SF 1527

1st Engrossment - 80th Legislature (1997 - 1998) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to insurance; Minnesota Insurance Guaranty 
  1.3             Act; conforming state law to provisions of the 
  1.4             Post-Assessment Property and Liability Insurance 
  1.5             Guaranty Association Model Act of the National 
  1.6             Association of Insurance Commissioners; amending 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes 1996, sections 60C.02; 60C.03, 
  1.8             subdivisions 6, 8, and by adding a subdivision; 
  1.9             60C.05, subdivision 1; 60C.07, subdivision 2; 60C.09; 
  1.10            60C.11, subdivision 5; 60C.13, subdivision 1; 60C.14, 
  1.11            subdivision 2; 60C.15; 60C.19; and 60C.21, subdivision 
  1.12            2; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
  1.13            chapter 60C; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1996, 
  1.14            section 60C.06, subdivision 6. 
  1.15  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.16     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.02, is 
  1.17  amended to read: 
  1.18     60C.02 [SCOPE, PURPOSE AND CONSTRUCTION.] 
  1.19     Subdivision 1.  [SCOPE.] This chapter applies to all kinds 
  1.20  of direct insurance, except:  
  1.21     (1) life,; 
  1.22     (2) annuity; 
  1.23     (3) title,; 
  1.24     (4) accident and sickness,; 
  1.25     (5) credit,; 
  1.26     (6) vendor's single interest or collateral protection or 
  1.27  any similar insurance protecting the interests of a creditor 
  1.28  arising out of a creditor debtor transaction; 
  1.29     (7) mortgage guaranty,; 
  1.30     (8) financial guaranty or other forms of insurance offering 
  2.1   protection against investment risks, and; 
  2.2      (9) ocean marine.; 
  2.3      (10) a transaction or combination of transactions between a 
  2.4   person, including affiliates of the person, and an insurer, 
  2.5   including affiliates of the insurer, that involves the transfer 
  2.6   of investment or credit risk unaccompanied by transfer or 
  2.7   insurance risk; or 
  2.8      (11) insurance provided by or guaranteed by government. 
  2.9      Subd. 2.  [PURPOSES.] The purposes of Laws 1971, chapter 
  2.10  145 this chapter are to provide a mechanism for the payment of 
  2.11  covered claims under certain insurance policies and surety 
  2.12  bonds, to avoid the extent provided in this chapter, minimize 
  2.13  excessive delay in payment and to avoid financial loss to 
  2.14  claimants or policyholders because of the liquidation of an 
  2.15  insurer, to assist in the detection and prevention of insurer 
  2.16  insolvencies, and to provide an association to assess the cost 
  2.17  of the protection among insurers. 
  2.18     Subd. 3.  [CONSTRUCTION.] Laws 1971, chapter 145 This 
  2.19  chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes 
  2.20  stated in subdivision 2. 
  2.21     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.03, 
  2.22  subdivision 6, is amended to read: 
  2.23     Subd. 6.  [MEMBER INSURER.] "Member insurer" means any 
  2.24  person, including reciprocals or interinsurance exchanges 
  2.25  operating under chapter 71A, township mutual fire insurance 
  2.26  companies operating under sections 67A.01 to 67A.26, and farmers 
  2.27  mutual fire insurance companies operating under sections 67A.27 
  2.28  to 67A.39, who (a) writes any kind of insurance not excepted 
  2.29  from the scope of Laws 1971, chapter 145 by section 60C.02, and 
  2.30  (b) is licensed to transact insurance business in this state, 
  2.31  except any nonprofit service plan incorporated or operating 
  2.32  under sections 62C.01 to 62C.23 and any health plan incorporated 
  2.33  under chapter 317A, and includes an insurer whose license or 
  2.34  certificate of authority in this state may have been suspended, 
  2.35  revoked, not renewed, or voluntarily withdrawn. 
  2.36     An insurer ceases to be a member insurer the day following 
  3.1   the termination or expiration of its license to transact the 
  3.2   kinds of insurance to which this chapter applies.  The insurer 
  3.3   remains liable as a member insurer for any and all obligations, 
  3.4   including obligations for assessments levied before the 
  3.5   termination or expiration with respect to an insurer that became 
  3.6   an insolvent insurer before the termination or expiration of the 
  3.7   insurer's license. 
