of underground storage tanks for third party bodily injury and property damage and corrective action.
     (5) To monitor the activities of the insurer to ensure compliance with this chapter and protect the program from excessive loss exposure resulting from claims mismanagement by the insurer.
     (6) To monitor the success of the program and periodically make such reports and recommendations to the legislature as the director deems appropriate, and to annually publish a financial report on the pollution liability insurance program trust account showing, among other things, administrative and other expenses paid from the fund.
     (7) To annually report the financial and loss experience of the insurer as to policies issued under the program and the financial and loss experience of the program to the legislature.
     (8) ((To evaluate the effects of the program upon the private market for liability insurance for owners and operators of underground storage tanks and make recommendations to the legislature on the necessity for continuing the program to ensure availability of such coverage.
     (9))) To enter into contracts with public and private agencies to assist the director in his or her duties to design, revise, monitor, and evaluate the program and to provide technical or professional assistance to the director.
     (((10))) (9) To examine the affairs, transactions, accounts, records, documents, and assets of insurers as the director deems advisable.

Sec. 3   RCW 70.148.900 and 2000 c 16 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     This chapter shall expire June 1, ((2007)) 2013.

Sec. 4   RCW 70.149.900 and 2000 c 16 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Sections 1 through 11 of this act shall expire June 1, ((2007)) 2013.

Sec. 5   RCW 82.23A.902 and 2000 c 16 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     This chapter shall expire on June 1, ((2007)) 2013, coinciding with the expiration of chapter 70.148 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) 2000 c 16 s 4 & 1998 c 245 s 178 (uncodified);
     (2) 2000 c 16 s 5 & 1997 c 8 s 3 (uncodified); and
     (3) 2005 c 428 s 4 (uncodified).