AN ACT Relating to nonprofit risk pools; amending RCW 48.01.050, 48.62.031, and 48.62.141; reenacting and amending RCW 48.62.021; adding a new chapter to Title 48 RCW; and repealing RCW 48.62.036.

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

Sec. 1.  RCW 48.01.050 and 2009 c 314 s 19 are each amended to read as follows:

"Insurer" as used in this code includes every person engaged in the business of making contracts of insurance, other than a fraternal benefit society. A reciprocal or interinsurance exchange is an "insurer" as used in this code. Two or more hospitals that join and organize as a mutual corporation pursuant to chapter 24.06 RCW for the purpose of insuring or self-insuring against liability claims, including medical liability, through a contributing trust fund are not an "insurer" under this code. Two or more local governmental entities, under any provision of law, that join together and organize to form an organization for the purpose of jointly self-insuring or self-funding are not an "insurer" under this code. Two or more affordable housing entities that join together and organize to form an organization for the purpose of jointly self-insuring or self-funding under chapter 48.64 RCW are not an "insurer" under this code. Two or more persons engaged in the business of commercial fishing who enter into an arrangement with other such persons for the pooling of funds to pay claims or losses arising out of loss or damage to a vessel or machinery used in the business of commercial fishing and owned by a member of the pool are not an "insurer" under this code. Two or more nonprofit corporations that join together and organize to form an organization for the purpose of jointly self-insuring or self-funding for property and liability risks under chapter 48.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 19 of this act) are not an "insurer" under this code.

Sec. 2.  RCW 48.62.021 and 2011 1st sp.s. c 43 s 520 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Health and welfare benefits" means a plan or program established by a local government entity or entities for the purpose of providing its employees and their dependents, and in the case of school districts, its district employees, students, directors, or any of their dependents, with health care, accident, disability, death, and salary protection benefits.

(2) "Local government entity" or "entity" means every unit of local government, both general purpose and special purpose, and includes, but is not limited to, counties, cities, towns, port districts, public utility districts, water-sewer districts, school districts, fire protection districts, irrigation districts, metropolitan municipal corporations, conservation districts, and other political subdivisions, governmental subdivisions, municipal corporations, ((and)) quasi-municipal corporations, nonprofit corporations comprised of only units of local government, or a group comprised of local governments joined by an interlocal agreement authorized by chapter 39.34 RCW.

(3) "Nonprofit corporation" or "corporation" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 24.03.005(3) or a similar statute with similar intent within the entity’s state of domicile.

(4) "Property and liability risks" includes the risk of property damage or loss sustained by a local government entity and the risk of claims arising from the tortious or negligent conduct or any error or omission of the local government entity, its officers, employees, agents, or volunteers as a result of which a claim may be made against the local government entity.

(5) "Risk assumption" means a decision to absorb the entity's financial exposure to a risk of loss without the creation of a formal program of advance funding of anticipated losses.

(6) "Self-insurance" means a formal program of advance funding and management of entity financial exposure to a risk of loss that is not transferred through the purchase of an insurance policy or contract.

(7) "State risk manager" means the risk manager of the office of risk management within the department of enterprise services.

Sec. 3.  RCW 48.62.031 and 2005 c 147 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The governing body of a local government entity may individually self-insure, may join or form a self-insurance program together with other entities, and may jointly purchase insurance or reinsurance with other entities for property and liability risks, and health and welfare benefits only as permitted under this chapter. In addition, the entity or entities may contract for or hire personnel to provide risk management, claims, and administrative services in accordance with this chapter.

(2) The agreement to form a joint self-insurance program shall be made under chapter 39.34 RCW and may create a separate legal or administrative entity with powers delegated thereto. ((Such entity may include or create a nonprofit corporation organized under chapter 24.03 or 24.06 RCW or a partnership organized under chapter 25.04 RCW.))

(3) Every individual and joint self-insurance program is subject to audit by the state auditor.