  3.8      Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.03, 
  3.9   subdivision 8, is amended to read: 
  3.10     Subd. 8.  [INSOLVENT INSURER.] "Insolvent insurer" means an 
  3.11  insurer licensed to transact insurance in this state, either at 
  3.12  the time the policy was issued, or when the insured event 
  3.13  occurred, and against whom an order of liquidation with a 
  3.14  finding of insolvency has been entered after April 30, 1979 by a 
  3.15  court of competent jurisdiction, in the insurer's state of 
  3.16  domicile or of this state, under the provisions of chapter 60B, 
  3.17  and which order of liquidation has not been stayed or been the 
  3.18  subject of a writ of supersedeas or other comparable order a 
  3.19  final order of liquidation has been entered after April 30, 
  3.20  1979, with a finding of insolvency by a court of competent 
  3.21  jurisdiction in the insurer's state of domicile.  An insurer 
  3.22  placed under administrative supervision under sections 60G.01 to 
  3.23  60G.09 or determined to be in hazardous financial condition 
  3.24  under sections 60G.20 to 60G.22 is not an insolvent insurer as a 
  3.25  result of that placement or determination. 
  3.26     Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.03, is 
  3.27  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  3.28     Subd. 11.  [OCEAN MARINE INSURANCE.] "Ocean marine 
  3.29  insurance" means a form of insurance, regardless of the name, 
  3.30  label, or marketing designation of the insurance policy, that 
  3.31  insures against maritime perils or risks and other related 
  3.32  perils or risks, that are usually insured against by traditional 
  3.33  marine insurance, such as hull and machinery, marine builders 
  3.34  risk, and marine protection and indemnity.  Perils and risks 
  3.35  insured against include without limitation loss, damage, 
  3.36  expense, or legal liability of the insured for loss, damage, or 
  4.1   expense arising out of or incident to ownership, operation, 
  4.2   chartering, maintenance, use, repair, or construction of a 
  4.3   vessel, craft, or instrumentality in use in ocean or inland 
  4.4   waterways for commercial purposes, including liability of the 
  4.5   insured for personal injury, illness, or death or for loss or 
  4.6   damage to the property of the insured or another person. 
  4.7      Sec. 5.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.05, 
  4.8   subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  4.9      Subdivision 1.  The association shall: 
  4.10     (a) Be deemed the insurer to the extent of its obligation 
  4.11  on the covered claims and have the right to pursue and retain 
  4.12  salvage and subrogation recoverables on covered claim 
  4.13  obligations to the extent paid or acknowledged in writing as an 
  4.14  obligation by the association.  The claims found by the board of 
  4.15  directors to be covered shall be paid out of available funds 
  4.16  after they have been approved or settled under sections 60B.45, 
  4.17  subdivision 2, and 60B.58, subdivision 2, or the corresponding 
  4.18  laws of another jurisdiction, subject to the board's power to 
  4.19  reduce the amount of or reject the award under section 60C.10. 
  4.20     (b) Allocate claims paid and expenses incurred among the 
  4.21  five accounts and assess member insurers separately for each 
  4.22  account the amounts necessary to pay the obligations of the 
  4.23  association under clause (a), the expenses of handling claims, 
  4.24  the cost of examinations under section 60C.15, and other 
  4.25  expenses authorized by this chapter. 
  4.26     (c) Notify the persons as the commissioner directs under 
  4.27  this chapter claimants in this state as considered necessary by 
  4.28  the commissioner, to the extent records are available to the 
  4.29  association.  If sufficient information for notification by mail 
  4.30  is not available, notice by publication in a newspaper of 
  4.31  general circulation is sufficient. 
  4.32     (d) Handle claims through its employees or through one or 
  4.33  more insurers or other persons designated as servicing 
  4.34  facilities.  Designation of a servicing facility is subject to 
  4.35  the approval of the commissioner, but the designation may be 
  4.36  declined. 
  5.1      (e) Reimburse each servicing facility for obligations of 
  5.2   the association paid by the facility and for expenses incurred 
  5.3   by the facility while handling claims on behalf of the 
  5.4   association and shall pay the other expenses of the association 
  5.5   authorized by this chapter.  
  5.6      (f) Notify each member insurer of its assessment not later 
  5.7   than 30 days before it is due.  
  5.8      (g) Issue to each insurer paying an assessment under this 
  5.9   chapter a certificate of contribution, in a form prescribed by 
  5.10  the commissioner, for the amount so paid.  All outstanding 
  5.11  certificates shall be of equal dignity and priority without 
  5.12  reference to amounts or dates of issue.  A certificate of 
  5.13  contribution may be shown by the insurer in its financial 
  5.14  statement as an asset in the form and for the amount, if any, 
  5.15  and period of time the commissioner approves. 
