WASHINGTON STATUTES AND CODES

48.31.141 - Responsibility for payment of a premium -- Earned or unearned premium -- Violations -- Penalties -- Rights of party aggrieved.

Responsibility for payment of a premium — Earned or unearned premium — Violations — Penalties — Rights of party aggrieved.

(1)(a) An insurance producer, title insurance agent, surplus line broker, premium finance company, or any other person, other than the policy owner or the insured, responsible for the payment of a premium is obligated to pay any unpaid premium for the full policy term due the insurer at the time of the declaration of insolvency, whether earned or unearned, as shown on the records of the insurer. The liquidator also has the right to recover from the person a part of an unearned premium that represents commission of the person. Credits or setoffs or both may not be allowed to an insurance producer, title insurance agent, surplus line broker, or premium finance company for amounts advanced to the insurer by the insurance producer, title insurance agent, surplus line broker, or premium finance company on behalf of, but in the absence of a payment by, the policy owner or the insured.

     (b) Notwithstanding (a) of this subsection, the insurance producer, title insurance agent, surplus line broker, premium finance company, or other person is not liable for uncollected unearned premium of the insurer. A presumption exists that the premium as shown on the books of the insurer is collected, and the burden is upon the insurance producer, title insurance agent, surplus line broker, premium finance company, or other person to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that the unearned premium was not actually collected. For purposes of this subsection, "unearned premium" means that portion of an insurance premium covering the unexpired term of the policy or the unexpired period of the policy period.

     (c) An insured is obligated to pay any unpaid earned premium due the insurer at the time of the declaration of insolvency, as shown on the records of the insurer.

     (2) Upon a violation of this section, the commissioner may pursue either one or both of the following courses of action:

     (a) Suspend or revoke or refuse to renew the licenses of the offending party or parties;

     (b) Impose a penalty of not more than one thousand dollars for each violation.

     (3) Before the commissioner may take an action as set forth in subsection (2) of this section, he or she shall give written notice to the person accused of violating the law, stating specifically the nature of the alleged violation, and fixing a time and place, at least ten days thereafter, when a hearing on the matter shall be held. After the hearing, or upon failure of the accused to appear at the hearing, the commissioner, if he or she finds a violation, shall impose those penalties under subsection (2) of this section that he or she deems advisable.

     (4) When the commissioner takes action in any or all of the ways set out in subsection (2) of this section, the party aggrieved has the rights granted under the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.

[2009 c 162 § 28; 2008 c 217 § 44; 1993 c 462 § 65.]

Notes: Effective date -- 2009 c 162: See note following RCW 48.03.020.

Severability -- Effective date -- 2008 c 217: See notes following RCW 48.03.020.

Severability -- Implementation -- 1993 c 462: See RCW 48.31B.901 and 48.31B.902.