GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION

CHAPTER 193
SENATE BILL 353

AN ACT TO MAKE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS AND CORRECTIONS IN THE INSURANCE LAWS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 58-1-5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-1-5.  Definitions.
In this Chapter, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
(1)	'Alien company' means a company incorporated or organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States.
(2)	'Commissioner' means Commissioner of Insurance of North Carolina or an authorized designee of the Commissioner.
(3)	'Company' or 'insurance company' or 'insurer' includes any corporation, association, partnership, society, order, individual or aggregation of individuals engaging or proposing or attempting to engage as principals in any kind of insurance business, including the exchanging of reciprocal or interinsurance contracts between individuals, partnerships and corporations.
(4)	'Department' means Department of Insurance of North Carolina.
(5)	'Domestic company' means a company incorporated or organized under the laws of this State.
(6)	'Foreign company' means a company incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States or of any jurisdiction within the United States other than this State.
(7)	'NAIC' means the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
(8)	'Nuclear insured' means a public utility procuring insurance against radioactive contamination and other risks of direct physical loss at a nuclear electric generating plant.
(9)	'Person' means an individual, partnership, firm, association, corporation, joint-stock company, trust, any similar entity, or any combination of the foregoing acting in concert. 'Person' does not mean the State of North Carolina or any county, city, or other political subdivision of the State of North Carolina.
(10)	The singular form shall include the plural, and the masculine form shall include the feminine wherever appropriate."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 58-1-15(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Any warranty made solely by a manufacturer, distributor, or seller of goods or services without charge, or an extended warranty offered as an option and made solely by a manufacturer, distributor, or seller of goods or services for charge, that guarantees indemnity for defective parts, mechanical or electrical breakdown, labor, or any other remedial measure, including replacement of goods or repetition of services, shall not be a contract of insurance under Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter; however, service agreements on motor vehicles are governed by G.S. 58-1-25, 58-1-35, and 58-1-36.  Service agreements on home appliances are governed by G.S. 58-1-30, 58-1-35, and 58-1-36."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 58-1-25 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-1-25.  Motor vehicle service agreement companies.
(a)	This section applies to all motor vehicle service agreement companies soliciting business in this State, but it does not apply to performance guarantees, warranties, or motor vehicle service agreements made by
(1)	A manufacturer,
(2)	A distributor, or
(3)	A subsidiary or affiliate of a manufacturer or a distributor, where fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the subsidiary or affiliate is owned directly or indirectly by
a.	The manufacturer,
b.	The distributor, or
c.	The common owner of fifty-one percent (51%) or more of the manufacturer or distributor
in connection with the sale of motor vehicles. This section does not apply to any motor vehicle dealer licensed to do business in this State (i) whose primary business is the retail sale and service of motor vehicles; (ii) who makes and administers its own service agreements with or without association with a third-party administrator or who makes its own service agreements in association with a manufacturer, distributor, or their subsidiaries or affiliates; and (iii) whose service agreements cover only vehicles sold by the dealer to its retail customer; provided that the dealer complies with G.S. 58-1-35 and G.S. 58-1-36.  A motor vehicle dealer who sells a motor vehicle service agreement to a consumer, as defined in 15 U.S.C. § 2301(3), is not deemed to have made a written warranty to the consumer with respect to the motor vehicle sold or to have entered into a service contract with the consumer that applies to the motor vehicle, as provided in 15 U.S.C. § 2308(a), if: (i) the motor vehicle dealer acts as a mere agent of a third party in selling the motor vehicle service agreement; and (ii) the motor vehicle dealer would, after the sale of the motor vehicle service agreement, have no further obligation under the motor vehicle service agreement to the consumer to service or repair the vehicle sold to the consumer at or within 90 days before the dealer sold the motor vehicle service agreement to the consumer.
(b)	The following definitions apply in this section and in G.S. 58-1-30, 58-1-35, and 58-1-36:
(1)	Authorized insurer. – An insurance company authorized to write liability insurance under Articles 7, 16, 21, or 22 of this Chapter.
(2)	Distributor. – Defined in G.S. 20-286(3).
(3)	Licensed insurer. – An insurance company licensed to write liability insurance under Article 7 or 16 of this Chapter.
(4)	Motor vehicle. – Defined in G.S. 20-4.01(23), but also including mopeds as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)d1.
(5)	Motor vehicle service agreement. – Any contract or agreement indemnifying the motor vehicle service agreement holder against loss caused by failure, arising out of the ownership, operation, or use of a motor vehicle, of a mechanical or other component part of the motor vehicle that is listed in the agreement. The term does not mean a contract or agreement guaranteeing the performance of parts or lubricants manufactured by the guarantor and sold for use in connection with a motor vehicle where no additional consideration is paid or given to the guarantor for the contract or agreement beyond the price of the parts or lubricants.
(6)	Motor vehicle service agreement company. – Any person that issues motor vehicle service agreements and that is not a licensed insurer.
(c)	through (g) Repealed by Session Laws 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 730, s. 3."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 58-1-35(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The provisions of this section and G.S. 58-1-36 apply to companies specified in G.S. 58-1-25 and G.S. 58-1-30."
Sec. 5.  G.S. 58-1-35(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	The following definitions apply in this section and in G.S. 58-1-36:
(1)	Service agreement.  Includes motor vehicle service agreements and home appliance service agreements.
(2)	Service agreement company.  Includes motor vehicle service agreement companies and home appliance service agreement companies."
Sec. 6.  G.S. 58-2-50 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-2-50.  Examinations and investigations.
All examinations and investigations provided for by this Chapter may be conducted by the Commissioner personally or by one or more deputies, investigators, actuaries, examiners or employees designated for the purpose.  If the Commissioner or any investigator appointed to conduct the investigations is of the opinion that there is evidence to charge any person or persons with a criminal violation of any provision of this Chapter, the Commissioner may arrest with warrant or cause the person or persons to be arrested.  "
Sec. 7.  G.S. 58-2-52(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Commissioner may adopt rules for the hearing of appeals by the Commissioner or the Commissioner's designated hearing officer under G.S. 58-36-35, 58-37-65, 58-45-50, 58-46-30, 58-48-40(c)(7), 58-48-42, and 58-62-51(c).  These rules may provide for prefiled evidence and testimony of the parties, prehearing statements and conferences, settlement conferences, discovery, subpoenas, sanctions, motions, intervention, consolidation of cases, continuances, rights and responsibilities of parties, witnesses, and evidence."