  5.16     (h) Have the right to appoint or substitute and to direct 
  5.17  legal counsel retained under liability insurance policies for 
  5.18  the defense of covered claims. 
  5.19     Sec. 6.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.07, 
  5.20  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  5.21     Subd. 2.  The plan of operation shall: 
  5.22     (a) Establish the procedures whereby all the powers and 
  5.23  duties of the association under section 60C.05 will be performed.
  5.24     (b) Establish procedures for handling assets of the 
  5.25  association.  
  5.26     (c) Establish the amount and method of reimbursement of 
  5.27  members of the board of directors under section 60C.08, 
  5.28  subdivision 3.  
  5.29     (d) Establish procedures by which claims may be filed with 
  5.30  the association.  
  5.31     (e) Establish regular places and times for meetings for the 
  5.32  board of directors.  
  5.33     (f) Establish procedures for records to be kept of all 
  5.34  financial transactions of the association, its agents, and the 
  5.35  board of directors.  
  5.36     (g) Provide that any member insurer aggrieved by any final 
  6.1   action or decision of the association may appeal to the 
  6.2   commissioner within 30 days after the action or decision.  
  6.3      (h) Establish the procedures whereby selections for the 
  6.4   board of directors will be submitted to the commissioner.  
  6.5      (i) Contain additional provisions necessary or proper for 
  6.6   the execution of the powers and duties of the association.  
  6.7      (j) Establish procedures for the disposition of liquidating 
  6.8   dividends or other money received from the estate of the 
  6.9   insolvent insurer. 
  6.10     Sec. 7.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.09, is 
  6.11  amended to read: 
  6.12     60C.09 [COVERED CLAIMS.] 
  6.13     Subdivision 1.  [DEFINITION.] A covered claim is any unpaid 
  6.14  claim, including one for unearned premium, which: 
  6.15     (a)(1) Arises out of and is within the coverage of an 
  6.16  insurance policy issued by a member insurer if the insurer 
  6.17  becomes an insolvent insurer after April 30, 1979; or 
  6.18     (2) Would be within the coverage of an extended reporting 
  6.19  endorsement to a claims-made insurance policy if insolvency had 
  6.20  not prevented the member insurer from fulfilling its obligation 
  6.21  to issue the endorsement, if: 
  6.22     (i) the claims-made policy contained a provision affording 
  6.23  the insured the right to purchase a reporting endorsement; 
  6.24     (ii) coverage will be no greater than if a reporting 
  6.25  endorsement had been issued; 
  6.26     (iii) the insured has not purchased other insurance which 
  6.27  applies to the claim; and 
  6.28     (iv) the insured's deductible under the policy is increased 
  6.29  by an amount equal to the premium for the reporting endorsement, 
  6.30  as provided in the insured's claims-made policy, or if not so 
  6.31  provided, then as established by a rate service organization. 
  6.32     (b) Arises out of a class of business which is not excepted 
  6.33  from the scope of this chapter by section 60C.02; and 
  6.34     (c) Is made by: 
  6.35     (i) A policyholder, or an insured beneficiary under a 
  6.36  policy, who, at the time of the insured event, was a resident of 
  7.1   this state; or 
  7.2      (ii) A person designated in the policy as having an 
  7.3   insurable interest in or related to property situated in this 
  7.4   state at the time of the insured event; or 
  7.5      (iii) An obligee or creditor under any surety bond, who, at 
  7.6   the time of default by the principal debtor or obligor, was a 
  7.7   resident of this state; or 
  7.8      (iv) A third party claimant under a liability policy or 
  7.9   surety bond, if:  (a) the insured or the third party claimant 
  7.10  was a resident of this state at the time of the insured event; 
  7.11  (b) the claim is for bodily or personal injuries suffered in 
  7.12  this state by a person who when injured was a resident of this 
  7.13  state; or (c) the claim is for damages to real property situated 
  7.14  in this state at the time of damage; or 
  7.15     (v) A direct or indirect assignee of a person who except 
  7.16  for the assignment might have claimed under item (i), (ii), or 
  7.17  (iii). 
  7.18     For purposes of paragraph (c), item (ii), unit owners of 
  7.19  condominiums, townhouses, or cooperatives are considered as 
  7.20  having an insurable interest.  
