1. A “rating organization” is an individual, partnership, corporation or unincorporated association other than an insurer located within or without this state, who or which has as its primary object and purpose the making and filing of rates, rating plans, rating systems or rules relating thereto, and who or which may also examine policies, daily reports, binders, renewal certificates, endorsements and other evidences of insurance or the cancellation thereof for any member or subscriber requesting such auditing service.

2. Such a rating organization shall make application to the director for license as a rating organization for such kinds of insurance, or subdivisions, or classes or risk, or parts or combinations of any of the foregoing as are specified in its application and shall file therewith:

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(1) A copy of its constitution, its articles of agreement or association or its certificate of incorporation, and of its bylaws, rules and regulations governing the conduct of its business;

(2) A list of its members and subscribers;

(3) The name and address of a resident of this state upon whom notices or orders of the director or process affecting such rating organization may be served;

(4) A statement of its qualifications as a rating organization; and

(5) An agreement that the director may examine such rating organization in accordance with the provisions of section 379.343.

3. If the director finds that the applicant is competent, trustworthy, and otherwise qualified to act as a rating organization, and that its constitution, articles of agreement or association or certificate of incorporation, and its bylaws, rules and regulations governing the conduct of its business conform to the requirements of law, he shall issue a license specifying the kinds of insurance, or subdivisions, or classes or risk, or parts or combinations of any of the foregoing for which the applicant is authorized to act as a rating organization. Every such application shall be granted or denied in whole or in part by the director within sixty days of the date of its filing with him. Licenses issued pursuant to this section shall remain in effect for three years unless sooner suspended or revoked by the director. The fee for the license is twenty-five dollars. Licenses issued pursuant to this section may be suspended or revoked by the director, after hearing upon notice, in the event the rating organization ceases to meet the requirements of this subsection. Every rating organization shall notify the director promptly of every change in:

(1) Its constitution, its articles of agreement or association, or its certificate of incorporation, and its bylaws, rules and regulations governing the conduct of its business;

(2) Its list of members and subscribers; and,

(3) The name and address of the resident of this state designated by it upon whom notices or orders of the director or process affecting such rating organization may be served.

4. Subject to rules and regulations which have been approved by the director as reasonable, each rating organization shall permit any insurer, not a member, to be a subscriber to its services for any one or more of the kinds of insurance, subdivisions, or classes or risk or parts or combinations of any of the foregoing for which it is authorized to act as an organization. Notice of proposed changes in such rules and regulations shall be given to subscribers. Each rating organization shall furnish its services without discrimination to its members and subscribers. The reasonableness of any rule or regulation in its application to subscribers, or the refusal of any rating organization to admit an insurer as a subscriber, shall, at the request of any subscriber or any such insurer, be reviewed by the director at a hearing held upon at least ten days’ written notice to such rating organization and to such subscriber or insurer. If the director finds that such rule or regulation is unreasonable in its application to subscribers, he shall order that such rule or regulation shall not be applicable to subscribers. If the rating organization fails to grant or reject an insurer’s application for subscribership within thirty days after it was made, the insurer may request a review by the director as if the application had been rejected. If the director finds that the insurer has been refused admittance to the rating organization as a subscriber without justification, he shall order the rating organization to admit the insurer as a subscriber. If he finds that the action of the rating organization was justified, he shall make an order affirming its action.

5. No rating organization shall adopt any rule the effect of which would be to prohibit or regulate the payment of dividends or savings allowed or returned by insurers to their policyholders or members.

6. Cooperation among rating organizations or among rating organizations and insurers in ratemaking or in other matters within the scope of section 379.017 and sections 379.316 to 379.361 is hereby authorized, provided the filings resulting from such cooperation are subject to all the provisions of section 379.017 and sections 379.316 to 379.361 which are applicable to filings generally. The director may review such cooperative activities and practices and if, after a hearing, he finds that any such activity or practice is unfair or unreasonable, or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of section 379.017 and sections 379.316 to 379.361, he may issue a written order specifying in what respects such activity or practice is unfair or unreasonable or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of section 379.017 and sections 379.316 to 379.361, and requiring the discontinuance of such activity or practice.

7. Any rating organization may subscribe for or purchase actuarial, technical or other services, and such services shall be available to all members and subscribers without discrimination.

8. A “member of a rating organization” means an insurer entitled to participate in its management and electing to exercise its right to so participate.