An insurer authorized to insure only property located in the county of its principal office and in those counties contiguous to the county of its principal office in this state, but including personal property temporarily removed therefrom, is a “county mutual insurer.” However, those county farm mutuals insuring property located in noncontiguous counties as of August 25, 1978, may continue to insure property located in those noncontiguous counties served as of August 25, 1978, upon registration prior to January 1, 1980, with the director. The director of the Division of Insurance may permit a county farm mutual which otherwise does not meet the requirements of this section to insure property located in counties which would be considered noncontiguous to its home office subsequent to August 25, 1978, if, after a hearing, he finds that the violation of this section occurs because of a merger or consolidation consummated subsequent to August 25, 1978, as a result of bona fide negotiations begun prior to August 25, 1978, provided that the hearing is held prior to January 1, 1980.

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Source: SL 1966, ch 111, ch 17, § 2 (2); SL 1979, ch 341, § 22.