(a) Subject to the limitations contained in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-45-47, each member of the Association shall participate in the nonrecoupable assessments levied by the Association in the proportion that its net direct premium written in this State during the preceding calendar year for residential and commercial properties outside of the beach and coastal areas bears to the aggregate net direct premiums written in this State during the preceding calendar year for residential and commercial properties outside of the beach and coastal areas by all members of the Association, as certified to the Association by the Commissioner. The Commissioner shall certify each member’s participation after review of annual statements and any other reports and data necessary to determine participation and may obtain any necessary information or data from any member of the Association for this purpose. Any insurer that is authorized to write and that is engaged in writing any insurance, the writing of which requires the insurer to be a member of the Association under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-45-10, shall become a member of the Association on the first day of January after authorization. The determination of the insurer’s participation in the Association shall be made as of the date of membership of the insurer in the same manner as for all other members of the Association.

(b) All member companies shall receive credit each year for essential property insurance, farmowners insurance, homeowners insurance, and the property portion of commercial multiple peril policies voluntarily written in the beach and coastal areas in accordance with guidelines and procedures to be submitted by the Directors to the Commissioner for approval. Such credits also shall apply to any nonrecoupable assessments levied pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-45-47. The participation of each member company in the nonrecoupable assessments levied by the Association shall be reduced accordingly; provided, no credit shall be given where coverage for the peril of wind has been excluded. The guidelines and procedures for granting credit shall encourage and assist each member company to voluntarily write these coverages in the beach and coastal areas for commercial and residential properties.

(b1) The accumulated surplus of the Association shall be retained from year to year and used to pay losses, reinsurance costs, and other operating expenses as necessary. No member company shall be entitled to the distribution of any portion of the Association’s surplus, except pursuant to judgments entered prior to August 26, 2009.

(b2) The premiums, surplus, assessments, investment income, and other revenue of the Association are funds received for the sole purpose of providing insurance coverage, paying claims for Association policyholders, purchasing reinsurance, securing and repaying debt obligations issued by the Association, and conducting all other activities of the Association, as required or permitted by this Article. Accumulated surplus shall not be removed from the Association or used for other purposes except pursuant to judgments entered prior to August 26, 2009.

(c) The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association shall use the “take out” program, as filed with and approved by the Commissioner, in the coastal area. (1967, c. 1111, s. 1; 1969, c. 249; 1991, c. 720, s. 58; 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 592, s. 1; 1997-498, s. 2; 2009-472, s. 1.)