Sec. 8.  G.S. 58-2-225, 58-5-60, and 58-5-65 are repealed.
Sec. 9.  G.S. 58-3-50 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-3-50.  Companies must do business in own name; emblems, insignias, etc.
Every insurance company or group of companies must conduct its business in the State in, and the policies and contracts of insurance issued by it shall be headed or entitled only by, its proper or corporate name or names.  There shall not appear on the policy anything that would indicate that it is the obligation of any other than the company or companies responsible for the payment of losses under the policy, though it will be permissible to stamp or print on the policy, the name or names of the department or general agency issuing the same, and the group of companies with which the company is financially affiliated.  The use of any emblem, insignia, or anything other than the true and proper corporate name of the company or group of companies shall be permitted only with the approval of the Commissioner."
Sec. 10.  G.S. 58-3-100(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Commissioner may revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew the license of any insurer if:
(1)	The insurer fails or refuses to comply with any law, order or rule applicable to the insurer.
(2)	The insurer's financial condition is unsound, or its assets above its liabilities, exclusive of capital, are less than the amount of its capital or required minimum surplus.
(3)	The insurer has published or made to the Department or to the public any false statement or report.
(4)	The insurer refuses to submit to any examination authorized by law.
(5)	The insurer is found to make a practice of unduly engaging in litigation or of delaying the investigation of claims or the adjustment or payment of valid claims."
Sec. 11.  Article 5 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 58-5-63.  Interest; liquidation of deposits for liabilities.
(a)	All insurance companies making deposits under this Article are entitled to interest on those deposits, which shall remain in the deposit accounts.  The right to interest is subject to a company paying its insurance policy liabilities.  If any company fails to pay those liabilities, interest accruing after the failure is payable to the Commissioner for the payment of those liabilities under subsection (b) of this section.
(b)	If any company fails to pay its insurance policy liabilities after those liabilities have been established by settlement or final adjudication, the Commissioner may liquidate the amount of the company's deposit and accrued interest specified in subsection (a) of this section that will satisfy the company's policy liabilities and make payment to the person to whom the liability is owed.  After payment has been made, the Commissioner may require the company to deposit the amount paid out under this subsection."
Sec. 12.  G.S. 58-5-70 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-5-70.  Lien of policyholders; action to enforce.
Upon the securities deposited with the Commissioner by any foreign or alien insurance company, the holders of all contracts of the company who are citizens or residents of this State at the time, or who hold policies issued upon property in the State, shall have a lien for the amounts due them, respectively, under or in consequence of the contracts for losses, equitable values, return premiums, or otherwise, and shall be entitled to be paid ratably out of the proceeds of the securities, if the proceeds are not sufficient to pay all of the contract holders.  When any foreign or alien insurance company depositing securities under this Article becomes insolvent or bankrupt or makes an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, any holder of the contract may begin an action in the Superior Court of the County of Wake to enforce the lien for the benefit of all the holders of the contracts.  The Commissioner shall be a party to the suit, and the funds shall be distributed by the court, but the cost of the action shall not be adjudged against the Commissioner."
Sec. 13.  G.S. 58-7-21(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	As used in this section and in G.S. 58-7-26, 58-7-30, and 58-7-31:
(1)	'Reinsurance' means a transfer of insurance risk from a ceding insurer to an assuming insurer.
(2)	'Insurance risk' means an uncertainty regarding the ultimate amount of any claim payment (underwriting risk) or an uncertainty regarding the timing of the payments (timing risk), or both."
Sec. 14.  G.S. 58-7-30 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-7-30.  Insolvency of ceding insurer; exceptions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, no credit shall be allowed, as an admitted asset or as a deduction from liability, to any ceding insurer for reinsurance, unless the reinsurance is payable by the assuming insurer, on the basis of claims allowed against the ceding insurer under the contract or contracts reinsured without diminution because of the insolvency of the ceding insurer, directly to the ceding insurer or to its domiciliary receiver except (1) where the contract specifically provides for another payee of the reinsurance in the event of the insolvency of the ceding insurer or (2) where the assuming insurer, with the consent of the direct insured or insureds, has assumed the policy obligations of the ceding insurer as direct obligations of the assuming insurer to the payees under the policies and in substitution of the obligations of the ceding insurer to the payees."
Sec. 15.  G.S. 58-7-31(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, this section applies to every domestic life and accident and health insurer, to every other licensed life and accident and health insurer that is not subject to a substantially similar statute or administrative rule in its domiciliary state, and to every licensed property and casualty insurer with respect to its accident and health business.  This section does not apply to assumption reinsurance, yearly renewable term reinsurance, nor to certain nonproportional reinsurance, such as stop loss or catastrophe reinsurance."
Sec. 16.  G.S. 58-7-31(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	In the case of a letter of intent, a reinsurance agreement or an amendment to a reinsurance agreement must be executed within a reasonable period of time, not exceeding 90 days after the execution date of the letter of intent, in order for credit to be granted for the reinsurance ceded."
Sec. 17.  G.S. 58-7-75(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	Stock Life Insurance Companies. – A stock corporation may be organized in the manner prescribed in this Chapter and licensed to do the business of life insurance, only when it has paid-in capital of at least six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) and a paid-in initial surplus of at least nine hundred thousand dollars ($900,000), and it may in addition do the kind of business specified in G.S. 58-7-15(2), without having additional capital or surplus.  Every such company shall at all times thereafter maintain a minimum capital of not less than six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) and a minimum surplus of at least one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).  Provided that, any such corporation may do either or both of the kinds of insurance authorized for stock accident and health insurance companies, as set out in G.S. 58-7-15(3)a. and b., where its charter so permits, and only as long as it maintains a minimum capital and surplus equal to the sum of the minimum capital and surplus requirements of this subdivision and the minimum capital and surplus requirements of subdivision (2) of this section."
