| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe |
| 3 | Fund; amending s. 215.555, F.S.; revising the |
| 4 | definitions of "retention" and "corporation"; |
| 5 | providing for calculation of an insurer's |
| 6 | reimbursement premium and retention under the |
| 7 | reimbursement contract; revising coverage levels |
| 8 | available under the reimbursement contract; revising |
| 9 | aggregate coverage limits; providing for the phase-in |
| 10 | of changes to coverage levels and limits; revising the |
| 11 | cash build-up factor included in reimbursement |
| 12 | premiums; providing for phase-in; reducing maximum |
| 13 | allowable emergency assessments; changing the name of |
| 14 | the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance |
| 15 | Corporation; repealing provisions related to temporary |
| 16 | emergency options for additional coverage; terminating |
| 17 | the temporary increase in coverage limits option at |
| 18 | the end of the 2011-2012 contract year; limiting to |
| 19 | the 2012-2013 contract year provisions relating to the |
| 20 | TICL options addendum, TICL reimbursement premiums, |
| 21 | and the claims-paying capacity of the fund, to |
| 22 | conform; amending s. 627.0629, F.S.; conforming a |
| 23 | cross-reference; providing an effective date. |
| 24 |
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| 25 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 26 |
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| 27 | Section 1. Paragraphs (e) and (n) of subsection (2), |
| 28 | paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (4), paragraph (b) of |
| 29 | subsection (5), paragraphs (b) and (d) of subsection (6), and |
| 30 | subsections (16), (17), and (18) of section 215.555, Florida |
| 31 | Statutes, are amended to read: |
| 32 | 215.555 Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.- |
| 33 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this section: |
| 34 | (e) "Retention" means the amount of losses below which an |
| 35 | insurer is not entitled to reimbursement from the fund. An |
| 36 | insurer's retention shall be calculated as follows: |
| 37 | 1.a. The board shall calculate and report to each insurer |
| 38 | the retention multiples for that year. |
| 39 | (I) For the contract year beginning June 1, 2005, the |
| 40 | retention multiple shall be equal to $4.5 billion divided by the |
| 41 | total estimated reimbursement premium for the contract year; for |
| 42 | subsequent years, up to and including the 2012-2013 contract |
| 43 | year, the retention multiple shall be equal to $4.5 billion, |
| 44 | adjusted based upon the reported exposure for the contract year |
| 45 | occurring 2 years before the particular contract year to reflect |
| 46 | the percentage growth in exposure to the fund for covered |
| 47 | policies since 2004, divided by the total estimated |
| 48 | reimbursement premium for the contract year. |
| 49 | (II) For the contract year beginning June 1, 2013, the |
| 50 | retention multiple shall be equal to $8 billion divided by the |
| 51 | total estimated reimbursement premium for the contract year. For |
| 52 | subsequent years, the retention multiple shall be equal to $8 |
| 53 | billion, adjusted based upon the reported exposure for the |
| 54 | contract year occurring 2 years before the particular contract |
| 55 | year to reflect the percentage growth in exposure to the fund |
| 56 | for covered policies since 2011, divided by the total |
| 57 | reimbursement premium for the contract year. |
| 58 | b. For the 2012-2013 contract year, total reimbursement |
| 59 | premium for purposes of the calculation under this subparagraph |
| 60 | shall be estimated using the assumption that all insurers have |
| 61 | selected the 90-percent coverage level. |
| 62 | c. In order to implement the phase-in of reduced coverage |
| 63 | levels as provided in paragraph (4)(b), total reimbursement |
| 64 | premium for purposes of the calculation under this subparagraph |
| 65 | shall be estimated using the following assumptions: |
| 66 | (I) For the 2013-2014 contract year, the assumption is |
| 67 | that all insurers have selected the 85-percent coverage level. |
| 68 | (II) For the 2014-2015 contract year, the assumption is |
| 69 | that all insurers have selected the 80-percent coverage level. |
| 70 | (III) For the 2015-2016 contract year and subsequent |
| 71 | contract years, the assumption is that all insurers have |
| 72 | selected the 75-percent coverage level. |
| 73 | 2. The retention multiple as determined under subparagraph |
| 74 | 1. shall be adjusted to reflect the coverage level elected by |
| 75 | the insurer. |
| 76 | a. For an insurer electing the maximum coverage level |
| 77 | available under paragraph (4)(b) for a particular contract year |
| 78 | For insurers electing the 90-percent coverage level, the |
| 79 | adjusted retention multiple is 100 percent of the amount |
| 80 | determined under subparagraph 1. |
| 81 | b. In order to implement the phase-in of reduced coverage |
| 82 | levels as provided in paragraph (4)(b), for an insurer electing |
| 83 | a coverage level other than the maximum coverage level, the |
| 84 | adjusted retention multiple is as follows: |
| 85 | (I) With respect to the 2012-2013 contract year, for an |
| 86 | insurer For insurers electing the 75-percent coverage level, the |
| 87 | retention multiple is 90/75ths 120 percent of the amount |
| 88 | determined under subparagraph 1., and for an insurer For |
| 89 | insurers electing the 45-percent coverage level, the adjusted |
| 90 | retention multiple is 90/45ths 200 percent of the amount |
| 91 | determined under subparagraph 1. |
| 92 | (II) With respect to the 2013-2014 contract year, for an |
| 93 | insurer electing the 75-percent coverage level, the retention |
| 94 | multiple is 85/75ths of the amount determined under subparagraph |
| 95 | 1., and for an insurer electing the 45-percent coverage level, |
| 96 | the retention multiple is 85/45ths of the amount determined |
| 97 | under subparagraph 1. |
| 98 | (III) With respect to the 2014-2015 contract year, for an |
| 99 | insurer electing the 75-percent coverage level, the retention |
| 100 | multiple is 80/75ths of the amount determined under subparagraph |
| 101 | 1., and for an insurer electing the 45-percent coverage level, |
| 102 | the retention multiple is 80/45ths of the amount determined |
| 103 | under subparagraph 1. |
| 104 | (IV) With respect to the 2015-2016 contract year and |
| 105 | subsequent contract years, for an insurer electing the 75- |
| 106 | percent coverage level, the retention multiple is the amount |
| 107 | determined under subparagraph 1., and for an insurer electing |
| 108 | the 45-percent coverage level, the retention multiple is |
| 109 | 75/45ths of the amount determined under subparagraph 1. |
| 110 | 3. An insurer shall determine its provisional retention by |
| 111 | multiplying its provisional reimbursement premium by the |
| 112 | applicable adjusted retention multiple and shall determine its |
| 113 | actual retention by multiplying its actual reimbursement premium |
| 114 | by the applicable adjusted retention multiple. |
| 115 | 4. For insurers who experience multiple covered events |
| 116 | causing loss during the contract year, beginning June 1, 2005, |
