(a) The Directors shall submit to the Commissioner for his review and approval, a proposed plan of operation. The plan shall set forth the number, qualifications, terms of office, and manner of election of the members of the board of directors, and shall grant proper credit annually to each member of the Association for essential property insurance, farmowners, homeowners insurance, and the property portion of commercial multiple peril policies voluntarily written in the beach and coastal areas and shall provide for the efficient, economical, fair and nondiscriminatory administration of the Association and for the prompt and efficient provision of essential property insurance in the beach and coastal areas of North Carolina to promote orderly community development in those areas and to provide means for the adequate maintenance and improvement of the property in those areas. The plan may include the establishment of necessary facilities; management of the Association; the assessment of members to defray losses and expenses; underwriting standards; procedures for the acceptance and cession of reinsurance; procedures for determining the amounts of insurance to be provided to specific risks; time limits and procedures for processing applications for insurance; and any other provisions that are considered necessary by the Commissioner to carry out the purposes of this Article.

(b) The proposed plan and any amendments thereto shall be filed with the Commissioner and approved by him if he finds that such plan fulfills the purposes provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-45-1. In the review of the proposed plan the Commissioner may, in his discretion, consult with the directors of the Association and may seek any further information which he deems necessary to his decision. If the Commissioner approves the proposed plan, he shall certify such approval to the directors and the plan shall become effective 10 days after such certification. If the Commissioner disapproves all or any part of the proposed plan of operation he shall return the same to the directors with his written statement for the reasons for disapproval and any recommendations he may wish to make. The directors may alter the plan in accordance with the Commissioner’s recommendation or may within 30 days from the date of disapproval return a new plan to the Commissioner. Should the directors fail to submit a plan that meets the requirements of this Article or accept the recommendations of the Commissioner within 30 days after his disapproval of the plan, the Commissioner shall promulgate and place into effect a plan of operation that meets the requirements of this Article certifying the same to the directors of the Association. Any such plan promulgated by the Commissioner shall take effect 10 days after certification to the directors.

(c) The directors of the Association may, subject to the approval of the Commissioner, amend the plan of operation at any time. The Commissioner may review the plan of operation at any time the Commissioner deems expedient or prudent, but not less than once in each calendar year. After review of the plan the Commissioner may amend the plan after consultation with the directors and upon certification to the directors of the amendment. Any order of the Commissioner with respect to the proposed plan of operation or any amendments thereto shall be subject to review upon petition by the Association as provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-2-75.

(d) As used in this subsection, “homeowners’ insurance policy” means a multiperil policy providing full coverage of residential property similar to the coverage provided under an HO-2, HO-3, HO-4, or HO-6 policy under Article 36 of this Chapter. The Association shall issue, for principal residences, homeowners’ insurance policies approved by the Commissioner. Homeowners’ insurance policies shall be available to persons who reside in the beach and coastal areas who meet the Association’s underwriting standards and who are unable to obtain homeowners’ insurance policies from insurers that are authorized to transact and are actually writing homeowners’ insurance policies in this State. The Association shall file for approval by the Commissioner underwriting standards to determine whether property is insurable. The standards shall reflect underwriting standards commonly used in the voluntary homeowners’ insurance business. The terms and conditions of the homeowners’ insurance policies available under this subsection shall not be more favorable than those of homeowners’ insurance policies available in the voluntary market in beach and coastal counties.

(e) The Association shall, subject to the Commissioner’s approval or modification, provide in the plan of operation for coverage for appropriate classes of manufacturing risks.

(f) As used in this section, “plan of operation” includes all written rules, practices, and procedures of the Association, except for staffing and personnel matters. (1967, c. 1111, s. 1; 1969, c. 249; 1986, Ex. Sess., c. 7, s. 8; 1987, c. 731, s. 1; c. 864, s. 41; 1991, c. 720, s. 59; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 784, s. 5; 1997-498, s. 3; 2002-185, s. 2; 2003-158, ss. 1, 3.1; 2009-472, s. 1.)