Sec. 18.  G.S. 58-7-150(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	An application for consolidation under this section shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)."
Sec. 19.  G.S. 58-7-177 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-7-177.  Investments in subsidiaries and affiliated corporations.
(a)	Any insurer, either by itself or in cooperation with one or more persons, may organize or acquire one or more subsidiaries, subject to the limitations of this Chapter.  The subsidiaries may conduct any kind of business, and their authority to do so shall not be limited because they are subsidiaries of an insurer, except where in conflict with Article 19 of this Chapter.
(b)	In addition to investments in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, and other securities permitted under this Chapter, an insurer may also invest and maintain investments in common stock, preferred stock, debt obligations, and other securities of one or more subsidiaries under the provisions and limitations outlined in G.S. 58-19-10.
(c)	
		As used in this section 'subsidiary' has the same meaning as in G.S. 58-19-5(7).
(d)	Debt obligations, other than mortgage loans, made under the authority of this section must meet amortization requirements in accordance with the latest edition of the NAIC publication entitled 'Valuation of Securities'; provided that the amortization methodology is acceptable to the Commissioner.
(e)	For purposes of this section, an insurer's investment in a subsidiary shall be considered to include all sums lent to the subsidiary."
Sec. 20.  G.S. 58-9-2(a)(6)c. reads as rewritten:
"c.	An underwriting manager who, pursuant to contract, manages all the reinsurance operations of a reinsurer, is under common control with the reinsurer under Article 19 of this Chapter, and whose compensation is not based on the volume of premiums written;".
Sec. 21.  G.S. 58-12-11(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	Every domestic insurer that files a risk-based capital plan or revised risk-based capital plan with the Commissioner shall file a copy of the risk-based capital plan or revised risk-based capital plan with the insurance regulator in any state in which the insurer is authorized to do business if:
(1)	That state has a risk-based capital provision substantially similar to G.S. 58-12-21(a); and
(2)	The insurance regulator of that state has notified the insurer of its request for the filing in writing, in which case the insurer shall file a copy of the risk-based capital plan or revised risk-based capital plan in that state no later than the later of:
a.	Fifteen days after the receipt of notice to file a copy of its risk-based capital plan or revised risk-based capital plan with the state; or
b.	The date on which the risk-based capital plan or revised risk-based capital plan is filed under subsection (c) or (d) of this section."
Sec. 22.  G.S. 58-12-35(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	All risk-based capital reports, to the extent the information therein is not required to be set forth in a publicly available annual statement schedule, and the risk-based capital plans, including the results or report of any examination or analysis of an insurer performed pursuant hereto and any corrective order issued by the Commissioner pursuant to examination or analysis, with respect to any domestic insurer or foreign insurer that are filed with the Commissioner constitute information that shall be kept confidential by the Commissioner. This information shall not be made public or be subject to subpoena, other than by the Commissioner, and then only for the purpose of enforcement actions taken by the Commissioner under this Article or any other provision of this Chapter."
Sec. 23.  G.S. 58-12-45 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-12-45.  Foreign insurers.
(a)	Any foreign insurer shall, upon written request of the Commissioner, submit to the Commissioner a risk-based capital report as of the end of the calendar year just ended the later of:
(1)	The date a risk-based capital report would be required to be filed by a domestic insurer under this Article; or
(2)	Fifteen days after the request is received by the foreign insurer.
Any foreign insurer shall, at the written request of the Commissioner, promptly submit to the Commissioner a copy of any risk-based capital plan that is filed with the insurance regulator of any other state.
(b)	In the event of a company action level event, regulatory action level event, or authorized control level event with respect to any foreign insurer as determined under the risk-based capital statute or rule applicable in the state of domicile of the insurer, or if no risk-based capital statute or rule is in force in that state under the provisions of this Article, if the insurance regulator of the state of domicile of the foreign insurer fails to require the foreign insurer to file a risk-based capital plan in the manner specified under the risk-based capital statute or, if no risk-based capital provision is in force in that state, under G.S. 58-12-11, the Commissioner may require the foreign insurer to file a risk-based capital plan with the Commissioner. In that event the failure of the foreign insurer to file a risk-based capital plan with the Commissioner is grounds to order the insurer to cease and desist from writing new insurance business in this State.
(c)	In the event of a mandatory control level event with respect to any foreign insurer, if no domiciliary receiver has been appointed with respect to the foreign insurer under the rehabilitation or liquidation statutes of the state of domicile of the foreign insurer, the Commissioner may make application to the Superior Court of Wake County as permitted under Article 30 of this Chapter with respect to the liquidation of property of foreign insurers found in this State; and the occurrence of the mandatory control level event is an adequate ground for the application."
Sec. 24.  G.S. 58-14-15 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-14-15.  Penalties provided for unauthorized acts.
When any domestic insurer knowingly engages in the practice of soliciting, advertising or making contracts for insurance in states or jurisdictions in which it is not licensed, the Commissioner may issue an order requiring the company to cease and desist from engaging in such activities and, for the purposes of this section, the acts prohibited by G.S. 58-14-10 and the foregoing sections, are declared to be an unfair trade practice within the meaning of G.S. 58-63-15 and 58-63-40. When the Commissioner has reason to believe that any domestic company has been engaged or is engaging in the practice of knowingly soliciting, advertising or writing contracts of insurance on risks within a state or jurisdiction in which it is not licensed, the Commissioner shall serve the company with notice of hearing and the hearing shall conform with the hearing procedure set forth in G.S. 58-63-25. Any action taken by the Commissioner after the hearing shall comply with G.S. 58-63-32, and any company aggrieved by an order of the Commissioner is entitled to the judicial review provided in G.S. 58-63-35."
