2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 22:5 — General definitions

§5.  General definitions

In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall be applicable:

(1)  "Alien Insurer" is one formed under the laws of any country other than the United States.

(2)  "Approved unauthorized insurer" means an insurer without a certificate of authority, or otherwise qualified under the provisions of this Code, and which is on the list of approved unauthorized insurers under the provisions of R.S. 22:1262.1, and from which a licensed surplus lines broker may procure insurance under provisions of R.S. 22:1257.

(3)  "Authorized insurer" means an insurer with a certificate of authority or license issued under provisions of this Code or otherwise qualified under R.S. 22:2071 et seq.

(4)  "Commissioner of Insurance" as that office is created and defined by this Code shall have full power and authority to act as insurance commissioner for the state of Louisiana and is hereby declared to be the proper officer to act for this state and to represent this state as a member of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

(5)  "Control", as used in this Code relative to ownership, shall mean ownership representing or the authority to represent over fifty percent of the total one hundred percent ownership.

(6)  "Directive" means a written communication or order issued by or on behalf of the commissioner of insurance to a person whose activities are regulated by this Title, which instructs the person to act in conformance with this Title, or any rule or regulation adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

(7)  "Domestic Insurer" is one formed under the laws of this state.

(8)  "Foreign Insurer" is one formed under the laws of any other state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia.

(9)(a)  "Insurance" is a contract whereby one undertakes to indemnify another or pay a specified amount upon determinable contingencies.  It shall include any trust, plan or agreement, popularly known as employee benefit trusts, not specifically exempted from state regulation under Public Law 93-406, except collectively bargained union welfare plans, single employer plans or plans of the state or political subdivisions.

(b)  The establishment and operation of one or more professional or public liability trust funds by a statewide hospital association in this state for the purpose of providing a means by which any type of professional malpractice or public liability claims or judgments arising from such claims against hospitals which are members of the association and claims against members of societies of the association shall be paid or settled shall not be deemed to be insurance and such trust or trusts shall not be deemed to be licensed, admitted or authorized insurers but shall be subject to Parts XX, XXVI, XXVIII, and XXIX of Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.  An annual audited statement for each such trust shall be filed with the commissioner of insurance.  The commissioner of insurance shall also have the authority to examine the books, records and affairs of the trust funds.

(c)  The establishment and operation of professional and public liability trust funds by a nonprofit beneficiary organization as set forth in Part XIII of Chapter 2 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 shall not be deemed to be insurance and the trusts shall not be deemed to be a licensed, admitted, or authorized insurer but shall be subject to Parts XX, XXVI, XXVIII, and XXIX of Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.  An annual audited statement shall be filed with the commissioner of insurance.  The commissioner of insurance shall also have the authority to examine the books, records, and affairs of the trust fund.

(d)  The establishment and operation of one or more professional, trade, and occupational  or public liability trust funds by professional associations in this state for the purpose of providing a means by which professional malpractice and public liability claims or judgments arising from such claims against members of the associations shall be paid or settled shall not be deemed to be insurance, and the trust shall not be deemed to be a licensed, admitted, or authorized insurer but shall be subject to Parts XX, XXVI, XXVIII, and XXIX of Chapter 1 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.  An annual audited statement shall be filed with the commissioner of insurance.  The commissioner of insurance shall also have the authority to examine the books, records, and affairs of the trust fund.

(10)  "Insurer" includes every person engaged in the business of making contracts of insurance, other than a fraternal benefit society.  A reciprocal, an inter-insurance exchange, insurance exchange syndicate, or a Lloyds organization is an "insurer".  Any person who provides an employee benefit trust as specified in Subparagraph (9)(a) of this Section is an insurer.  A health maintenance organization is an insurer but only for the purposes enumerated in R.S. 22:2002(7).

(11)  "Life Insurer" as used in this Code, shall mean all insurers issuing life insurance contracts, including industrial and service insurers.

(12)  "Person" means any individual, company, insurer, association, organization, reciprocal or inter-insurance exchange, partnership, business, trust, or corporation.

(13)  "Premium" as used in this Code means all sums charged, received, or deposited as consideration for the purchase or continuance of insurance for a definitely stated term, and shall include any assessment, membership, policy, survey, inspection, service or similar fee or charge made by an insurer as a part of the consideration for the purchase or continuance of insurance.  The term premium, as used in R.S. 22:636(D) and 637(B), shall not include any assessment, membership, policy, survey, inspection, service or similar fee or charge made by an insurer as part of the consideration for the purchase or continuance of insurance.

(14)  "Resident" shall mean any individual, company, insurer, partnership, association, organization, corporation, reciprocal or inter-insurance exchange, business, or trust that principally resides or maintains a principal place of business in this state.

(15)  "Secretary of State" as used in this Code means the secretary of state of the state of Louisiana where that designation appears, to the extent that the functions to be performed by the secretary of state as designated therein involve the recordation of documents or his appointment as attorney to accept service of process in legal proceedings.

(16)  "Small company" means a domestic life insurer which does business exclusively in the state of Louisiana, with admitted assets not exceeding ten million dollars and having gross annual premiums not exceeding two million dollars.

(17)  "Surplus lines insurance" means any property and casualty insurance in this state on properties, risks, or exposures, located or to be performed in this state, permitted to be placed through a licensed surplus lines broker with an approved unauthorized insurer.

(18)  "Unauthorized insurer" means an insurer which does not possess a certificate of authority to do business in the state.

Acts 1958, No. 125.  Amended by Acts 1975, No. 324, §1; Acts 1978, No. 545, §1; Acts 1986, No. 375, §1; Acts 1986, No. 574, §1; Acts 1986, No. 902, §1; Acts 1989, No. 602, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1989, No. 666, §1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1993, No. 59, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1340, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1304, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 1312, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 87, §1; Acts 2003, No. 70, §1; Acts 2004, No. 325, §1, eff. June 18, 2004.