  7.21     A covered claim also includes any unpaid claim which arises 
  7.22  or exists within 30 days after the time of entry of an a final 
  7.23  order of liquidation with a finding of insolvency by a court of 
  7.24  competent jurisdiction unless prior thereto the insured replaces 
  7.25  the policy or causes its cancellation or the policy expires on 
  7.26  its expiration date.  A covered claim does not include claims 
  7.27  filed with the guaranty fund after the final date set by the 
  7.28  court for the filing of claims except for workers' compensation 
  7.29  claims that have met the time limitations and other requirements 
  7.30  of chapter 176 and excused late filings permitted under section 
  7.31  60B.37. 
  7.32     Subd. 2.  [FURTHER DEFINITION.] In addition to subdivision 
  7.33  1, a covered claim does not include: 
  7.34     (1) claims by an affiliate of the insurer; 
  7.35     (2) claims due a reinsurer, insurer, insurance pool, or 
  7.36  underwriting association, as subrogation recoveries, reinsurance 
  8.1   recoveries, contribution, indemnification, or otherwise.  This 
  8.2   clause does not prevent a person from presenting the excluded 
  8.3   claim to the insolvent insurer or its liquidator, but the claims 
  8.4   shall not be asserted against another person, including the 
  8.5   person to whom the benefits were paid or the insured of the 
  8.6   insolvent insurer, except to the extent that the claim is 
  8.7   outside the coverage of the policy issued by the insolvent 
  8.8   insurer; and 
  8.9      (3) any first-party claims, resulting from insolvencies 
  8.10  which occur after July 31, 1996, by an insured whose net worth 
  8.11  exceeds $25,000,000 on December 31 of the year prior to the year 
  8.12  in which the insurer becomes an insolvent insurer; provided that 
  8.13  an insured's net worth on that date shall be deemed to include 
  8.14  the aggregate net worth of the insured and all of its 
  8.15  subsidiaries as calculated on a consolidated basis. 
  8.16     Subd. 3.  [LIMITATION OF AMOUNT.] Payment of a covered 
  8.17  claim, whether upon a single policy or multiple policies of 
  8.18  insurance, is limited to the amount by which the allowance on 
  8.19  any claim exceeds $100 and is less no more than $300,000.  In 
  8.20  the case of claim for unearned premium by a single claimant, the 
  8.21  entire claim up to $300,000 shall be allowed.  The limitation on 
  8.22  the amount of payment for a covered claim does not apply to 
  8.23  claims for workers' compensation insurance.  In no event is the 
  8.24  association obligated to the policyholder or claimant in an 
  8.25  amount in excess of the obligation of the insurer under the 
  8.26  policy from which the claim arises.  For insolvencies occurring 
  8.27  on or after October 1, 1985, no deductible applies to claims 
  8.28  eligible for payment under the assigned claims plan under 
  8.29  sections 65B.63 to 65B.65. 
  8.30     Sec. 8.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.11, 
  8.31  subdivision 5, is amended to read: 
  8.32     Subd. 5.  The expenses of the association or similar 
  8.33  organization in handling claims are accorded the same priority 
  8.34  as the liquidator's expenses.  The association and a similar 
  8.35  organization in another state must be recognized as claimants in 
  8.36  the liquidation of an insolvent insurer for amounts paid by them 
  9.1   on covered claims as determined under this chapter or similar 
  9.2   laws in other states and must receive dividends and other 
  9.3   distributions at the priority set forth in chapter 60B.  The 
  9.4   receiver, liquidator, or statutory successor of an insolvent 
  9.5   insurer is bound by determinations of covered claim eligibility 
  9.6   under this chapter and by settlements of claims made by the 
  9.7   association or a similar organization in another state.  The 
  9.8   court having jurisdiction shall grant the claims priority equal 
  9.9   to that which the claimant would have been entitled against the 
  9.10  assets of the insolvent insurer in the absence of this chapter. 
  9.11     Sec. 9.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.13, 
  9.12  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  9.13     Subdivision 1.  Any person having a claim under another 
  9.14  policy whether or not the policy is a policy of a member 
  9.15  insurer, which claim arises out of the same facts which give 
  9.16  rise to the covered claim, shall be first required to exhaust 
  9.17  the person's right under the other policy.  Any amount payable 
  9.18  on a covered claim under this chapter shall be reduced by the 
  9.19  amount of any recovery under such insurance policy.  For 
  9.20  purposes of this subdivision, another insurance policy does not 
  9.21  include a workers' compensation policy. 