Sec. 25.  G.S. 58-16-5(6) reads as rewritten:
"(6)	Satisfies the Commissioner that it is in substantial compliance with the provisions of G.S. 58-7-21, 58-7-26, 58-7-30, and 58-7-31 and Article 13 of this Chapter."
Sec. 26.  G.S. 58-19-25(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Every insurer that is licensed to do business in this State and that is a member of an insurance holding company system shall register with the Commissioner, except a foreign insurer subject to the registration requirements and standards adopted by statute or regulation in the jurisdiction of its domicile that are substantially similar to those contained in this section and G.S. 58-19-30 or a provision such as the following: Each registered insurer shall keep current the information required to be disclosed in its registration statement by reporting all material changes or additions within 15 days after the end of the month in which it learns of each change or addition. The insurer shall also file a copy of its registration statement and any amendments to the statement in each state in which that insurer is authorized to do business if requested by the insurance regulator of that state. Any insurer that is subject to registration under this section shall register within 30 days after it becomes subject to registration, and an amendment to the registration statement shall be filed by March 1 of each year for the previous calendar year; unless the Commissioner for good cause shown extends the time for registration or filing, and then within the extended time. All registration statements shall contain a summary, on a form prescribed by the Commissioner, outlining all items in the current registration statement representing changes from the prior registration statement. The Commissioner may require any insurer that is a member of a holding company system that is not subject to registration under this section to furnish a copy of the registration statement or other information filed by the insurance company with the insurance regulator of its domiciliary jurisdiction."
Sec. 27.  G.S. 58-19-35(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Each registered insurer or acquiring party producing records, books, or papers for examination pursuant to subsection (a) of this section is liable for and shall pay the expenses of the examination in accordance with G.S. 58-2-133 and G.S. 58-6-5."
Sec. 28.  G.S. 58-21-40(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Commissioner may, at times deemed appropriate, make or cause to be made an examination of each advisory organization; in which case the provisions of G.S. 58-2-131, 58-2-132, 58‑2‑133, 58-2-150, 58-2-155, 58-2-180, 58-2-185, 58-2-190, 58-2-195, and 58-2-200 shall apply.  If the Commissioner finds the advisory organization or any member thereof to be in violation of this Article, the Commissioner may issue an order requiring the discontinuance of the violation."
Sec. 29.  G.S. 58-24-100 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-24-100.  Investments.
A society shall invest its funds only in investments that are authorized by the laws of this State for the investment of assets of life insurers and subject to the limitations thereon.  Any foreign or alien society permitted or seeking to do business in this State must comply in substance with the investment requirements and limitations imposed by Article 7 of this Chapter and applicable to life insurers; provided, that any society that invests its funds in accordance with the laws of the state, district, territory, country, or province in which it is incorporated, shall thereby be deemed to be in compliance with the investment requirements and limitations for a period of two years from January 1, 1988."
Sec. 30.  G.S. 58-28-5(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Any person in this State may directly procure or directly renew insurance with an unlicensed insurer without the involvement of an agent, broker, or surplus lines licensee, on a risk located or to be performed, in whole or in part, in this State.  The person shall, within 30 days after the date the insurance is procured or renewed, file a written report with the Commissioner on forms prescribed by the Commissioner.  The report must contain the name and address of the insured; name and address of the insurer; the subject of insurance; a general description of the coverage; the amount of premium currently charged; and any additional information requested by the Commissioner.  The report must also contain an affidavit of the insured that states that the full amount or kind of insurance cannot be obtained from insurers that are admitted to do business in this State; and that the insured has made a diligent search among the insurers that are admitted to transact and are actually writing the particular kind and class of insurance in this State.  Gross premiums charged for the insurance, less any return premiums, are subject to a tax at the rate of five percent (5%).  At the time of filing the report required by this subsection, the insured shall pay the tax to the Commissioner.  The Commissioner has the powers specified in G.S. 58-21-90 with respect to the tax levied by this subsection."
Sec. 31.  G.S. 58-30-75(9) reads as rewritten:
"(9)	Within the previous four years the insurer has willfully violated its charter or articles of incorporation, its bylaws, Articles 1 through 67 of this Chapter, or any valid order of the Commissioner under G.S. 58-30-60."
Sec. 32.  G.S. 58-30-300(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The owner of a secured claim against an insurer for which a liquidator has been appointed in this or any other state may surrender the owner's security and file the claim as a general creditor, or the claim may be discharged by resort to the security in accordance with G.S. 58-30-215 in which case the deficiency, if any, shall be treated as a claim against the general assets of the insurer on the same basis as claims of unsecured creditors."
Sec. 33.  G.S. 58-31-60(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Employee Insurance Committee. – The head of each State government employee payroll unit offering payroll deduction insurance products to employees shall appoint an Employee Insurance Committee for the following purposes:
(1)	To review insurance products currently offered through payroll deduction to the State employees in the Employee Insurance Committee's payroll unit to determine if those products meet the needs and desires of employees in the Employee Insurance Committee's payroll unit.
(2)	To select the types of insurance products that reflect the needs and desires of employees in the Employee Insurance Committee's payroll unit.
(3)	To competitively select the best insurance products of the types determined by the Employee Insurance Committee to reflect the needs and desires of the employees of that payroll unit.
As used in this section, 'insurance product' includes a prepaid legal services plan registered under G.S. 84-23.1."
Sec. 34.  G.S. 58-34-2(a)(3) reads as rewritten:
"(3)	'Managing general agent' or 'MGA' means any person who manages all or part of the insurance business of an insurer (including the management of a separate division, department, or underwriting office) and acts as an agent for the insurer, whether known as a managing general agent, manager, or other similar term, who, with or without the authority, either separately or together with persons under common control, produces, directly or indirectly, and underwrites an amount of gross direct written premium equal to or more than five percent (5%) of the policyholder surplus as reported in the last annual statement of the insurer in any one quarter or year together with one or more of the following activities related to the business produced: (i) adjusts or pays any claims, or (ii) negotiates reinsurance on behalf of the insurer. 'MGA' does not mean an employee of the insurer; an underwriting manager who, pursuant to contract, manages all or part of the insurance operations of the insurer, is under common control with the insurer, is subject to Article 19 of this Chapter, and whose compensation is not based on the volume of premiums written; a person who, under Article 15 of this Chapter, is designated and authorized by subscribers as the attorney-in-fact for a reciprocal having authority to obligate them on reciprocal and other insurance contracts; or a U.S. Manager of the United States branch of an alien insurer."