| 117 | each insurer's full retention shall be applied to each of the |
| 118 | covered events causing the two largest losses for that insurer. |
| 119 | For each other covered event resulting in losses, the insurer's |
| 120 | retention shall be reduced to one-third of the full retention. |
| 121 | The reimbursement contract shall provide for the reimbursement |
| 122 | of losses for each covered event based on the full retention |
| 123 | with adjustments made to reflect the reduced retentions on or |
| 124 | after January 1 of the contract year provided the insurer |
| 125 | reports its losses as specified in the reimbursement contract. |
| 126 | (n) "Corporation" means the State Board of Administration |
| 127 | Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance Corporation created |
| 128 | in paragraph (6)(d). |
| 129 | (4) REIMBURSEMENT CONTRACTS.- |
| 130 | (b)1.a. The contract shall contain a promise by the board |
| 131 | to reimburse the insurer for a specified percentage 45 percent, |
| 132 | 75 percent, or 90 percent of its losses from each covered event |
| 133 | in excess of the insurer's retention, plus 5 percent of the |
| 134 | reimbursed losses to cover loss adjustment expenses. |
| 135 | b. The available coverage levels are as follows: |
| 136 | (I) For the 2012-2013 contract year, 90 percent, 75 |
| 137 | percent, and 45 percent. |
| 138 | (II) For the 2013-2014 contract year, 85 percent, 75 |
| 139 | percent, and 45 percent. |
| 140 | (III) For the 2014-2015 contract year, 80 percent, 75 |
| 141 | percent, and 45 percent. |
| 142 | (IV) For the 2015-2016 contract year and subsequent |
| 143 | contract years, 75 percent and 45 percent. |
| 144 | 2.a. The insurer must elect one of the percentage coverage |
| 145 | levels specified in this paragraph and may, upon renewal of a |
| 146 | reimbursement contract, elect a lower percentage coverage level |
| 147 | if no revenue bonds issued under subsection (6) after a covered |
| 148 | event are outstanding, or elect a higher percentage coverage |
| 149 | level, regardless of whether or not revenue bonds are |
| 150 | outstanding. All members of an insurer group must elect the same |
| 151 | percentage coverage level. Any joint underwriting association, |
| 152 | risk apportionment plan, or other entity created under s. |
| 153 | 627.351 must elect the maximum 90-percent coverage level |
| 154 | available under subparagraph 1. |
| 155 | b. In order to implement the phase-in of reduced coverage |
| 156 | levels as provided in subparagraph 1., and notwithstanding any |
| 157 | provisions of sub-subparagraph a. to the contrary, if revenue |
| 158 | bonds issued under subsection (6) after a covered event are |
| 159 | outstanding and the insurer has elected the maximum coverage |
| 160 | level available under subparagraph 1., the insurer must, upon |
| 161 | renewal of the reimbursement contract, elect the maximum |
| 162 | coverage level available under subparagraph 1. for the renewal |
| 163 | contract year. |
| 164 | 3. The contract shall provide that reimbursement amounts |
| 165 | shall not be reduced by reinsurance paid or payable to the |
| 166 | insurer from other sources. |
| 167 | 4. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this |
| 168 | section, the board shall make available to insurers that |
| 169 | purchased coverage provided by this subparagraph in 2008, |
| 170 | insurers qualifying as limited apportionment companies under s. |
| 171 | 627.351(6)(c), and insurers that have been approved to |
| 172 | participate in the Insurance Capital Build-Up Incentive Program |
| 173 | pursuant to s. 215.5595 a contract or contract addendum that |
| 174 | provides an additional amount of reimbursement coverage of up to |
| 175 | $10 million. The premium to be charged for this additional |
| 176 | reimbursement coverage shall be 50 percent of the additional |
| 177 | reimbursement coverage provided, which shall include one prepaid |
| 178 | reinstatement. The minimum retention level that an eligible |
| 179 | participating insurer must retain associated with this |
| 180 | additional coverage layer is 30 percent of the insurer's surplus |
| 181 | as of December 31, 2008, for the 2009-2010 contract year; as of |
| 182 | December 31, 2009, for the 2010-2011 contract year; and as of |
| 183 | December 31, 2010, for the 2011-2012 contract year. This |
| 184 | coverage shall be in addition to all other coverage that may be |
| 185 | provided under this section. The coverage provided by the fund |
| 186 | under this subparagraph shall be in addition to the claims- |
| 187 | paying capacity as defined in subparagraph (c)1., but only with |
| 188 | respect to those insurers that select the additional coverage |
| 189 | option and meet the requirements of this subparagraph. The |
| 190 | claims-paying capacity with respect to all other participating |
| 191 | insurers and limited apportionment companies that do not select |
| 192 | the additional coverage option shall be limited to their |
| 193 | reimbursement premium's proportionate share of the actual |
| 194 | claims-paying capacity otherwise defined in subparagraph (c)1. |
| 195 | and as provided for under the terms of the reimbursement |
| 196 | contract. The optional coverage retention as specified shall be |
| 197 | accessed before the mandatory coverage under the reimbursement |
| 198 | contract, but once the limit of coverage selected under this |
| 199 | option is exhausted, the insurer's retention under the mandatory |
| 200 | coverage will apply. This coverage will apply and be paid |
| 201 | concurrently with mandatory coverage. This subparagraph expires |
| 202 | on May 31, 2012. |
| 203 | (c)1. The contract shall also provide that the obligation |
| 204 | of the board with respect to all contracts covering a particular |
| 205 | contract year shall not exceed the actual claims-paying capacity |
| 206 | of the fund up to the limit specified in this subparagraph. |
| 207 | a. For the 2012-2013 contract year, the limit is $17 |
| 208 | billion. |
| 209 | b. For the 2013-2014 contract year, the limit is $15.5 |
| 210 | billion. |
| 211 | c. For the 2014-2015 contract year, the limit is $14 |
| 212 | billion. |
| 213 | d. For the 2015-2016 contract year and subsequent contract |
| 214 | years, the limit is $12 billion. |
| 215 | e. For contract years after the 2015-2016 contract year, |
| 216 | if a limit of $17 billion for that contract year, unless the |
| 217 | board determines that there is sufficient estimated claims- |
| 218 | paying capacity to provide $12 $17 billion of capacity for the |
| 219 | current contract year and an additional $12 $17 billion of |
| 220 | capacity for subsequent contract years. If the board makes such |
| 221 | a determination, the estimated claims-paying capacity for the |
| 222 | particular contract year shall be determined by adding to the |
| 223 | $12 $17 billion limit one-half of the fund's estimated claims- |
| 224 | paying capacity in excess of $24 $34 billion. However, the |
| 225 | dollar growth in the limit may not increase in any year by an |
| 226 | amount greater than the dollar growth of the balance of the fund |
| 227 | as of December 31, less any premiums or interest attributable to |
| 228 | optional coverage, as defined by rule, which occurred over the |
| 229 | prior calendar year. |