(4) If provided for in the agreement or contract established under chapter 39.34 RCW, a joint self-insurance program may, in conformance with this chapter:

(a) Contract or otherwise provide for risk management and loss control services;

(b) Contract or otherwise provide legal counsel for the defense of claims and other legal services;

(c) Consult with the state insurance commissioner and the state risk manager;

(d) Jointly purchase insurance and reinsurance coverage in such form and amount as the program's participants agree by contract;

(e) Obligate the program's participants to pledge revenues or contribute money to secure the obligations or pay the expenses of the program, including the establishment of a reserve or fund for coverage; and

(f) Possess any other powers and perform all other functions reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(5) A ((local government entity))self-insurance program formed and governed under this chapter that has decided to assume a risk of loss must have available for inspection by the state auditor a written report indicating the class of risk or risks the governing body of the entity has decided to assume.

(6) Every joint self-insurance program governed by this chapter shall appoint the risk manager as its attorney to receive service of, and upon whom shall be served, all legal process issued against it in this state upon causes of action arising in this state.

(a) Service upon the risk manager as attorney shall constitute service upon the program. Service upon joint insurance programs subject to chapter 30, Laws of 1991 1st sp. sess. can be had only by service upon the risk manager. At the time of service, the plaintiff shall pay to the risk manager a fee to be set by the risk manager, taxable as costs in the action.

(b) With the initial filing for approval with the risk manager, each joint self-insurance program shall designate by name and address the person to whom the risk manager shall forward legal process so served upon him or her. The joint self-insurance program may change such person by filing a new designation.

(c) The appointment of the risk manager as attorney shall be irrevocable, shall bind any successor in interest or to the assets or liabilities of the joint self-insurance program, and shall remain in effect as long as there is in force in this state any contract made by the joint self-insurance program or liabilities or duties arising therefrom.

(d) The risk manager shall keep a record of the day and hour of service upon him or her of all legal process. A copy of the process, by registered mail with return receipt requested, shall be sent by the risk manager, to the person designated for the purpose by the joint self-insurance program in its most recent such designation filed with the risk manager. No proceedings shall be had against the joint self-insurance program, and the program shall not be required to appear, plead, or answer, until the expiration of forty days after the date of service upon the risk manager.

Sec. 4.  RCW 48.62.141 and 1991 sp.s. c 30 s 14 are each amended to read as follows:

Every joint self-insurance program covering liability or property risks, excluding multistate programs governed by RCW 48.62.081 and nonprofit risk pools formed under RCW 48.62.036 and chapter 48.--- RCW (the new chapter created in section 19 of this act), shall provide for the contingent liability of participants in the program if assets of the program are insufficient to cover the program's liabilities.

(1) "Nonprofit corporation" or "corporation" has the same meaning as defined in RCW 24.03.005.

(2) "Property and liability risks" includes the risk of property damage or loss sustained by a nonprofit corporation and the risk of claims arising from the tortious or negligent conduct or any error or omission of the entity, its officers, employees, agents, or volunteers as a result of a claim that may be made against the entity.

(3) "Self-insurance" means a formal program of advance funding and management of entity financial exposure to a risk of loss that is not transferred through the purchase of an insurance policy or contract.

(4) "State risk manager" means the risk manager of the office of risk management within the department of enterprise services.

(2) The agreement to form a joint self-insurance program may include the organization of a separate legal or administrative entity with powers delegated to the entity. The entity may include or create a nonprofit corporation as defined in RCW 48.62.021.

(3) If provided for in the organizational documents, a joint self-insurance program may, in conformance with this chapter:

(a) Contract or otherwise provide for risk management and loss control services;

(b) Contract or otherwise provide legal counsel for the defense of claims and other legal services;

(c) Consult with the state insurance commissioner and the state risk manager;

(d) Jointly purchase insurance and reinsurance coverage in a form and amount as provided for in the organizational documents;

(e) Obligate the program's participants to pledge funds or  revenues to secure the obligations or pay the expenses of the program, including the establishment of a reserve fund for coverage, including an additional assessment if the reserve fund or the program's revenue or assets are insufficient to cover the program's liabilities; and

(f) Possess any other powers and perform all other functions reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(4) Every joint self-insurance program governed by this chapter must appoint the state risk manager as its attorney to receive service of, and upon whom must be served, all legal process issued against the program in this state upon causes of action arising in this state.

(a) Service upon the state risk manager as attorney constitutes service upon the program. Service upon joint self-insurance programs subject to this chapter may only occur by service upon the state risk manager. At the time of service, the plaintiff shall pay to the state risk manager a fee to be set by the state risk manager, taxable as costs in the action.