Sec. 35.  Reserved.
Sec. 36.  Reserved.
Sec. 37.  G.S. 58-41-50(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	With the exception of inland marine insurance that is not written according to manual rates and rating plans, all rates or prospective loss cost multipliers by licensed fire and casualty companies or their designated rating organizations must be filed with the Commissioner at least 60 days before they may be used in this State.  Any filing may become effective on a date earlier than that specified in this subsection upon agreement between the Commissioner and the filer."
Sec. 38.  G.S. 58-47-5(4) reads as rewritten:
"(4)	'Health care provider' means any person who pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 90 of the General Statutes is licensed, or is otherwise registered or certified to engage in the practice of, or otherwise performs duties associated with any of the following: medicine, surgery, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, midwifery, osteopathy, podiatry, chiropractic, radiology, nursing, physiotherapy, pathology, anesthesiology, anesthesia, laboratory analysis, rendering assistance to a physician, dental hygiene, psychiatry, psychology; or a hospital as defined by G.S. 131E-76(3); or a nursing home as defined by G.S. 131E-101(6); or any other person who is legally responsible for the negligence of the person, hospital or nursing home; or any person acting at the direction or under the supervision of a health care provider."
Sec. 39.  G.S. 58-47-10(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Investment and Management. – All moneys that belong to the fund and are collected or received under this Article shall be held in trust, deposited in a segregated account, invested and reinvested by the Board in accordance with the reserve investment requirements of Article 7 of this Chapter for property and liability insurers, and shall not become a part of the general fund of the State. All interest and revenues from moneys belonging to the fund shall inure solely to the benefit and use of the fund. The Board shall be authorized to withdraw funds from the account as amounts payable under G.S. 58-47-35 and other expenses become due and payable. No part of the revenues or assets of the fund shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to the Board or any member thereof or any officer or employee of the Board, except for services rendered. All expenses and salaries connected with the administration and operation of the fund shall be paid out of the fund."
Sec. 40.  G.S. 58-49-5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-49-5.  Authority and jurisdiction of Commissioner.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and except as provided in this Article, any person that provides coverage in this State for medical, surgical, chiropractic, physical therapy, speech pathology, audiology, professional mental health, dental, hospital, or optometric expenses, whether the coverage is by direct payment, reimbursement, or otherwise, shall be presumed to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Commissioner, unless the person shows that while providing the services it is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of another agency or subdivision of this State or of the federal government."
Sec. 41.  Effective October 1, 1998, G.S. 58-50-30(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Discrimination between individuals of the same class in the amount of premiums or rates charged for any policy of insurance covered by Articles 50 through 55 of this Chapter, or in the benefits payable thereon, or in any of the terms or conditions of the policy, or in any other manner whatsoever, is prohibited.
Whenever any policy of insurance governed by Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter provides for payment of or reimbursement for any service rendered in connection with a condition or complaint that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed optometrist, a duly licensed podiatrist, a duly licensed dentist, a duly licensed chiropractor, a duly certified clinical social worker, or a duly licensed psychologist, the insured or other persons entitled to benefits under the policy shall be entitled to payment of or reimbursement for the services, whether the services be performed by a duly licensed physician, a duly licensed optometrist, a duly licensed podiatrist, a duly licensed dentist, a duly licensed chiropractor, a duly certified clinical social worker, or a duly licensed psychologist, notwithstanding any provision contained in the policy.  Whenever any policy of insurance governed by Articles 1 through 64 of this Chapter provides for certification of disability that is within the scope of practice of a duly licensed physician, a duly licensed optometrist, a duly licensed podiatrist, a duly licensed dentist, a duly licensed chiropractor, a duly certified clinical social worker, or a duly licensed psychologist, the insured or other persons entitled to benefits under the policy shall be entitled to payment of or reimbursement for the disability whether the disability be certified by a duly licensed physician, a duly licensed optometrist, a duly licensed podiatrist, a duly licensed dentist, a duly licensed chiropractor, a duly certified clinical social worker, or a duly licensed psychologist, notwithstanding any provisions contained in the policy.  The policyholder, insured, or beneficiary shall have the right to choose the provider of the services notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in any other statute.
Whenever any policy of insurance provides coverage for medically necessary treatment, the insurer shall not impose any limitation on treatment or levels of coverage if performed by a duly licensed chiropractor acting within the scope of the chiropractor's practice as defined in G.S. 90-151 unless a comparable limitation is imposed on the medically necessary treatment if performed or authorized by any other duly licensed physician."
Sec. 42.  G.S. 58-50-65(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	The provisions of G.S. 58-51-5(5) and G.S. 58-51-15(a)(1), (4), and (10) may be omitted from railroad ticket policies sold only at railroad stations or at railroad ticket offices by railroad employees."
Sec. 43.  G.S. 58-51-115(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	As used in this section and in G.S. 58-51-120 and G.S. 58-51-125:
(1)	'Health benefit plan' means any accident and health insurance policy or certificate; a nonprofit hospital or medical service corporation contract; a health maintenance organization subscriber contract; a plan provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement; or a plan provided by another benefit arrangement.  'Health benefit plan' does not mean a Medicare supplement policy as defined in G.S. 58-54-1(5).
(2)	'Health insurer' means any health insurance company subject to Articles 1 through 63 of this Chapter, including a multiple employee welfare arrangement, and any corporation subject to Articles 65 and 67 of this Chapter; and means a group health plan, as defined in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974."
