No person, firm, association, or corporation acting in the capacity of a managing general agent shall place business with an insurer unless there is in force a written contract between the parties that sets forth the responsibilities of each party and where both parties share responsibility for a particular function, specifies the division of such responsibilities, and that contains the following minimum provisions:

(a) The insurer may terminate the contract for cause upon written notice to the managing general agent. The insurer may suspend the underwriting authority of the managing general agent during the pendency of any dispute regarding the cause for termination.
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Terms Used In Alabama Code 27-6A-4

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Federal Reserve System: The central bank of the United States. The Fed, as it is commonly called, regulates the U.S. monetary and financial system. The Federal Reserve System is composed of a central governmental agency in Washington, D.C. (the Board of Governors) and twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks in major cities throughout the United States. Source: OCC
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • year: means a calendar year; but, whenever the word "year" is used in reference to any appropriations for the payment of money out of the treasury, it shall mean fiscal year. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(b) The managing general agent shall render accounts to the insurer detailing all transactions and remit all funds due under the contract to the insurer on not less than a monthly basis.
(c) All funds collected for the account of an insurer will be held by the managing general agent in a fiduciary capacity in a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System. This account shall be used for all payments on behalf of the insurer. The managing general agent may retain no more than three months estimated claims payments and allocated loss adjustment expenses.
(d) Separate records of business written by the managing general agent shall be maintained. The insurer shall have access and right to copy all accounts and records related to its business in a form usable by the insurer and the commissioner shall have access to all books, bank accounts, and records of the managing general agent in a form usable to the commissioner. The records shall be retained according to Section 27-7-33.
(e) The contract may not be assigned in whole or in part by the managing general agent.
(f) The contract shall contain appropriate underwriting guidelines including the following:

(1) The maximum annual premium volume.
(2) The basis of the rates to be charged.
(3) The types of risks that may be written.
(4) Maximum limits of liability.
(5) Applicable exclusions.
(6) Territorial limitations.
(7) Policy cancellation provisions.
(8) The maximum policy period.
(g) The insurer shall have the right to cancellation or non-renewal of any policy of insurance subject to the applicable laws and regulations concerning the cancellation and non-renewal of insurance policies.
(h) If the contract permits the managing general agent to settle claims on behalf of the insurer:

(1) All claims shall be reported to the company in a timely manner.
(2) A copy of the claim file shall be sent to the insurer at its request or as soon as it becomes known to the managing general agent that the claim:

a. Has the potential to exceed an amount determined by the commissioner or exceeds the limit set by the company, whichever is less.
b. Involves a coverage dispute.
c. May exceed the managing general agent’s claims settlement authority.
d. Has been open for more than six months.
e. Is closed by payment of an amount set by the commissioner or an amount set by the company, whichever is less.
(3) All claim files shall be the joint property of the insurer and managing general agent. Upon an order of liquidation of the insurer, the files shall become the sole property of the insurer or its estate. The managing general agent shall have reasonable access to and the right to copy the files on a timely basis.
(4) Any settlement authority granted to the managing general agent may be terminated for cause upon the insurer’s written notice to the managing general agent or upon the termination of the contract. The insurer may suspend the settlement authority during the pendency of any dispute regarding the cause for termination.
(i) Where electronic claims files are in existence, the contract shall address the timely transmission of the data.
(j) If the contract provides for a sharing of interim profits by the managing general agent, and the managing general agent has the authority to determine the amount of the interim profits by establishing loss reserves or controlling claim payments, or in any other manner, interim profits shall not be paid to the managing general agent until one year after they are earned for property insurance business and five years after they are earned on casualty business and not until the profits have been verified pursuant to Section 27-6A-5.
(k) The managing general agent shall not:

(1) Bind reinsurance or retrocessions on behalf of the insurer, except that the managing general agent may bind facultative reinsurance contracts pursuant to obligatory facultative agreements if the contract with the insurer contains reinsurance underwriting guidelines including, for both reinsurance assumed and ceded, a list of reinsurers with which such automatic agreements are in effect, the coverages and amounts or percentages that may be reinsured and commission schedules.
(2) Commit the insurer to participate in insurance or reinsurance syndicates.
(3) Appoint any producer without assuring that the producer is lawfully licensed to transact the type of insurance for which he or she is appointed.
(4) Without prior approval of the insurer, pay or commit the insurer to pay a claim over a specified amount, net of reinsurance, which shall not exceed one percent of the insurer’s policyholder’s surplus as of December 31 of the last completed calendar year.
(5) Collect any payment from a reinsurer or commit the insurer to any claim settlement with a reinsurer without prior approval of the insurer. If prior approval is given, a report shall be promptly forwarded to the insurer.
(6) Permit its subagent to serve on the insurer’s board of directors.
(7) Jointly employ an individual who is employed by the insurer.
(8) Appoint a sub-managing general agent.
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