  9.22     Sec. 10.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.14, 
  9.23  subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  9.24     Subd. 2.  [OPTIONAL POWERS AND DUTIES.] The commissioner 
  9.25  may: 
  9.26     (a) Require the association to notify the insureds of any 
  9.27  insurer undergoing liquidation and any other interested parties 
  9.28  of their possible rights under Laws 1971, chapter 145.  
  9.29  Notification shall be by mail at their last known address, where 
  9.30  available, but if sufficient information for notification by 
  9.31  mail is not available, notice by publication in a newspaper of 
  9.32  general circulation shall be sufficient. 
  9.33     (b) Suspend or revoke, after notice and hearing, the 
  9.34  certificate of authority to transact insurance or to execute 
  9.35  surety bonds in this state of any member insurer which fails to 
  9.36  pay an assessment when due or fails to comply with the plan of 
 10.1   operation.  As an alternative, the commissioner may levy a fine 
 10.2   on any member insurer which fails to pay an assessment when 
 10.3   due.  The fine shall not exceed five percent of the unpaid 
 10.4   assessment per month, except that no fine shall be less than 
 10.5   $100 per month. 
 10.6      (c) (b) Revoke the designation of any servicing facility if 
 10.7   the commissioner finds claims are being handled unsatisfactorily.
 10.8      (d) (c) Disclose to the board of directors information 
 10.9   regarding any member insurer, or any company seeking admission 
 10.10  to transact insurance business in this state, whose financial 
 10.11  condition may be hazardous to policyholders or to the public.  
 10.12  This disclosure does not violate any data privacy requirement or 
 10.13  any obligation to treat the information as privileged.  This 
 10.14  disclosure does not change the data privacy or privileged status 
 10.15  of the information.  Board members shall not disclose the 
 10.16  information to anyone else or use the information for any 
 10.17  purpose other than their duties as board members. 
 10.18     Sec. 11.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.15, is 
 10.19  amended to read: 
 10.20     60C.15 [PREVENTION OF INSOLVENCIES.] 
 10.21     To aid in the detection and prevention of insurer 
 10.22  insolvencies: 
 10.23     (1) The board of directors:  (a) may, upon majority vote, 
 10.24  make recommendations to the commissioner for the detection and 
 10.25  prevention of insurer insolvencies; and (b) shall respond to 
 10.26  requests by the commissioner to discuss and make recommendations 
 10.27  regarding the status of any member insurer whose financial 
 10.28  condition may be hazardous to policyholders or the public.  
 10.29  These recommendations are classified as nonpublic data under 
 10.30  section 13.02. 
 10.31     (1) The board of directors may upon majority vote make 
 10.32  recommendations to the commissioner on matters generally related 
 10.33  to improving or enhancing regulation for solvency. 
 10.34     (2) The board of directors may, at the conclusion of any 
 10.35  domestic insurer insolvency in which the association was 
 10.36  obligated to pay covered claims, prepare and submit to the 
 11.1   commissioner a report on the history and causes of the 
 11.2   insolvency, based on the information available to the 
 11.3   association. 
 11.4      Sec. 12.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.19, is 
 11.5   amended to read: 
 11.6      60C.19 [IMMUNITY.] 
 11.7      There shall be no liability on the part of and no cause of 
 11.8   action of any nature shall arise against any member insurer, the 
 11.9   association or its agents or employees, the board of directors, 
 11.10  or a person serving as an alternative or substitute 
 11.11  representative of a director, or the commissioner, or the 
 11.12  commissioner's representatives for action taken or a failure to 
 11.13  act by them in the ordinary performance of their powers and 
 11.14  duties under Laws 1971, chapter 145 this chapter.  
 11.15     Sec. 13.  [60C.195] [STAY OF PROCEEDINGS.] 
 11.16     All proceedings in which the insolvent insurer is a party 
 11.17  or is obligated to defend a party in a court in this state 
 11.18  shall, subject to waiver by the association in specific cases 
 11.19  involving covered claims, be stayed for six months and 
 11.20  additional time that may be determined by the court.  The stay 
 11.21  must run from the date of the final order of liquidation with a 
 11.22  finding of insolvency is determined or an ancillary proceeding 
 11.23  is instituted in the state, whichever is later.  The proceedings 
 11.24  are stayed to permit proper defense by the association of all 
 11.25  pending causes of action.  As to covered claims arising from a 
 11.26  judgment under decision, verdict, or finding based on the 
 11.27  default of the insolvent insurer or its failure to defend an 
 11.28  insured, the association, either on its own behalf or on behalf 
 11.29  of an insured, may apply to have the judgment, order, decision, 
 11.30  verdict, or finding set aside by the same court or administrator 
 11.31  that made the judgment, order, decision, verdict, or finding and 
 11.32  must be permitted to defend the claim on the merits. 