Sec. 44.  G.S. 108A-69(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	As used in this section and in G.S. 108A-70:
(1)	'Health benefit plan' means an accident and health insurance policy or certificate; a nonprofit hospital or medical service corporation contract; a health maintenance organization subscriber contract; a plan provided by a multiple employer welfare arrangement; or a plan provided by another benefit arrangement. 'Health benefit plan' does not mean a Medicare supplement policy as defined in G.S. 58-54-1(5).
(2)	'Health insurer' means any health insurance company subject to Articles 1 through 63 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, including a multiple employee welfare arrangement, and any corporation subject to Articles 65 and 67 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes; and means a group health plan, as defined in Section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974."
Sec. 45.  G.S. 58-57-5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-57-5.  Definitions.
As used in this Article, unless the context requires otherwise, the following words or terms shall have the meanings herein ascribed to them, respectively:
(1)	Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 720, s. 6.
(2)	'Credit accident and health insurance' means insurance on a debtor to provide indemnity for payments becoming due on a specific loan or other credit transaction as defined in G.S. 58-51-100.
(2a)	'Credit insurance agent' means an agent of an insurance company licensed in this State who is authorized to solicit, negotiate or effect credit life insurance, credit accident and health insurance, credit unemployment insurance, credit property insurance, or any of them, but only to the extent as is authorized and limited in this Article.
(3)	'Credit life insurance' means insurance on the life of a debtor pursuant to or in connection with a specific loan or other credit transaction as defined in G.S. 58-58-10.
(4)	Recodified as G.S. § 58-57-5(2a) (See Note.)
(4a)	'Credit transaction' means any transaction by the terms of which the repayment of money loaned or loan commitment made, or payment for goods, services, or properties sold or leased, is to be made at a future date or dates.
(4b)	'Credit unemployment insurance' means insurance on a debtor in connection with a specified loan or other credit transaction to provide payment to a creditor of the debtor for the installment payments or other periodic payment becoming due while the debtor is involuntarily unemployed as defined in the policy.
(5)	'Creditor' means any lender of money or vendor or lessor of goods, services, property, rights or privileges, including any person that directly or indirectly provides credit in connection with any such sale or lease, for which payment is arranged through a credit-related transaction; or any successor to the right, title or interest of any such lender, vendor, lessor, or person extending credit, and an affiliate, associate, or subsidiary of any of them, or any director, officer, or employee of any of them or any other person in any way associated with any of them.
(6)	'Debtor' means a borrower of money or a purchaser or lessee of goods, services, property, rights or privileges for which payment is arranged through a credit transaction.
(7)	'Indebtedness' means the total amount payable for the term of the loan by debtor to creditor in connection with a loan or other credit transaction, including principal, interest, allowable charges, and any premiums authorized hereunder.
(7a)	'Joint accident and health coverage' means credit accident and health insurance covering two or more debtors; provided that only one monthly benefit, as defined in G.S. 58-57-15(b), shall be payable each month on a specific indebtedness regardless of the number of debtors insured.
(8)	'Joint life coverage' means credit life insurance covering two or more lives, the entire amount of insurance being payable upon the death of the first insured debtor to die.
(9)	'Lease' means a contract whereby the lessee of a 'motor vehicle,' as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(23), contracts to pay as compensation for use a sum substantially equivalent to or in excess of the aggregate value of the property, but not exceeding the term of years in G.S. 58-57-1.
(10)	'Open-end credit' means credit extended by a creditor under an agreement in which:
a.	The creditor reasonably contemplates repeated transactions;
b.	The creditor imposes a finance charge from time to time on an outstanding unpaid balance; and
c.	The amount of credit that may be extended to the debtor during the term of the agreement (up to any limit set by the creditor) is generally made available to the extent that any outstanding balance is repaid.
'Open-end credit' includes credit card balances.
(11)	'Truncated coverage' means a credit insurance benefit with a term of insurance coverage that is less than the term of the credit transaction."
Sec. 46.  G.S. 58-58-110(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	This section does not allow an insurer to withhold payment of money payable under any policy providing a death benefit to any beneficiary for a period longer than reasonably necessary to determine whether benefits are payable and to transmit the payment."
Sec. 47.  G.S. 58-62-41(e) reads as rewritten:
"(e)	Assessments for funds to meet the requirements of the Association with respect to a delinquent insurer shall not be made until necessary to implement the purposes of this Article.  Classification of assessments under subsection (b) of this section and computation of assessments under this subsection shall be made with a reasonable degree of accuracy, recognizing that exact determinations may not always be possible."
Sec. 48.  G.S. 58-62-41(f) reads as rewritten:
"(f)	The Association may abate or defer, in whole or in part, the assessment of a member insurer if, in the Board's opinion, payment of the assessment would endanger the member insurer's ability to fulfill its contractual obligations.  If an assessment against a member insurer is abated, or deferred in whole or in part, the amount by which the assessment is abated or deferred may be assessed against the other member insurers in a manner consistent with the basis for assessments set forth in this section."
Sec. 49.  G.S. 58-63-25(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	When the Commissioner has reason to believe that any person has been engaged or is engaging in this State in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice defined in G.S. 58-63-15 or under G.S. 58-63-65, and that a proceeding by the Commissioner on the matter would be in the interest of the public, the Commissioner shall issue and serve upon the person a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of the hearing on the matter to be held at the time and place fixed in the notice, which shall not be less than 10 days after the date of the service of the notice."
Sec. 50.  G.S. 58-63-35(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Any person required by an order of the Commissioner under G.S. 58-63-32 to cease and desist from engaging in any unfair method of competition or any unfair or deceptive act or practice defined in G.S. 58-63-15 may obtain a review of the order by filing in the Superior Court of Wake County, within 30 days from the date of the service of such order, a written petition praying that the order of the Commissioner be set aside.  A copy of the petition shall be immediately served upon the Commissioner, and at that time the Commissioner immediately shall certify and file in the court a transcript of the entire record in the proceeding, including all the evidence taken and the report and order of the Commissioner.  Upon the filing of the petition and transcript, the court has jurisdiction of the proceeding and of the question determined therein, shall determine whether the filing of the petition shall operate as a stay of the Commissioner's order, and has power to make and enter upon the pleadings, evidence, and proceedings set forth in the transcript a decree modifying, affirming or reversing the order of the Commissioner, in whole or in part.  The findings of the Commissioner as to the facts, if supported by substantial evidence, are conclusive."