| 230 | 2. In May and October of the contract year, the board |
| 231 | shall publish in the Florida Administrative Weekly a statement |
| 232 | of the fund's estimated borrowing capacity, the fund's estimated |
| 233 | claims-paying capacity, and the projected balance of the fund as |
| 234 | of December 31. After the end of each calendar year, the board |
| 235 | shall notify insurers of the estimated borrowing capacity, |
| 236 | estimated claims-paying capacity, and the balance of the fund as |
| 237 | of December 31 to provide insurers with data necessary to assist |
| 238 | them in determining their retention and projected payout from |
| 239 | the fund for loss reimbursement purposes. In conjunction with |
| 240 | the development of the premium formula, as provided for in |
| 241 | subsection (5), the board shall publish factors or multiples |
| 242 | that assist insurers in determining their retention and |
| 243 | projected payout for the next contract year. For all regulatory |
| 244 | and reinsurance purposes, an insurer may calculate its projected |
| 245 | payout from the fund as its share of the total fund premium for |
| 246 | the current contract year multiplied by the sum of the projected |
| 247 | balance of the fund as of December 31 and the estimated |
| 248 | borrowing capacity for that contract year as reported under this |
| 249 | subparagraph. |
| 250 | (5) REIMBURSEMENT PREMIUMS.- |
| 251 | (b)1. The State Board of Administration shall select an |
| 252 | independent consultant to develop a formula for determining the |
| 253 | actuarially indicated premium to be paid to the fund. The |
| 254 | formula shall specify, for each zip code or other limited |
| 255 | geographical area, the amount of premium to be paid by an |
| 256 | insurer for each $1,000 of insured value under covered policies |
| 257 | in that zip code or other area. In establishing premiums, the |
| 258 | board shall consider the coverage elected under paragraph (4)(b) |
| 259 | and any factors that tend to enhance the actuarial |
| 260 | sophistication of ratemaking for the fund, including |
| 261 | deductibles, type of construction, type of coverage provided, |
| 262 | relative concentration of risks, and other such factors deemed |
| 263 | by the board to be appropriate. |
| 264 | 2. The formula must provide for a cash build-up factor as |
| 265 | specified in this subparagraph. For the 2009-2010 contract year, |
| 266 | the factor is 5 percent. For the 2010-2011 contract year, the |
| 267 | factor is 10 percent. |
| 268 | a. For the 2011-2012 contract year, the factor is 15 |
| 269 | percent. |
| 270 | b. For the 2012-2013 contract year, the factor is 20 |
| 271 | percent. |
| 272 | c. For the 2013-2014 contract year and thereafter, the |
| 273 | factor is 25 percent. |
| 274 | d For the 2014-2015 contract year, the factor is 30 |
| 275 | percent. |
| 276 | e. For the 2015-2016 contract year, the factor is 35 |
| 277 | percent. |
| 278 | f. For the 2016-2017 contract year, the factor is 40 |
| 279 | percent. |
| 280 | g. For the 2017-2018 contract year, the factor is 45 |
| 281 | percent. |
| 282 | h. For the 2018-2019 contract year and subsequent contract |
| 283 | years, the factor is 50 percent. |
| 284 | 3. The formula may provide for a procedure to determine |
| 285 | the premiums to be paid by new insurers that begin writing |
| 286 | covered policies after the beginning of a contract year, taking |
| 287 | into consideration when the insurer starts writing covered |
| 288 | policies, the potential exposure of the insurer, the potential |
| 289 | exposure of the fund, the administrative costs to the insurer |
| 290 | and to the fund, and any other factors deemed appropriate by the |
| 291 | board. The formula must be approved by unanimous vote of the |
| 292 | board. The board may, at any time, revise the formula pursuant |
| 293 | to the procedure provided in this paragraph. |
| 294 | (6) REVENUE BONDS.- |
| 295 | (b) Emergency assessments- |
| 296 | 1. If the board determines that the amount of revenue |
| 297 | produced under subsection (5) is insufficient to fund the |
| 298 | obligations, costs, and expenses of the fund and the |
| 299 | corporation, including repayment of revenue bonds and that |
| 300 | portion of the debt service coverage not met by reimbursement |
| 301 | premiums, the board shall direct the Office of Insurance |
| 302 | Regulation to levy, by order, an emergency assessment on direct |
| 303 | premiums for all property and casualty lines of business in this |
| 304 | state, including property and casualty business of surplus lines |
| 305 | insurers regulated under part VIII of chapter 626, but not |
| 306 | including any workers' compensation premiums or medical |
| 307 | malpractice premiums. As used in this subsection, the term |
| 308 | "property and casualty business" includes all lines of business |
| 309 | identified on Form 2, Exhibit of Premiums and Losses, in the |
| 310 | annual statement required of authorized insurers by s. 624.424 |
| 311 | and any rule adopted under this section, except for those lines |
| 312 | identified as accident and health insurance and except for |
| 313 | policies written under the National Flood Insurance Program. The |
| 314 | assessment shall be specified as a percentage of direct written |
| 315 | premium and is subject to annual adjustments by the board in |
| 316 | order to meet debt obligations. The same percentage shall apply |
| 317 | to all policies in lines of business subject to the assessment |
| 318 | issued or renewed during the 12-month period beginning on the |
| 319 | effective date of the assessment. |
| 320 | 2.a. A premium is not subject to an annual assessment |
| 321 | under this paragraph in excess of 6 percent of premium with |
| 322 | respect to obligations arising out of losses attributable to any |
| 323 | one contract year prior to the 2015-2016 contract year, and a |
| 324 | premium is not subject to an aggregate annual assessment under |
| 325 | this paragraph in excess of 10 percent of premium if all of the |
| 326 | losses that generated the obligations were attributable to |
| 327 | contract years prior to the 2015-2016 contract year. An annual |
| 328 | assessment under this paragraph shall continue as long as the |
| 329 | revenue bonds issued with respect to which the assessment was |
| 330 | imposed are outstanding, including any bonds the proceeds of |
| 331 | which were used to refund the revenue bonds, unless adequate |
| 332 | provision has been made for the payment of the bonds under the |
| 333 | documents authorizing issuance of the bonds. |
| 334 | b. Except as provided in sub-subparagraph a., a premium is |
| 335 | not subject to an annual assessment under this paragraph in |
| 336 | excess of 5 percent of premium with respect to obligations |
| 337 | arising out of losses attributable to any one contract year, and |
| 338 | a premium is not subject to an aggregate annual assessment under |
| 339 | this paragraph in excess of 8 percent of premium. An annual |
| 340 | assessment under this paragraph shall continue as long as the |
| 341 | revenue bonds issued with respect to which the assessment was |
| 342 | imposed are outstanding, including any bonds the proceeds of |
| 343 | which were used to refund the revenue bonds, unless adequate |
