48.02.190 - Operating costs of office -- Insurance commissioner's regulatory account -- Regulatory surcharge.

Operating costs of office — Insurance commissioner's regulatory account — Regulatory surcharge.

(1) As used in this section:

     (a) "Organization" means every insurer, as defined in RCW 48.01.050, having a certificate of authority to do business in this state, every health care service contractor, as defined in RCW 48.44.010, every health maintenance organization, as defined in RCW 48.46.020, or self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangement, as defined in RCW 48.125.010, registered to do business in this state. "Class one" organizations shall consist of all insurers as defined in RCW 48.01.050. "Class two" organizations shall consist of all organizations registered under provisions of chapters 48.44 and 48.46 RCW. "Class three" organizations shall consist of self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements as defined in RCW 48.125.010.

     (b)(i) "Receipts" means (A) net direct premiums consisting of direct gross premiums, as defined in RCW 48.18.170, paid for insurance written or renewed upon risks or property resident, situated, or to be performed in this state, less return premiums and premiums on policies not taken, dividends paid or credited to policyholders on direct business, and premiums received from policies or contracts issued in connection with qualified plans as defined in RCW 48.14.021, and (B) prepayments to health care service contractors, as defined in RCW 48.44.010, health maintenance organizations, as defined in RCW 48.46.020, or participant contributions to self-funded multiple employer welfare arrangements, as defined in RCW 48.125.010, less experience rating credits, dividends, prepayments returned to subscribers, and payments for contracts not taken.

     (ii) Participant contributions, under chapter 48.125 RCW, used to determine the receipts in this state under this section shall be determined in the same manner as premiums taxable in this state are determined under RCW 48.14.090.

     (c) "Regulatory surcharge" means the fees imposed by this section.

     (2) The annual cost of operating the office of insurance commissioner shall be determined by legislative appropriation. A pro rata share of the cost shall be charged to all organizations as a regulatory surcharge. Each class of organization shall contribute a sufficient amount to the insurance commissioner's regulatory account to pay the reasonable costs, including overhead, of regulating that class of organization.

     (3) The regulatory surcharge shall be calculated separately for each class of organization. The regulatory surcharge collected from each organization shall be that portion of the cost of operating the insurance commissioner's office, for that class of organization, for the ensuing fiscal year that is represented by the organization's portion of the receipts collected or received by all organizations within that class on business in this state during the previous calendar year. However, the regulatory surcharge must not exceed one-eighth of one percent of receipts and the minimum regulatory surcharge shall be one thousand dollars.

     (4) The commissioner shall annually, on or before June 1st, calculate and bill each organization for the amount of the regulatory surcharge. The regulatory surcharge shall be due and payable no later than June 15th of each year. However, if the necessary financial records are not available or if the amount of the legislative appropriation is not determined in time to carry out such calculations and bill such regulatory surcharge within the time specified, the commissioner may use the regulatory surcharge factors for the prior year as the basis for the regulatory surcharge and, if necessary, the commissioner may impose supplemental fees to fully and properly charge the organizations. Any organization failing to pay the regulatory surcharges by June 30th shall pay the same penalties as the penalties for failure to pay taxes when due under RCW 48.14.060. The regulatory surcharge required by this section is in addition to all other taxes and fees now imposed or that may be subsequently imposed.

     (5) All moneys collected shall be deposited in the insurance commissioner's regulatory account in the state treasury which is hereby created.

     (6) Unexpended funds in the insurance commissioner's regulatory account at the close of a fiscal year shall be carried forward in the insurance commissioner's regulatory account to the succeeding fiscal year and shall be used to reduce future regulatory surcharges.

     (7)(a) Each insurer may annually collect regulatory surcharges remitted in preceding years by means of a policyholder surcharge on premiums charged for all kinds of insurance. The recoupment shall be at a uniform rate reasonably calculated to collect the regulatory surcharge remitted by the insurer.

     (b) If an insurer fails to collect the entire amount of the recoupment in the first year under this section, it may repeat the recoupment procedure provided for in this subsection (7) in succeeding years until the regulatory surcharge is fully collected or a de minimis amount remains uncollected. Any such de minimis amount may be collected as provided in (d) of this subsection.

     (c) The amount and nature of any recoupment shall be separately stated on either a billing or policy declaration sent to an insured. The amount of the recoupment must not be considered a premium for any purpose, including the premium tax or agents' commissions.

     (d) An insurer may elect not to collect the regulatory surcharge from its insured. In such a case, the insurer may recoup the regulatory surcharge through its rates, if the following requirements are met:

     (i) The insurer remits the amount of surcharge not collected by election under this subsection; and

     (ii) The surcharge is not considered a premium for any purpose, including the premium tax or agents' commission.

[2009 c 161 § 1; 2008 c 328 § 6003. Prior: 2007 c 468 § 1; 2007 c 153 § 3; 2004 c 260 § 22; 2003 1st sp.s. c 25 § 923; 2002 c 371 § 913; 1987 c 505 § 54; 1986 c 296 § 7.]

Notes: Part headings not law -- Severability -- Effective date -- 2008 c 328: See notes following RCW 43.155.050.

Severability -- Effective date -- 2004 c 260: See RCW 48.125.900 and 48.125.901.

Severability -- Effective date -- 2003 1st sp.s. c 25: See notes following RCW 19.28.351.

Severability -- Effective date -- 2002 c 371: See notes following RCW 9.46.100.

Severability -- Effective date -- 1986 c 296: See notes following RCW 48.14.020.