Sec. 51.  G.S. 58-63-50 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-63-50.  Penalty.
Any person who willfully violates a cease and desist order of the Commissioner under G.S. 58-63-32, after it has become final, and while the order is in effect, shall forfeit and pay to the Commissioner for the use of the public schools of the county or counties in which the act or acts complained of occurred the sum of not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each violation, which if not paid shall be recovered in a civil action instituted in the name of the Commissioner in the Superior Court of Wake County."
Sec. 52.  G.S. 58-64-33(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	All continuing care facilities shall maintain after opening: operating reserves equal to fifty percent (50%) of the total operating costs projected for the 12-month period following the period covered by the most recent annual statement filed with the Department. The forecast statements as required by G.S. 58-64-20(a)(12) shall serve as the basis for computing the operating reserve. In addition to total operating expenses, total operating costs will include debt service, consisting of principal and interest payments along with taxes and insurance on any mortgage loan or other long-term financing, but will exclude depreciation, amortized expenses, and extraordinary items as approved by the Commissioner. If the debt service portion is accounted for by way of another reserve account, the debt service portion may be excluded. Facilities that maintain an occupancy level in excess of ninety percent (90%) shall only be required to maintain twenty-five percent (25%) operating reserve upon approval of the Commissioner, unless otherwise instructed by the Commissioner. The operating reserves may be funded by cash, by invested cash, or by investment grade securities, including bonds, stocks, U.S. Treasury obligations, or obligations of U.S. government agencies."
Sec. 53.  G.S. 58-64-55 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-64-55.  Examinations; financial statements.
The Commissioner or the Commissioner's designee may, in the Commissioner's discretion, visit a facility offering continuing care in this State to examine its books and records.  Expenses incurred by the Commissioner in conducting examinations under this section shall be paid by the facility examined.  The provisions of G.S. 58-2-131, 58-2-132, 58-2-133, 58-2-155, 58-2-165, 58-2-180, 58-2-185, 58-2-190, and 58-6-5 apply to this Article and are hereby incorporated by reference."
Sec. 54.  G.S. 58-64-70(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	A person may not file or maintain an action under this section if the person, before filing the action, received a written offer of a refund of all amounts paid the provider, facility, or person violating this Article together with interest at the rate established monthly by the Commissioner of Banks pursuant to G.S. 24-1.1(c), less the current contractual value of care and lodging provided prior to receipt of the offer, and if the offer recited the provisions of this section and the recipient of the offer failed to accept it within 30 days of actual receipt."
Sec. 55.  The heading of Part 2 of Article 65 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes reads as rewritten:
"Part 2. Indemnification."
Sec. 56.  G.S. 58-65-172(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	An officer of the corporation is entitled to mandatory indemnification under G.S. 58-65-168 and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under G.S. 58-65-170, in each case to the same extent as a director;".
Sec. 57.  G.S. 58-66-30(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	No insurer may make, issue, amend or renew any certificate or contract after the dates specified in G.S. 58-66-35 for the applicable type of insurance unless the certificate is in compliance with the provisions of G.S. 58-66-20 and 58-66-25, and unless the certificate is filed with the Commissioner for this approval.  The policy will be deemed approved 90 days after filing unless disapproved within the 90-day period.  The Commissioner may not unreasonably withhold this approval.  Any disapproval must be delivered to the insurer in writing and must state the grounds for disapproval.  Any certificate filed with the Commissioner must be accompanied by a certified Flesch scale readability analysis and test score and by the insurer's certification that the policy is, in the insurer's judgment, readable based on the factors specified in G.S. 58-66-20 and 58-66-25."
Sec. 58.  G.S. 58-66-35 reads as rewritten:
"§ 58-66-35.  Application to policies; dates; duties of the Commissioner.
	The filing requirements of G.S. 58-66-30 apply to all subscribers' contracts of hospital, medical, and dental service corporations as described in G.S. 58-65-60(a) and (b) that are made, issued, amended or renewed after July 1, 1983.
					."
Sec. 59.  G.S. 58-67-50(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	The Commissioner shall, within a reasonable period, approve any form if the requirements of subsection (a) of this section are met and any schedule of premiums if the requirements of subsection (b) of this section are met.  It shall be unlawful to issue the form or to use the schedule of premiums until approved. If the Commissioner disapproves the filing, the Commissioner shall notify the filer.  In the notice, the Commissioner shall specify the reasons for disapproval.  A hearing will be granted within 30 days after a request in writing by the person filing. If the Commissioner does not approve or disapprove any form or schedule of premiums within 90 days after the filing for forms and within 60 days after the filing for premiums, they shall be deemed to be approved."
Sec. 60.  G.S. 58-68A-1(4) reads as rewritten:
"(4)	Focus health care reform upon improving health status and the included health care."
Sec. 61.  G.S. 58-68A-10(1) reads as rewritten:
"(1)	Financing. – A method or methods of financing the Plan shall be recommended by the Commission.  The system will ensure that every North Carolina citizen has access to affordable health care, regardless of the resources of the community in which the citizen resides."