| 344 | provision has been made for the payment of the bonds under the |
| 345 | documents authorizing issuance of the bonds. |
| 346 | 3. Emergency assessments shall be collected from |
| 347 | policyholders. Emergency assessments shall be remitted by |
| 348 | insurers as a percentage of direct written premium for the |
| 349 | preceding calendar quarter as specified in the order from the |
| 350 | Office of Insurance Regulation. The office shall verify the |
| 351 | accurate and timely collection and remittance of emergency |
| 352 | assessments and shall report the information to the board in a |
| 353 | form and at a time specified by the board. Each insurer |
| 354 | collecting assessments shall provide the information with |
| 355 | respect to premiums and collections as may be required by the |
| 356 | office to enable the office to monitor and verify compliance |
| 357 | with this paragraph. |
| 358 | 4. With respect to assessments of surplus lines premiums, |
| 359 | each surplus lines agent shall collect the assessment at the |
| 360 | same time as the agent collects the surplus lines tax required |
| 361 | by s. 626.932, and the surplus lines agent shall remit the |
| 362 | assessment to the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office created |
| 363 | by s. 626.921 at the same time as the agent remits the surplus |
| 364 | lines tax to the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office. The |
| 365 | emergency assessment on each insured procuring coverage and |
| 366 | filing under s. 626.938 shall be remitted by the insured to the |
| 367 | Florida Surplus Lines Service Office at the time the insured |
| 368 | pays the surplus lines tax to the Florida Surplus Lines Service |
| 369 | Office. The Florida Surplus Lines Service Office shall remit the |
| 370 | collected assessments to the fund or corporation as provided in |
| 371 | the order levied by the Office of Insurance Regulation. The |
| 372 | Florida Surplus Lines Service Office shall verify the proper |
| 373 | application of such emergency assessments and shall assist the |
| 374 | board in ensuring the accurate and timely collection and |
| 375 | remittance of assessments as required by the board. The Florida |
| 376 | Surplus Lines Service Office shall annually calculate the |
| 377 | aggregate written premium on property and casualty business, |
| 378 | other than workers' compensation and medical malpractice, |
| 379 | procured through surplus lines agents and insureds procuring |
| 380 | coverage and filing under s. 626.938 and shall report the |
| 381 | information to the board in a form and at a time specified by |
| 382 | the board. |
| 383 | 5.a. Any assessment authority not used for a particular |
| 384 | contract year may be used for a subsequent contract year. If, |
| 385 | for a subsequent contract year, the board determines that the |
| 386 | amount of revenue produced under subsection (5) is insufficient |
| 387 | to fund the obligations, costs, and expenses of the fund and the |
| 388 | corporation, including repayment of revenue bonds and that |
| 389 | portion of the debt service coverage not met by reimbursement |
| 390 | premiums, the board shall direct the Office of Insurance |
| 391 | Regulation to levy an emergency assessment up to an amount not |
| 392 | exceeding the amount of unused assessment authority from a |
| 393 | previous contract year or years, plus an additional 4 percent, |
| 394 | if provided that the assessments in the aggregate do not exceed |
| 395 | the limits specified in subparagraph 2. and all of the losses |
| 396 | that generated the obligations were attributable to contract |
| 397 | years prior to the 2015-2016 contract year. |
| 398 | b. Except as provided in sub-subparagraph a., any |
| 399 | assessment authority not used for a particular contract year may |
| 400 | be used for a subsequent contract year. If, for a subsequent |
| 401 | contract year, the board determines that the amount of revenue |
| 402 | produced under subsection (5) is insufficient to fund the |
| 403 | obligations, costs, and expenses of the fund and the |
| 404 | corporation, including repayment of revenue bonds and that |
| 405 | portion of the debt service coverage not met by reimbursement |
| 406 | premiums, the board shall direct the Office of Insurance |
| 407 | Regulation to levy an emergency assessment up to an amount not |
| 408 | exceeding the amount of unused assessment authority from a |
| 409 | previous contract year or years, plus an additional 3 percent, |
| 410 | if the assessments in the aggregate do not exceed the limits |
| 411 | specified in subparagraph 2. |
| 412 | 6. The assessments otherwise payable to the corporation |
| 413 | under this paragraph shall be paid to the fund unless and until |
| 414 | the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Florida Surplus Lines |
| 415 | Service Office have received from the corporation and the fund a |
| 416 | notice, which shall be conclusive and upon which they may rely |
| 417 | without further inquiry, that the corporation has issued bonds |
| 418 | and the fund has no agreements in effect with local governments |
| 419 | under paragraph (c). On or after the date of the notice and |
| 420 | until the date the corporation has no bonds outstanding, the |
| 421 | fund shall have no right, title, or interest in or to the |
| 422 | assessments, except as provided in the fund's agreement with the |
| 423 | corporation. |
| 424 | 7. Emergency assessments are not premium and are not |
| 425 | subject to the premium tax, to the surplus lines tax, to any |
| 426 | fees, or to any commissions. An insurer is liable for all |
| 427 | assessments that it collects and must treat the failure of an |
| 428 | insured to pay an assessment as a failure to pay the premium. An |
| 429 | insurer is not liable for uncollectible assessments. |
| 430 | 8. When an insurer is required to return an unearned |
| 431 | premium, it shall also return any collected assessment |
| 432 | attributable to the unearned premium. A credit adjustment to the |
| 433 | collected assessment may be made by the insurer with regard to |
| 434 | future remittances that are payable to the fund or corporation, |
| 435 | but the insurer is not entitled to a refund. |
| 436 | 9. When a surplus lines insured or an insured who has |
| 437 | procured coverage and filed under s. 626.938 is entitled to the |
| 438 | return of an unearned premium, the Florida Surplus Lines Service |
| 439 | Office shall provide a credit or refund to the agent or such |
| 440 | insured for the collected assessment attributable to the |
| 441 | unearned premium prior to remitting the emergency assessment |
| 442 | collected to the fund or corporation. |
| 443 | 10. The exemption of medical malpractice insurance |
| 444 | premiums from emergency assessments under this paragraph is |
| 445 | repealed May 31, 2013, and medical malpractice insurance |
| 446 | premiums shall be subject to emergency assessments attributable |
| 447 | to loss events occurring in the contract years commencing on |
| 448 | June 1, 2013. |
| 449 | (d) State Board of Administration Florida Hurricane |
| 450 | Catastrophe Fund Finance Corporation.- |
| 451 | 1. In addition to the findings and declarations in |
| 452 | subsection (1), the Legislature also finds and declares that: |
| 453 | a. The public benefits corporation created under this |
| 454 | paragraph will provide a mechanism necessary for the cost- |
| 455 | effective and efficient issuance of bonds. This mechanism will |
| 456 | eliminate unnecessary costs in the bond issuance process, |
| 457 | thereby increasing the amounts available to pay reimbursement |
| 458 | for losses to property sustained as a result of hurricane |
| 459 | damage. |
| 460 | b. The purpose of such bonds is to fund reimbursements |
| 461 | through the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to pay for the |
| 462 | costs of construction, reconstruction, repair, restoration, and |
| 463 | other costs associated with damage to properties of |
| 464 | policyholders of covered policies due to the occurrence of a |
| 465 | hurricane. |
| 466 | c. The efficacy of the financing mechanism will be |
| 467 | enhanced by the corporation's ownership of the assessments, by |
| 468 | the insulation of the assessments from possible bankruptcy |
| 469 | proceedings, and by covenants of the state with the |
| 470 | corporation's bondholders. |
| 471 | 2.a. There is created a public benefits corporation, which |
| 472 | is an instrumentality of the state, to be known as the State |
| 473 | Board of Administration Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund |
| 474 | Finance Corporation. |
| 475 | b. The corporation shall operate under a five-member board |
| 476 | of directors consisting of the Governor or a designee, the Chief |
| 477 | Financial Officer or a designee, the Attorney General or a |
| 478 | designee, the director of the Division of Bond Finance of the |
| 479 | State Board of Administration, and the Chief Operating Officer |
| 480 | senior employee of the State Board of Administration responsible |
| 481 | for operations of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
| 482 | c. The corporation has all of the powers of corporations |
| 483 | under chapter 607 and under chapter 617, subject only to the |
| 484 | provisions of this subsection. |
| 485 | d. The corporation may issue bonds and engage in such |
| 486 | other financial transactions as are necessary to provide |
| 487 | sufficient funds to achieve the purposes of this section. |
| 488 | e. The corporation may invest in any of the investments |
| 489 | authorized under s. 215.47. |
| 490 | f. There shall be no liability on the part of, and no |
| 491 | cause of action shall arise against, any board members or |
| 492 | employees of the corporation for any actions taken by them in |
| 493 | the performance of their duties under this paragraph. |
| 494 | 3.a. In actions under chapter 75 to validate any bonds |
| 495 | issued by the corporation, the notice required by s. 75.06 shall |
| 496 | be published only in Leon County and in two newspapers of |
| 497 | general circulation in the state, and the complaint and order of |
| 498 | the court shall be served only on the State Attorney of the |
| 499 | Second Judicial Circuit. |
| 500 | b. The state hereby covenants with holders of bonds of the |
| 501 | corporation that the state will not repeal or abrogate the power |
| 502 | of the board to direct the Office of Insurance Regulation to |
| 503 | levy the assessments and to collect the proceeds of the revenues |
| 504 | pledged to the payment of such bonds as long as any such bonds |
| 505 | remain outstanding unless adequate provision has been made for |
| 506 | the payment of such bonds pursuant to the documents authorizing |
| 507 | the issuance of such bonds. |
| 508 | 4. The bonds of the corporation are not a debt of the |
| 509 | state or of any political subdivision, and neither the state nor |
| 510 | any political subdivision is liable on such bonds. The |
| 511 | corporation does not have the power to pledge the credit, the |
| 512 | revenues, or the taxing power of the state or of any political |
| 513 | subdivision. The credit, revenues, or taxing power of the state |
| 514 | or of any political subdivision shall not be deemed to be |
| 515 | pledged to the payment of any bonds of the corporation. |
| 516 | 5.a. The property, revenues, and other assets of the |
| 517 | corporation; the transactions and operations of the corporation |
| 518 | and the income from such transactions and operations; and all |
| 519 | bonds issued under this paragraph and interest on such bonds are |
| 520 | exempt from taxation by the state and any political subdivision, |
| 521 | including the intangibles tax under chapter 199 and the income |
| 522 | tax under chapter 220. This exemption does not apply to any tax |
| 523 | imposed by chapter 220 on interest, income, or profits on debt |
| 524 | obligations owned by corporations other than the State Board of |
| 525 | Administration Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund Finance |
| 526 | Corporation. |
| 527 | b. All bonds of the corporation shall be and constitute |
| 528 | legal investments without limitation for all public bodies of |
| 529 | this state; for all banks, trust companies, savings banks, |
| 530 | savings associations, savings and loan associations, and |
| 531 | investment companies; for all administrators, executors, |
| 532 | trustees, and other fiduciaries; for all insurance companies and |
| 533 | associations and other persons carrying on an insurance |
| 534 | business; and for all other persons who are now or may hereafter |
| 535 | be authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the |
| 536 | state and shall be and constitute eligible securities to be |
| 537 | deposited as collateral for the security of any state, county, |
| 538 | municipal, or other public funds. This sub-subparagraph shall be |
| 539 | considered as additional and supplemental authority and shall |
| 540 | not be limited without specific reference to this sub- |
| 541 | subparagraph. |
| 542 | 6. The corporation and its corporate existence shall |
| 543 | continue until terminated by law; however, no such law shall |
| 544 | take effect as long as the corporation has bonds outstanding |
| 545 | unless adequate provision has been made for the payment of such |
| 546 | bonds pursuant to the documents authorizing the issuance of such |
| 547 | bonds. Upon termination of the existence of the corporation, all |
| 548 | of its rights and properties in excess of its obligations shall |
| 549 | pass to and be vested in the state. |
| 550 | 7. The State Board of Administration Finance Corporation |
| 551 | is for all purposes the successor to the Florida Hurricane |
| 552 | Catastrophe Fund Finance Corporation. |
| 553 | (16) TEMPORARY EMERGENCY OPTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL COVERAGE.- |
| 554 | (a) Findings and intent.- |
| 555 | 1. The Legislature finds that: |
| 556 | a. Because of temporary disruptions in the market for |
| 557 | catastrophic reinsurance, many property insurers were unable to |
| 558 | procure reinsurance for the 2006 hurricane season with an |
| 559 | attachment point below the insurers' respective Florida |
| 560 | Hurricane Catastrophe Fund attachment points, were unable to |
| 561 | procure sufficient amounts of such reinsurance, or were able to |
| 562 | procure such reinsurance only by incurring substantially higher |
| 563 | costs than in prior years. |
| 564 | b. The reinsurance market problems were responsible, at |
| 565 | least in part, for substantial premium increases to many |
| 566 | consumers and increases in the number of policies issued by the |
| 567 | Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. |
| 568 | c. It is likely that the reinsurance market disruptions |
| 569 | will not significantly abate prior to the 2007 hurricane season. |
| 570 | 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to create a |
| 571 | temporary emergency program, applicable to the 2007, 2008, and |
| 572 | 2009 hurricane seasons, to address these market disruptions and |
| 573 | enable insurers, at their option, to procure additional coverage |
| 574 | from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
| 575 | (b) Applicability of other provisions of this section.-All |
| 576 | provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this |
| 577 | section apply to the program created by this subsection unless |
| 578 | specifically superseded by this subsection. |
| 579 | (c) Optional coverage.-For the contract year commencing |
| 580 | June 1, 2007, and ending May 31, 2008, the contract year |
| 581 | commencing June 1, 2008, and ending May 31, 2009, and the |
| 582 | contract year commencing June 1, 2009, and ending May 31, 2010, |
| 583 | the board shall offer for each of such years the optional |
| 584 | coverage as provided in this subsection. |
| 585 | (d) Additional definitions.-As used in this subsection, |
| 586 | the term: |
| 587 | 1. "TEACO options" means the temporary emergency |
| 588 | additional coverage options created under this subsection. |
| 589 | 2. "TEACO insurer" means an insurer that has opted to |
| 590 | obtain coverage under the TEACO options in addition to the |
| 591 | coverage provided to the insurer under its reimbursement |
| 592 | contract. |
| 593 | 3. "TEACO reimbursement premium" means the premium charged |
| 594 | by the fund for coverage provided under the TEACO options. |
| 595 | 4. "TEACO retention" means the amount of losses below |
| 596 | which a TEACO insurer is not entitled to reimbursement from the |
| 597 | fund under the TEACO option selected. A TEACO insurer's |
| 598 | retention options shall be calculated as follows: |
| 599 | a. The board shall calculate and report to each TEACO |
| 600 | insurer the TEACO retention multiples. There shall be three |
| 601 | TEACO retention multiples for defining coverage. Each multiple |
| 602 | shall be calculated by dividing $3 billion, $4 billion, or $5 |
| 603 | billion by the total estimated mandatory FHCF reimbursement |
| 604 | premium assuming all insurers selected the 90-percent coverage |
| 605 | level. |
| 606 | b. The TEACO retention multiples as determined under sub- |
| 607 | subparagraph a. shall be adjusted to reflect the coverage level |
| 608 | elected by the insurer. For insurers electing the 90-percent |
| 609 | coverage level, the adjusted retention multiple is 100 percent |
| 610 | of the amount determined under sub-subparagraph a. For insurers |
| 611 | electing the 75-percent coverage level, the retention multiple |
| 612 | is 120 percent of the amount determined under sub-subparagraph |
| 613 | a. For insurers electing the 45-percent coverage level, the |
| 614 | adjusted retention multiple is 200 percent of the amount |
| 615 | determined under sub-subparagraph a. |
| 616 | c. An insurer shall determine its provisional TEACO |
| 617 | retention by multiplying its estimated mandatory FHCF |
| 618 | reimbursement premium by the applicable adjusted TEACO retention |
| 619 | multiple and shall determine its actual TEACO retention by |
| 620 | multiplying its actual mandatory FHCF reimbursement premium by |
| 621 | the applicable adjusted TEACO retention multiple. |
| 622 | d. For TEACO insurers who experience multiple covered |
| 623 | events causing loss during the contract year, the insurer's full |
| 624 | TEACO retention shall be applied to each of the covered events |
| 625 | causing the two largest losses for that insurer. For other |
| 626 | covered events resulting in losses, the TEACO option does not |
| 627 | apply and the insurer's retention shall be one-third of the full |
| 628 | retention as calculated under paragraph (2)(e). |
| 629 | 5. "TEACO addendum" means an addendum to the reimbursement |
| 630 | contract reflecting the obligations of the fund and TEACO |
| 631 | insurers under the program created by this subsection. |
| 632 | 6. "FHCF" means the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
| 633 | (e) TEACO addendum.- |
| 634 | 1. The TEACO addendum shall provide for reimbursement of |
| 635 | TEACO insurers for covered events occurring during the contract |
| 636 | year, in exchange for the TEACO reimbursement premium paid into |
| 637 | the fund under paragraph (f). Any insurer writing covered |
| 638 | policies has the option of choosing to accept the TEACO addendum |
| 639 | for any of the 3 contract years that the coverage is offered. |
| 640 | 2. The TEACO addendum shall contain a promise by the board |
| 641 | to reimburse the TEACO insurer for 45 percent, 75 percent, or 90 |
| 642 | percent of its losses from each covered event in excess of the |
| 643 | insurer's TEACO retention, plus 5 percent of the reimbursed |
| 644 | losses to cover loss adjustment expenses. The percentage shall |
| 645 | be the same as the coverage level selected by the insurer under |
| 646 | paragraph (4)(b). |
| 647 | 3. The TEACO addendum shall provide that reimbursement |
| 648 | amounts shall not be reduced by reinsurance paid or payable to |
| 649 | the insurer from other sources. |
| 650 | 4. The TEACO addendum shall also provide that the |
| 651 | obligation of the board with respect to all TEACO addenda shall |
| 652 | not exceed an amount equal to two times the difference between |
| 653 | the industry retention level calculated under paragraph (2)(e) |
| 654 | and the $3 billion, $4 billion, or $5 billion industry TEACO |
| 655 | retention level options actually selected, but in no event may |
| 656 | the board's obligation exceed the actual claims-paying capacity |
| 657 | of the fund plus the additional capacity created in paragraph |
| 658 | (g). If the actual claims-paying capacity and the additional |
| 659 | capacity created under paragraph (g) fall short of the board's |
| 660 | obligations under the reimbursement contract, each insurer's |
| 661 | share of the fund's capacity shall be prorated based on the |
| 662 | premium an insurer pays for its mandatory reimbursement coverage |
| 663 | and the premium paid for its optional TEACO coverage as each |
| 664 | such premium bears to the total premiums paid to the fund times |
| 665 | the available capacity. |
| 666 | 5. The priorities, schedule, and method of reimbursements |
| 667 | under the TEACO addendum shall be the same as provided under |
| 668 | subsection (4). |
| 669 | 6. A TEACO insurer's maximum reimbursement for a single |
| 670 | event shall be equal to the product of multiplying its mandatory |
| 671 | FHCF premium by the difference between its FHCF retention |
| 672 | multiple and its TEACO retention multiple under the TEACO option |
| 673 | selected and by the coverage selected under paragraph (4)(b), |
| 674 | plus an additional 5 percent for loss adjustment expenses. A |
| 675 | TEACO insurer's maximum reimbursement under the TEACO option |
| 676 | selected for a TEACO insurer's two largest events shall be twice |
| 677 | its maximum reimbursement for a single event. |
| 678 | (f) TEACO reimbursement premiums.- |
| 679 | 1. Each TEACO insurer shall pay to the fund, in the manner |
| 680 | and at the time provided in the reimbursement contract for |
| 681 | payment of reimbursement premiums, a TEACO reimbursement premium |
| 682 | calculated as specified in this paragraph. |
| 683 | 2. The insurer's TEACO reimbursement premium associated |
| 684 | with the $3 billion retention option shall be equal to 85 |
| 685 | percent of a TEACO insurer's maximum reimbursement for a single |
| 686 | event as calculated under subparagraph (e)6. The TEACO |
| 687 | reimbursement premium associated with the $4 billion retention |
| 688 | option shall be equal to 80 percent of a TEACO insurer's maximum |
| 689 | reimbursement for a single event as calculated under |
| 690 | subparagraph (e)6. The TEACO premium associated with the $5 |
| 691 | billion retention option shall be equal to 75 percent of a TEACO |
| 692 | insurer's maximum reimbursement for a single event as calculated |
| 693 | under subparagraph (e)6. |
| 694 | (g) Effect on claims-paying capacity of the fund.-For the |
| 695 | contract term commencing June 1, 2007, the contract year |
| 696 | commencing June 1, 2008, and the contract term beginning June 1, |
| 697 | 2009, the program created by this subsection shall increase the |
| 698 | claims-paying capacity of the fund as provided in subparagraph |
| 699 | (4)(c)1. by an amount equal to two times the difference between |
| 700 | the industry retention level calculated under paragraph (2)(e) |
| 701 | and the $3 billion industry TEACO retention level specified in |
| 702 | sub-subparagraph (d)4.a. The additional capacity shall apply |
| 703 | only to the additional coverage provided by the TEACO option and |
| 704 | shall not otherwise affect any insurer's reimbursement from the |
| 705 | fund. |
| 706 | (16)(17) TEMPORARY INCREASE IN COVERAGE LIMIT OPTIONS.- |
| 707 | (a) Findings and intent.- |
| 708 | 1. The Legislature finds that: |
| 709 | a. Because of temporary disruptions in the market for |
| 710 | catastrophic reinsurance, many property insurers were unable to |
| 711 | procure sufficient amounts of reinsurance for the 2006 hurricane |
| 712 | season or were able to procure such reinsurance only by |
| 713 | incurring substantially higher costs than in prior years. |
| 714 | b. The reinsurance market problems were responsible, at |
| 715 | least in part, for substantial premium increases to many |
| 716 | consumers and increases in the number of policies issued by |
| 717 | Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. |
| 718 | c. It is likely that the reinsurance market disruptions |
| 719 | will not significantly abate prior to the 2007 hurricane season. |
| 720 | 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to create options |
| 721 | for insurers to purchase a temporary increased coverage limit |
| 722 | above the statutorily determined limit in subparagraph (4)(c)1., |
| 723 | applicable for the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 |
| 724 | hurricane season seasons, to address market disruptions and |
| 725 | enable insurers, at their option, to procure additional coverage |
| 726 | from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
| 727 | (b) Applicability of other provisions of this section.-All |
| 728 | provisions of this section and the rules adopted under this |
| 729 | section apply to the coverage created by this subsection unless |
| 730 | specifically superseded by provisions in this subsection. |
| 731 | (c) Optional coverage.-For the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011- |
| 732 | 2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 contract year years, the board |
| 733 | shall offer, for each of such years, the optional coverage as |
| 734 | provided in this subsection. |
| 735 | (d) Additional definitions.-As used in this subsection, |
| 736 | the term: |
| 737 | 1. "FHCF" means Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. |
| 738 | 2. "FHCF reimbursement premium" means the premium paid by |
| 739 | an insurer for its coverage as a mandatory participant in the |
| 740 | FHCF, but does not include additional premiums for optional |
| 741 | coverages. |
| 742 | 3. "Payout multiple" means the number or multiple created |
| 743 | by dividing the statutorily defined claims-paying capacity as |
| 744 | determined in subparagraph (4)(c)1. by the aggregate |
| 745 | reimbursement premiums paid by all insurers estimated or |
| 746 | projected as of calendar year-end. |
| 747 | 4. "TICL" means the temporary increase in coverage limit. |
| 748 | 5. "TICL options" means the temporary increase in coverage |
| 749 | options created under this subsection. |
| 750 | 6. "TICL insurer" means an insurer that has opted to |
| 751 | obtain coverage under the TICL options addendum in addition to |
| 752 | the coverage provided to the insurer under its FHCF |
| 753 | reimbursement contract. |
| 754 | 7. "TICL reimbursement premium" means the premium charged |
| 755 | by the fund for coverage provided under the TICL option. |
| 756 | 8. "TICL coverage multiple" means the coverage multiple |
| 757 | when multiplied by an insurer's reimbursement premium that |
| 758 | defines the temporary increase in coverage limit. |
| 759 | 9. "TICL coverage" means the coverage for an insurer's |
| 760 | losses above the insurer's statutorily determined claims-paying |
| 761 | capacity based on the claims-paying limit in subparagraph |
| 762 | (4)(c)1., which an insurer selects as its temporary increase in |
| 763 | coverage from the fund under the TICL options selected. A TICL |
| 764 | insurer's increased coverage limit options shall be calculated |
| 765 | as follows: |
| 766 | a. The board shall calculate and report to each TICL |
| 767 | insurer the TICL coverage multiples based on 12 options for |
| 768 | increasing the insurer's FHCF coverage limit. Each TICL coverage |
| 769 | multiple shall be calculated by dividing $1 billion, $2 billion, |
| 770 | $3 billion, $4 billion, $5 billion, $6 billion, $7 billion, $8 |
| 771 | billion, $9 billion, $10 billion, $11 billion, or $12 billion by |
| 772 | the total estimated aggregate FHCF reimbursement premiums for |
| 773 | the 2007-2008 contract year, and the 2008-2009 contract year. |
| 774 | b. For the 2009-2010 contract year, the board shall |
| 775 | calculate and report to each TICL insurer the TICL coverage |
| 776 | multiples based on 10 options for increasing the insurer's FHCF |
| 777 | coverage limit. Each TICL coverage multiple shall be calculated |
| 778 | by dividing $1 billion, $2 billion, $3 billion, $4 billion, $5 |
| 779 | billion, $6 billion, $7 billion, $8 billion, $9 billion, and $10 |
| 780 | billion by the total estimated aggregate FHCF reimbursement |
| 781 | premiums for the 2009-2010 contract year. |
| 782 | c. For the 2010-2011 contract year, the board shall |
| 783 | calculate and report to each TICL insurer the TICL coverage |
| 784 | multiples based on eight options for increasing the insurer's |
| 785 | FHCF coverage limit. Each TICL coverage multiple shall be |
| 786 | calculated by dividing $1 billion, $2 billion, $3 billion, $4 |
| 787 | billion, $5 billion, $6 billion, $7 billion, and $8 billion by |
