33-16-102. Definitions. - Montana Statutes

     33-16-102. Definitions. In this chapter, the following definitions apply:
     (1) "Advisory organization" means each person, other than an admitted insurer, whether located within or outside this state, who prepares policy forms or makes underwriting rules incident to but not including the making of rates, rating plans, or rating systems or who collects and furnishes to admitted insurers or rating organizations loss or expense statistics or other statistical information and data and acts in an advisory, as distinguished from a ratemaking, capacity. A licensed attorney, acting in the usual course of the profession, may not be considered an advisory organization.
     (2) "Dividend" means:
     (a) a noncontractual and nonrecoverable payment or credit declared by an insurer's board of directors and paid out or credited out of earned surplus to policyholders, members, or subscribers; or
     (b) in the absence of earned surplus, a noncontractual and nonrecoverable payment or credit declared by an insurer's board of directors and paid to policyholders, members, or subscribers with the written permission of the commissioner. The commissioner may grant permission only if the payment of the dividend or credit will not reduce the insurer's capital and surplus below an amount three times the minimum capital required under 33-2-109.
     (3) "Member" means an insurer who participates in or is entitled to participate in the management of a rating, advisory, or other organization.
     (4) "Rating organization" means each person, other than an admitted insurer, whether located within or outside this state, with the object or purpose of making rates, rating plans, or rating systems. Two or more admitted insurers who act in concert for the purpose of making rates, rating plans, or rating systems and who do not operate within the specific authorizations contained in 33-16-105, 33-16-302, 33-16-304, 33-16-305, and 33-16-307 must be considered a rating organization. A single insurer may not be considered a rating organization.
     (5) "Subscriber" means an insurer who is furnished at its request with rates and rating manuals by a rating organization of which the insurer is not a member or with advisory services by an advisory organization of which it is not a member.
     (6) "Willful" or "willfully", in relation to an act or omission that constitutes a violation of this chapter, means with actual knowledge or belief that the act or omission constitutes a violation and with specific intent to commit the violation.

     History: En. Secs. 2, 3, 4, 5, Ch. 362, L. 1969; R.C.M. 1947, 40-3635, 40-3636, 40-3637, 40-3638; amd. Sec. 27, Ch. 472, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 227, L. 2001.