CHAPTER 4. PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMISSIONER'S DETERMINATION
IC 27-15-4
Chapter 4. Public Hearing and Commissioner's Determination
IC 27-15-4-1
Commissioner's determination of application completeness;
designation of date for public hearing
Sec. 1. (a) The commissioner shall determine, within forty-five
(45) days after the later of:
(1) the submission of an application for approval of a plan of
conversion; or
(2) the submission of any amendment to the application;
whether the application is complete.
(b) Upon determining that the application is complete, the
commissioner shall designate a date for a public hearing on the plan
of conversion and the amendment to the articles of incorporation.
(c) No public hearing by the commissioner under this chapter is
required for a simple plan of conversion.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-2
Purpose of public hearing
Sec. 2. The commissioner shall hold a public hearing upon the
plan of conversion and the amendment to the articles of
incorporation. The purpose of the public hearing shall be to receive
comments and information to aid the commissioner in considering
and approving or disapproving the application for approval of the
plan of conversion and the amendment to the articles of
incorporation. Persons wishing to make comments and submit
information may submit written statements before or at the public
hearing and may also appear and be heard at the public hearing.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-3
Commencement of hearing; postponement
Sec. 3. The public hearing shall commence within sixty (60) days
after the date on which the commissioner determines the application
is complete, unless the converting mutual requests, and the
commissioner agrees to, a longer period. In the event that an
amendment to the plan of conversion or the application for approval
is filed with the commissioner after the commissioner has determined
the application is complete, the hearing may be postponed for a
period not to exceed sixty (60) days after the filing of the
amendment.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-4
Notice of hearing
Sec. 4. (a) The converting mutual shall provide at least thirty (30)
days prior written notice of the hearing to its members and other
policyholders as of the date its board of directors adopted the
resolution proposing the plan of conversion.
(b) The notice must include the following:
(1) A brief statement of the subject of the hearing, the date,
time, and location of the hearing.
(2) A description of members eligible to vote on the plan of
conversion and the amendment to the articles of incorporation.
(3) A statement that the members and policyholders may
examine, at the department, the public record portion of the
application submitted to the commissioner.
(4) The address and telephone number of the converting mutual
and, if different, the former mutual.
(c) The converting mutual shall provide the commissioner with
the proposed form and content of the notice not less than fifteen (15)
days before notice is to be provided to the members and
policyholders, and the commissioner shall approve or disapprove the
form and content of the notice within ten (10) days after its
submission to the commissioner. The notice to members and other
policyholders shall, after approval by the commissioner, be provided
by mail or other means approved by the commissioner.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-5
Publication of notice
Sec. 5. (a) The converting mutual shall cause notice of the public
hearing to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the
city where the principal office of the converting mutual is located, in
Indianapolis, and in any other city specified by the commissioner at
the time the commissioner determines that the application is
complete.
(b) The notice shall be published at least two (2) times at intervals
of not less than two (2) weeks, the first publication to be not more
than forty-five (45) days and the last publication not less than fifteen
(15) days before the public hearing. The notice of the public hearing
shall state the purpose of the hearing and the date, time, and place
where the hearing will occur.
(c) The converting mutual shall provide the commissioner with
the proposed form and content of the notice not less than fifteen (15)
days before it is to be first published, and the commissioner shall
approve or disapprove the form and content of the notice within ten
(10) days after its submission to the commissioner.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-6
Hearing procedures
Sec. 6. The hearing shall be conducted by the commissioner or by
the commissioner's designee, consistent with the procedures
described in IC 4-22-2-26.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-7
Issuance of commissioner's determination
Sec. 7. (a) The commissioner shall fully consider any comments
received at a required hearing consistent with IC 4-22-2-27 before
issuing an order approving or disapproving the application, plan of
conversion, and amendment to the articles of incorporation.
(b) The commissioner's order or determination shall:
(1) be issued within thirty (30) days after the last day of the
public hearing or, for a simple plan of conversion, within ninety
(90) days after the filing of an application for approval of the
plan;
(2) be in writing; and
(3) detail the reasons why the converting mutual's application
is approved or disapproved.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-8
Findings required for application approval
Sec. 8. The commissioner shall approve the application and
permit the conversion under the plan of conversion and the
amendment to the articles of incorporation if the commissioner finds,
following the public hearing, if required:
(1) that the amount and form of consideration is fair in the
aggregate and to each member class;
(2) that the plan of conversion and the amendment to the
articles of incorporation:
(A) comply with this article and other applicable laws;
(B) are fair, reasonable, and equitable to the eligible
members; and
(C) will not prejudice the interests of the other policyholders
of the converting mutual; and
(3) except for a simple plan of conversion, that the total
consideration provided to eligible members upon the
extinguishing of the converting mutual's membership interests
is equal to or greater than the surplus of the converting mutual.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.
IC 27-15-4-9
Waiver of findings for application approval
Sec. 9. The commissioner may waive the requirement of section
8(3) of this chapter upon a showing of good cause.
As added by P.L.94-1999, SEC.3.