2012 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 38 - Insurance
Chapter 44 - MANAGING GENERAL AGENTS ACT
Section 38-44-50 - Examination and review of managing general agent by insurer; authority to assume insurance contracts or syndicates rests with insurer; notice of entering into or terminating contract with managing general agent; review of agents of insurer to determine if agents have become managing general agents; appointment of managing general agent to board of directors of insurer prohibited.

(A) The insurer shall file annually with the department not later than March 1 an annual independent financial examination of each MGA with which it has done business, prepared by a certified public accountant in a form acceptable to the director or his designee.

(B) If a MGA establishes loss reserves, the insurer annually shall obtain the opinion of an actuary attesting to the adequacy of loss reserves established for losses incurred and outstanding on business produced by the MGA. The opinion must be filed not later than March 1. This is in addition to other required loss reserve certification.

(C) The insurer at least semi-annually by July 31 and December 31 shall conduct an on-site review of the underwriting and claims processing operations of the MGA.

(D) Binding authority for all assumed reinsurance contracts or participation in insurance or reinsurance syndicates rests with an officer of the insurer who must not be affiliated with the MGA.

(E) Within thirty days of entering into or termination of a contract with a MGA the insurer shall provide written notification of the appointment or termination to the department. Notices of appointment of a MGA must include a statement of duties which the applicant is expected to perform on behalf of the insurer, the lines of insurance for which the applicant is to be authorized to act, and other information the director or his designee may request. If the contract is terminated, notification must be given by the insurer within thirty days of the action to agents or brokers who have placed business with the MGA within the last twelve months.

(F) An insurer shall review its books and records each quarter to determine if an agent, as defined by Section 38-44-20(3), has become, by operation of that section, a MGA. If the insurer determines that an agent has become a MGA, the insurer promptly shall notify the agent and the department of the determination, and the insurer and agent shall comply fully with this chapter within thirty days.

(G) An insurer may not appoint to its board of directors an officer, a director, an employee, an agent, or a broker or a controlling shareholder of its MGA's. This subsection does not apply to relationships governed by the Insurance Holding Company Regulatory Act or, if applicable, Section 38-21-95.

HISTORY: 1992 Act No. 363, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 669; 2002 Act No. 228, Section 7, eff May 1, 2002.