WSR 11-08-016

PERMANENT RULES

OFFICE OF

INSURANCE COMMISSIONER

[ Insurance Commissioner Matter No. R 2010-10 -- Filed March 30, 2011, 2:14 p.m. , effective June 27, 2011 ]


     Effective Date of Rule: June 27, 2011.

     Purpose: Chapter 67, Laws of 2010, provides for the separate licensing of crop adjusters and for the commissioner to adopt rules regarding the prelicensing education, examination, continuing education requirements, and renewal of the license. These rules set forth the educational and examination requirements for licensing and renewal of licenses of crop adjusters.

     Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 48.02.060, 48.17.005, and 48.17.150.

     Other Authority: Chapter 67, Laws of 2010.

      Adopted under notice filed as WSR 11-05-090 on February 16, 2011.

     A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Jim Tompkins, P.O. Box 40258, Olympia, WA 98504-0258, phone (360) 725-7036, fax (360) 586-3109, e-mail jimt@oic.wa.gov.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0;      Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 4, Amended 0, Repealed 0.

     Date Adopted: March 30, 2011.

Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner

OTS-3632.5

CROP ADJUSTERS
NEW SECTION
WAC 284-17-700   Definitions.   As used in WAC 284-17-705 through 284-17-730, the terms below have the following meaning unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

     "Certification program" means any crop adjuster educational and examination program meeting the federal Risk Management Agency requirements.

     "Crop adjuster" has the meaning set forth in RCW 48.17.010 (1)(c).

     "Risk Management Agency" or "RMA" means the Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-17-705   Crop adjuster prelicensing education and examination requirements.   (1) An applicant for a crop adjuster's license to adjust crop losses insured through a federal crop insurance program must complete all educational and examination requirements of a certification program. With the application, an applicant for a crop adjuster's license must submit to the commissioner true and accurate documentation of their certification program completion. A copy of the documentation demonstrates compliance with the prelicensing education and examination requirements necessary for a crop adjuster license. A crop adjuster licensed under this subsection may adjust crop losses that are and are not insured through a federal crop insurance program.

     (2) An applicant for a crop adjuster's license to adjust crop losses that are not insured through a federal crop insurance program:

     (a) Is not required to complete a prelicensing education course;

     (b) Must pass the state's crop adjuster licensing exam; and

     (c) Must not adjust crop insurance losses that are insured through a federal crop insurance program.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-17-720   Crop adjuster license renewal requirements.   (1) Every licensed crop adjuster adjusting crop insurance losses insured through a federal insurance program must:

     (a) Renew their license on or before the expiration of the license; and

     (b) On or before February 28th of each year, file with the commissioner a true and accurate copy of documents establishing their certification program completion. Failure to timely file a copy of the documentation with the commissioner is a sufficient basis for the commissioner to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew a crop adjuster license.

     (2) Every licensed crop adjuster adjusting crop losses not insured through a federal crop insurance program:

     (a) Must renew their license on or before the expiration of the license; and

     (b) Are not required to take continuing education.

     (3) Crop adjusters who do not renew their license prior to the expiration date must pay the surcharge under RCW 48.17.170.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-17-730   Crop adjusters who are salaried employees of an insurance company or of a managing general agent.   (1) All authorized insurance companies and licensed managing general agents must annually, on or before February 28th of each year, file with the commissioner a list of all salaried employees who act on their behalf as crop adjusters adjusting losses insured through a federal crop insurance program and a true and accurate copy of the documentation establishing completion of the crop adjuster certification program.

     (2) Each insurance company and its managing general agents must file with the commissioner any changes to the list within thirty days of a change. If the change includes the addition of a new crop adjuster to the list, the insurance company and managing general agent must also file a copy of the documentation establishing the crop adjuster's completion of the certification program.

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NEW SECTION
WAC 284-17-735   Limited conversion to crop adjuster license.   On or before September 30, 2011, an adjuster that is currently licensed by the commissioner as an independent or public adjuster may convert the license to a crop adjuster license to only adjust crop losses not insured through a federal program upon compliance with the following:

     (1) Send written notice to the commissioner requesting the conversion; and

     (2) Provide the commissioner with proof of a minimum of two years crop adjusting experience.

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