Sec. 62.  G.S. 58-68A-10(5) reads as rewritten:
"(5)	Administration. – The Plan may be administered through regional health plan purchasing cooperatives that will:
a.	Certify private health plans as community health plans for participation in the system of universal health coverage on the basis of ability to deliver the State-guaranteed package of comprehensive, medically necessary health services in accordance with criteria defined by the Commission for quality and service.  All community health plans meeting certification requirements will be certified.
b.	Pay each community health plan the same risk-adjusted per capita amount for all eligible persons, except that the Commission shall have the authority to ensure accessibility to health care in rural and medically underserved areas by enhancing provider payments, requiring an accountable health plan to provide services throughout the area, or by any other reasonable means.
c.	Ensure that no community health plan that charges an additional premium shall charge an eligible resident a higher premium than that charged to any other eligible resident for the same accountable health plan.
d.	Except in underserved areas in which the regional health plan purchasing cooperative determines that there are insufficient providers to support more than one community health plan, ensure that all eligible residents have a choice of at least two community health plans that will provide the State-guaranteed package of comprehensive, medically necessary health services for no additional premium above that paid on their behalf by the regional health plan purchasing cooperative.
e.	Assist eligible residents in choosing among community health plans by providing consumer education, including uniform information about all the community health plans available through the health plan purchasing cooperative such as quality indicators and choice of providers.
f.	Provide a mechanism for enrolling all eligible residents in their chosen community health plans and for automatically enrolling in a community health plan all eligible residents who fail to choose such a plan.
g.	Determine the number, organization, and geographic areas of the regional health plan purchasing cooperatives to be established, which will include at least six geographic areas.  Each area is to be defined so that it is self-sufficient in providing comprehensive health care including most tertiary services, thus allowing for a large enough population to support community rating.
h.	Monitor and enforce standards concerning access, consumer satisfaction, and quality of health care in all community health plans.
i.	Jointly with the Commission and the North Carolina Medical Database Commission, collect data from all community health plans and sponsor research into health outcomes and practice guidelines.
j.	Jointly with the Commission and where necessary to meet the needs of underserved areas or special populations, organize the delivery of health care.
k.	Receive bids annually from private health plans to provide the benefit package established by the Commission to enrolled eligible residents.  A health plan purchasing cooperative may reject any or all bids, and may request that revised bids be submitted."
Sec. 63.  G.S. 58-68A-10(6) reads as rewritten:
"(6)	Large Groups. – In order to preserve employer-based and other group health care coverage, the Plan may provide, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, for the direct marketing by community health plans to an employer with 100 or more employees and to any other group with 100 or more members, provided that the employer or group is eligible under G.S. 58-51-80 for group accident, group health, or group accident and health insurance.  If the Plan provides for direct marketing of insurance to large groups as defined in this subdivision, it shall also address the extent to which those groups and self-insured plans (prior to obtaining an ERISA waiver) should be subject to the certification requirements for community health plans, whether exemptions, tax credits, or other means are necessary and appropriate to provide for equitable treatment of large groups and self-insured groups under any tax-financed system of universal health care coverage, and other issues involving the use of large group coverage with universal coverage.  The regional health plan purchasing cooperatives would be responsible for marketing community health plans to individuals and all other groups.  Before the plan provides for direct marketing to large groups, the Commission shall study whether there are any adverse affects to the purchasing arrangements in effect for other residents, the impact on portability of coverage, and the role large employers play in financing coverage for the uninsured and indigent populations."
Sec. 64.  G.S. 97-93(d) reads as rewritten:
"(d)	Groups comprising two or more employers who agree to pool their liabilities under subdivision (a)(2) of this section are subject to G.S. 58-3-81, 58-7-50, 58-7-55, 58-7-140, 58-7-160, 58-7-162, 58-7-163, 58-7-165, 58-7-167, 58-7-168, 58-7-170, 58-7-172, 58-7-173, 58-7-177, 58-7-179, 58-7-180, 58-7-183, 58-7-185, 58-7-187, 58-7-188, 58-7-192, 58-7-193, 58-7-195, 58-7-197, 58-7-200, and Articles 13, 19, and 34 of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes."
Sec. 65.  G.S. 105-228.4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 105-228.4.  Annual license fees for insurance companies.
(a)	As a condition precedent to doing business in this State, an insurance company must apply for and obtain a license from the Commissioner of Insurance by March 1 of each year. The license shall become effective the following July 1 and shall remain in effect for one year. Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the insurance company shall pay an annual fee for the license as follows: 
For each domestic farmer's mutual assessment
fire insurance company 	$ 25.00
For each fraternal order	100.00
For each of all other insurance companies, except
mutual burial associations taxed under G.S.
105-121.1	500.00
The fees levied in this subsection shall be in addition to those specified in G.S. 58‑6‑5.
(b)	When the paid-in capital stock and/or surplus of an insurance company other than a farmer's mutual assessment company or a fraternal order does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the fee levied in this section shall be one half the amount above specified.
(c)	Upon payment of the fee specified above and the fees and taxes elsewhere specified each insurance company, exchange, bureau, or agency, shall be entitled to do the types of business specified in Chapter 58, of the General Statutes of North Carolina as amended, to the extent authorized therein, except that: Insurance companies authorized to do either the types of business specified for (i) life insurance companies, or (ii) for fire and marine companies, or (iii) for casualty and fidelity and surety companies, in G.S. 58-7-75, which shall also do the types of business authorized in one or both of the other of the above classifications shall in addition to the fees above specified pay one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each such additional classification of business done.
(d)	Any rating bureau established by action of the General Assembly of North Carolina shall be exempt from the fees above levied."
Sec. 66.  G.S. 143-215.94I(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	Each pool shall be audited annually at the expense of the pool by a certified public accounting firm, with a copy of the report available to the governing body or chief executive officer of each member of the pool and to the Commissioner.  The board of trustees of the pool shall obtain an appropriate actuarial evaluation of the loss and loss adjustment expense reserves of the pool, including an estimate of losses and loss adjustment expenses incurred but not reported.  The provisions of G.S. 58-2-131, 58-2-132, 58-2-133, 58-2-150, 58-2-155, 58-2-165, 58-2-180, 58-2-185, 58-2-190, 58-2-200, and 58-6-5 apply to each pool and to persons that administer the pools.  Annual financial statements required by G.S. 58-2-165 shall be filed by each pool within 60 days after the end of the pool's fiscal year.  All financial statements required by this section shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted statutory accounting principles."
Sec. 67.  If any section or provision of this act is declared unconstitutional or invalid by the courts, it does not affect the validity of the act as a whole or any part other than the part declared to be unconstitutional or invalid.
Sec. 68.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7th day of June, 1995.

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Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

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Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives