§ 20-279.33A. Religious organizations; self-insurance.
§ 20‑279.33A. Religiousorganizations; self‑insurance.
(a) Notwithstanding anyother provision of this Article or Article 13 of this Chapter, any recognizedreligious organization having established tenets or teachings and that has beenin existence at all times since December 31, 1950, may qualify as a self‑insurerby obtaining a certificate of self‑insurance from the Commissioner asprovided in subsection (c) of this section if the Commissioner determines thatall of the following conditions are met:
(1) Members of thereligious organization operate five or more vehicles that are registered inthis State and are either owned or leased by them.
(2) Members of thereligious organization hold a common belief in mutual financial assistance intime of need to the extent that they share in financial obligations of othermembers who would otherwise be unable to meet their obligations.
(3) The religiousorganization has met all of its insurance obligations for the five yearspreceding its application.
(4) The religiousorganization is financially solvent and not subject to any actions inbankruptcy, trusteeship, receivership, or any other court proceeding in whichthe financial solvency of the religious organization is in question.
(5) Neither thereligious organization nor any of its participating members has any judgmentsarising out of the operation, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle takenagainst them that have remained unsatisfied for more than 30 days afterbecoming final.
(6) There are no otherfactors that cause the Commissioner to believe that the religious organizationand its participating members are not of sufficient financial ability to payjudgments against them.
(7) The religiousorganization and its participating members meet other requirements that theCommissioner by administrative rule prescribes.
(b) The Commissionermay, in the Commissioner's discretion, upon the application of a religiousorganization, issue a certificate of self‑insurance when the Commissioneris satisfied that the religious organization is possessed and will continue tobe possessed of an ability to pay any judgments that might be rendered againstthe religious organization. The certificate shall serve as evidence ofinsurance for the purposes of G.S. 20‑7(c1), 20‑13.2(e), 20‑16.1,20‑19(k), and 20‑179.3(l).
(c) A group issued acertificate of self‑insurance under this section shall notify theCommissioner in writing if any person ceases to be a member of the group. Thegroup shall notify the Commissioner within 10 days of the person's removal ordeparture from the group.
(d) The Commissionermay, at any time after the issuance of a certificate of self‑insuranceunder this subsection, cancel the certificate by giving 30 days' written noticeof cancellation to the religious organization whenever there is reason tobelieve that the religious organization to whom the certificate was issued isno longer qualified as a self‑insurer under this section. (2006‑145, s. 5.)