(b) With the initial filing for approval with the state risk manager, each joint self-insurance program must designate by name and address the person to whom the state risk manager must forward legal process that is served upon him or her. The joint self-insurance program may change this person by filing a new designation.

(c) The appointment of the state risk manager as attorney is irrevocable, binds any successor in interest or to the assets or liabilities of the joint self-insurance program, and remains in effect as long as there is in force in this state any contract made by the joint self-insurance program or liabilities or duties arising from the contract.

(d) The state risk manager shall keep a record of the day and hour of service upon him or her of all legal process. A copy of the process, by registered mail with return receipt requested, must be sent by the state risk manager to the person designated to receive legal process by the joint self-insurance program in its most recent designation filed with the state risk manager. Proceedings may not commence against the joint self-insurance program, and the program is not required to appear, plead, or answer, until the expiration of forty days after the date of service upon the state risk manager.

(e) For any legal process issued against the program for causes of action arising outside of this state, the program shall provide the state risk manager a copy of such claim.

(5) A nonprofit joint self-insurance program previously established under chapter 48.62 RCW may continue its operations without interruption. All previously approved operating documents under chapter 48.62 RCW including, but not limited to, applications, state-granted authorities, approvals to operate, certificates of incorporation, articles of incorporation, membership documents, executed contracts, and other applicable items or authorities remain in effect without reapproval.

(6) A nonprofit joint self-insurance program previously established under and governed by chapter 48.62 RCW is not required to reapply for authority to operate as previously approved by the state risk manager in its original application.    

(1) Individually self-insures for property and liability risks;

(2) Participates in a risk pooling arrangement, including a risk retention group or a risk purchasing group, regulated under chapter 48.92 RCW, or is a captive insurer authorized in its state of domicile;

(3) Comprises only units of local government or is a group that comprises local governments joined by an interlocal agreement authorized by chapter 39.34 RCW; or

(4) Is a hospital licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, or an entity owned, operated, controlled by, or affiliated with such a hospital that participates in a self-insurance risk pool or other risk pooling arrangement.  

(1) Standards for the management, operation, and solvency of joint self-insurance programs, including the necessity and frequency of actuarial analyses and claims audits;

(2) Standards for claims management procedures;

(3) Standards for contracts between joint self-insurance programs and private businesses, including standards for contracts between third-party administrators and programs; and

(4) Standards requiring pool verification of each member's nonprofit status in their state of domicile.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10.  Before the establishment of a joint self-insurance program covering property or liability risks by nonprofit corporations, the entities must obtain the approval of the state risk manager. The entities proposing the creation of a joint self-insurance program requiring prior approval shall submit a plan of management and operation to the state risk manager that provides at least the following information:

(1) The risk or risks to be covered, including any coverage definitions, terms, conditions, and limitations;

(2) The amount and method of funding the covered risks, including the initial capital and proposed rates and projected premiums;

(3) The proposed claim reserving practices;

(4) The proposed purchase and maintenance of insurance or reinsurance in excess of the amounts retained by the joint self-insurance program;

(5) The legal form of the program including, but not limited to, any articles of incorporation, bylaws, charter, or trust agreement or other agreement among the participating entities;

(6) The agreements with participants in the program defining the responsibilities and benefits of each participant and management;

(7) The proposed accounting, depositing, and investment practices of the program;

(8) The proposed time when actuarial analysis will be first conducted and the frequency of future actuarial analysis;

(9) A designation of the individual to whom service of process must be forwarded by the state risk manager on behalf of the program;

(10) All contracts between the program and private persons providing risk management, claims, or other administrative services;

(11) A professional analysis of the feasibility of the creation and maintenance of the program;

(12) A legal analysis or an internal revenue service opinion on the federal income tax exposure or liability of the program; and

(13) Any other information required by rule of the state risk manager that is necessary to determine the probable financial and management success of the program or that is necessary to determine compliance with this chapter.