 11.33     The liquidator, receiver, or statutory successor of an 
 11.34  insolvent insurer covered by this chapter must permit access by 
 11.35  the board or its authorized representative to the insolvent 
 11.36  insurer's records that are necessary for the board in carrying 
 12.1   out its functions under this chapter with regard to covered 
 12.2   claims.  In addition, the liquidator, receiver, or statutory 
 12.3   successor must provide the board or its representative with 
 12.4   copies of those records upon request by the board and at the 
 12.5   expense of the board. 
 12.6      Sec. 14.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.21, 
 12.7   subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
 12.8      Subd. 2.  [FORM.] The notice required under subdivision 1 
 12.9   must be in the following form: 
 12.10            "NOTICE CONCERNING POLICYHOLDER RIGHTS IN AN
 12.11              INSOLVENCY UNDER THE MINNESOTA INSURANCE
 12.12                      GUARANTY ASSOCIATION LAW
 12.13     The financial strength of your insurer is one of the most 
 12.14  important things for you to consider when determining from whom 
 12.15  to purchase a property or liability insurance policy.  It is 
 12.16  your best assurance that you will receive the protection for 
 12.17  which you purchased the policy.  If your insurer becomes 
 12.18  insolvent, you may have protection from the Minnesota Insurance 
 12.19  Guaranty Association as described below but to the extent that 
 12.20  your policy is not protected by the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty 
 12.21  Association or if it exceeds the guaranty association's limits, 
 12.22  you will only have the assets, if any, of the insolvent insurer 
 12.23  to satisfy your claim. 
 12.24     Residents of Minnesota who purchase property and casualty 
 12.25  or liability insurance from insurance companies licensed to do 
 12.26  business in Minnesota are protected, SUBJECT TO LIMITS AND 
 12.27  EXCLUSIONS, in the event the insurer becomes insolvent.  This 
 12.28  protection is provided by the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty 
 12.29  Association. 
 12.30              Minnesota Insurance Guaranty Association
 12.31          (insert current address and telephone number)
 12.32     The maximum amount that the Minnesota Insurance Guaranty 
 12.33  Association will pay in regard to a claim under all policies 
 12.34  issued by the same insurer is limited to $300,000.  This limit 
 12.35  does not apply to workers' compensation insurance.  Protection 
 12.36  by the guaranty association is subject to other substantial 
 13.1   limitations and exclusions.  If your claim exceeds the guaranty 
 13.2   association's limits, you may still recover a part or all of 
 13.3   that amount from the proceeds from the liquidation of the 
 13.4   insolvent insurer, if any exist.  Funds to pay claims may not be 
 13.5   immediately available.  The guaranty association assesses 
 13.6   insurers licensed to sell property and casualty or liability 
 13.7   insurance in Minnesota after the insolvency occurs.  Claims are 
 13.8   paid from the assessment. 
 13.9      THE PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION IS NOT 
 13.10  A SUBSTITUTE FOR USING CARE IN SELECTING INSURANCE COMPANIES 
 13.11  THAT ARE WELL MANAGED AND FINANCIALLY STABLE.  IN SELECTING AN 
 13.12  INSURANCE COMPANY OR POLICY, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON PROTECTION 
 13.13  BY THE GUARANTY ASSOCIATION. 
 13.14     THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY MINNESOTA STATE LAW TO ADVISE 
 13.15  POLICYHOLDERS OF PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE POLICIES OF 
 13.16  THEIR RIGHTS IN THE EVENT THEIR INSURANCE CARRIER BECOMES 
 13.17  INSOLVENT.  THIS NOTICE IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THE COMPANY 
 13.18  CURRENTLY HAS ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL PROBLEMS.  ALL PROPERTY AND 
 13.19  CASUALTY INSURANCE POLICIES ARE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE THIS NOTICE."
 13.20     Additional language may be added to the notice if approved 
 13.21  by the commissioner prior to its use in the form. 
 13.22     Sec. 15.  [REPEALER.] 
 13.23     Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 60C.06, subdivision 6, is 
 13.24  repealed. 
 13.25     Sec. 16.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
 13.26     Sections 1 to 15 are effective the day following final 
 13.27  enactment and apply to all matters arising out of any past or 
 13.28  future insolvency.