(1) An ownership interest in the program is limited to some or all of the nonprofit corporations of this state and nonprofit corporations of other states that are provided insurance by the program;

(2) The nonprofit corporations of this state and other states shall elect a board of directors to manage the program, all of whom must be affiliated with one or more of the participating nonprofit corporations;

(3) The program must provide coverage through the delivery to each participating nonprofit corporation of one or more written policies affecting insurance of covered risks;

(4) The program must be financed, including the payment of premiums and the contribution of initial capital, in accordance with the plan of management and operation submitted to the state risk manager in accordance with this chapter;

(5) The financial statements of the program must be audited by a certified public accountant, and these audited financial statements must be delivered to the state risk manager not more than one hundred twenty days after the end of each fiscal year of the program;

(6) The investments of the program must be initiated only with financial institutions or broker-dealers, or both, doing business in those states in which participating nonprofit corporations are located, and these investments must be audited annually by the certified public accountants for the program;

(7) The treasurer of a multistate joint self-insurance program must be designated by resolution of the program and the treasurer must be located in the state of one of the participating entities; and

(8) The program must obtain approval from the state risk manager in accordance with this chapter and must remain in compliance with this chapter, unless exempt from application for reapproval, as granted under section 7 of this act.

(2) If the state risk manager denies a request for approval, the state risk manager shall specify in detail the reasons for denial and the manner in which the program fails to meet the requirements of this chapter or any rules adopted in accordance with this chapter.

(3) If the state risk manager determines that a joint self-insurance program covering property or liability risks is in violation of this chapter or is operating in an unsafe financial condition, the state risk manager may issue and serve upon the program an order to cease and desist from the violation or practice.

(a) The state risk manager shall deliver the order to the appropriate entity or entities directly or mail it to the appropriate entity or entities by certified mail with return receipt requested.

(b) If the program violates the order or has not taken steps to comply with the order after the expiration of twenty days after the cease and desist order has been received by the program, the program is deemed to be operating in violation of this chapter, and the state risk manager shall notify the attorney general of the violation.

(c) After hearing, or with the consent of a program governed under this chapter, and in addition to or in lieu of a continuation of the cease and desist order, the state risk manager may levy a fine upon the program in an amount not less than three hundred dollars and not more than ten thousand dollars. The order levying the fine must specify the period within which the fine must be fully paid. The period within which the fines must be paid must be not less than fifteen and not more than thirty days from the date of the order. Upon failure to pay the fine when due, the state risk manager shall request the attorney general to bring a civil action on the state risk manager's behalf to collect the fine. The state risk manager shall pay any fine collected to the state treasurer for deposit into the general fund.

(4) Each joint self-insurance program approved by the state risk manager shall annually file a report with the state risk manager providing:

(a) Details of any changes in the articles of incorporation, bylaws, charter, trust agreement, or other agreement among the participating nonprofit corporations;

(b) Copies of all the insurance coverage documents;

(c) A description of the program structure, including participants' retention, program retention, and excess insurance limits and attachment point;

(d) An actuarial analysis;

(e) A list of contractors and service providers;

(f) The financial and loss experience of the program; and

(g) Other information as required by rule of the state risk manager.

(5) A joint self-insurance program requiring the state risk manager's approval may not engage in an act or practice that in any respect significantly differs from the management and operation plan that formed the basis for the state risk manager's approval of the program unless the program first notifies the state risk manager in writing and obtains the state risk manager's approval. The state risk manager shall approve or disapprove the proposed change within sixty days of receipt of the notice. If the state risk manager denies a requested change, the state risk manager shall specify in detail the reasons for the denial and the manner in which the program would fail to meet the requirements of this chapter or any rules adopted in accordance with this chapter.

(2) All interest and earnings collected on joint self-insurance program funds belong to the program and must be deposited to the program's credit in the proper program account.

(2) RCW 48.30.140, 48.30.150, and 48.30.157 apply to the use of insurance producers and surplus line brokers by a joint self-insurance program.

(2) The costs of subsequent reviews and investigations must be charged to the joint self-insurance program being reviewed or investigated in accordance with the actual time and expenses incurred in the review or investigation.

(3) Any program failing to remit its assessment when due is subject to denial of permission to operate or to a cease and desist order until the assessment is paid.

(2) The state risk manager and his or her agents and employees are immune from liability in any civil action or suit arising from the publication of any report or bulletin or from dissemination of information related to the official activities of the state risk manager unless actual malice, fraud, or bad faith is shown.

(3) The immunity granted under this section is in addition to any common law or statutory privilege or immunity enjoyed by such person. This section is not intended to abrogate or modify in any way such common law or statutory privilege or immunity.

--- END ---