| 788 | the total estimated aggregate FHCF reimbursement premiums for |
| 789 | the contract year. |
| 790 | d. For the 2011-2012 contract year, the board shall |
| 791 | calculate and report to each TICL insurer the TICL coverage |
| 792 | multiples based on six options for increasing the insurer's FHCF |
| 793 | coverage limit. Each TICL coverage multiple shall be calculated |
| 794 | by dividing $1 billion, $2 billion, $3 billion, $4 billion, $5 |
| 795 | billion, and $6 billion by the total estimated aggregate FHCF |
| 796 | reimbursement premiums for the 2011-2012 contract year. |
| 797 | a.e. For the 2012-2013 contract year, the board shall |
| 798 | calculate and report to each TICL insurer the TICL coverage |
| 799 | multiples based on four options for increasing the insurer's |
| 800 | FHCF coverage limit. Each TICL coverage multiple shall be |
| 801 | calculated by dividing $1 billion, $2 billion, $3 billion, and |
| 802 | $4 billion by the total estimated aggregate FHCF reimbursement |
| 803 | premiums for the 2012-2013 contract year. |
| 804 | f. For the 2013-2014 contract year, the board shall |
| 805 | calculate and report to each TICL insurer the TICL coverage |
| 806 | multiples based on two options for increasing the insurer's FHCF |
| 807 | coverage limit. Each TICL coverage multiple shall be calculated |
| 808 | by dividing $1 billion and $2 billion by the total estimated |
| 809 | aggregate FHCF reimbursement premiums for the 2013-2014 contract |
| 810 | year. |
| 811 | b.g. The TICL insurer's increased coverage shall be the |
| 812 | FHCF reimbursement premium multiplied by the TICL coverage |
| 813 | multiple. In order to determine an insurer's total limit of |
| 814 | coverage, an insurer shall add its TICL coverage multiple to its |
| 815 | payout multiple. The total shall represent a number that, when |
| 816 | multiplied by an insurer's FHCF reimbursement premium for a |
| 817 | given reimbursement contract year, defines an insurer's total |
| 818 | limit of FHCF reimbursement coverage for that reimbursement |
| 819 | contract year. |
| 820 | 10. "TICL options addendum" means an addendum to the |
| 821 | reimbursement contract reflecting the obligations of the fund |
| 822 | and insurers selecting an option to increase an insurer's FHCF |
| 823 | coverage limit. |
| 824 | (e) TICL options addendum.- |
| 825 | 1. The TICL options addendum shall provide for |
| 826 | reimbursement of TICL insurers for covered events occurring |
| 827 | during the 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013- |
| 828 | 2014 contract year years in exchange for the TICL reimbursement |
| 829 | premium paid into the fund under paragraph (f) based on the TICL |
| 830 | coverage available and selected for each respective contract |
| 831 | year. Any insurer writing covered policies has the option of |
| 832 | selecting an increased limit of coverage under the TICL options |
| 833 | addendum and shall select such coverage at the time that it |
| 834 | executes the FHCF reimbursement contract. |
| 835 | 2. The TICL addendum shall contain a promise by the board |
| 836 | to reimburse the TICL insurer for 45 percent, 75 percent, or 90 |
| 837 | percent of its losses from each covered event in excess of the |
| 838 | insurer's retention, plus 5 percent of the reimbursed losses to |
| 839 | cover loss adjustment expenses. The percentage shall be the same |
| 840 | as the coverage level selected by the insurer under paragraph |
| 841 | (4)(b). |
| 842 | 3. The TICL addendum shall provide that reimbursement |
| 843 | amounts shall not be reduced by reinsurance paid or payable to |
| 844 | the insurer from other sources. |
| 845 | 4. The priorities, schedule, and method of reimbursements |
| 846 | under the TICL addendum shall be the same as provided under |
| 847 | subsection (4). |
| 848 | (f) TICL reimbursement premiums.-Each TICL insurer shall |
| 849 | pay to the fund, in the manner and at the time provided in the |
| 850 | reimbursement contract for payment of reimbursement premiums, a |
| 851 | TICL reimbursement premium determined as specified in subsection |
| 852 | (5), except that a cash build-up factor does not apply to the |
| 853 | TICL reimbursement premiums. However, the TICL reimbursement |
| 854 | premium shall be increased in the 2009-2010 contract year by a |
| 855 | factor of two, in the 2010-2011 contract year by a factor of |
| 856 | three, in the 2011-2012 contract year by a factor of four, in |
| 857 | the 2012-2013 contract year by a factor of five, and in the |
| 858 | 2013-2014 contract year by a factor of six. |
| 859 | (g) Effect on claims-paying capacity of the fund.-For the |
| 860 | 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 |
| 861 | contract year years, the program created by this subsection |
| 862 | shall increase the claims-paying capacity of the fund as |
| 863 | provided in subparagraph (4)(c)1. by an amount not to exceed $4 |
| 864 | $12 billion and shall depend on the TICL coverage options |
| 865 | available and selected for the specified contract year and the |
| 866 | number of insurers that select the TICL optional coverage. The |
| 867 | additional capacity shall apply only to the additional coverage |
| 868 | provided under the TICL options and shall not otherwise affect |
| 869 | any insurer's reimbursement from the fund if the insurer chooses |
| 870 | not to select the temporary option to increase its limit of |
| 871 | coverage under the FHCF. |
| 872 | (17)(18) FACILITATION OF INSURERS' PRIVATE CONTRACT |
| 873 | NEGOTIATIONS BEFORE THE START OF THE HURRICANE SEASON.- |
| 874 | (a) In addition to the legislative findings and intent |
| 875 | provided elsewhere in this section, the Legislature finds that: |
| 876 | 1.a. Because a regular session of the Legislature begins |
| 877 | approximately 3 months before the start of a contract year and |
| 878 | ends approximately 1 month before the start of a contract year, |
| 879 | participants in the fund always face the possibility that |
| 880 | legislative actions will change the coverage provided or offered |
| 881 | by the fund with only a few days or weeks of advance notice. |
| 882 | b. The timing issues described in sub-subparagraph a. can |
| 883 | create uncertainties and disadvantages for the residential |
| 884 | property insurers that are required to participate in the fund |
| 885 | when such insurers negotiate for the procurement of private |
| 886 | reinsurance or other sources of capital. |
| 887 | c. Providing participating insurers with a greater degree |
| 888 | of certainty regarding the coverage provided or offered by the |
| 889 | fund and more time to negotiate for the procurement of private |
| 890 | reinsurance or other sources of capital will enable the |
| 891 | residential property insurance market to operate with greater |
| 892 | stability. |
| 893 | d. Increased stability in the residential property |
| 894 | insurance market serves a primary purpose of the fund and |
| 895 | benefits Florida consumers by enabling insurers to operate more |
| 896 | economically. In years when reinsurance and capital markets are |
| 897 | experiencing a capital shortage, the last-minute rush by |
| 898 | insurers only weeks before the start of the hurricane season to |
| 899 | procure adequate coverage in order to meet their capital |
| 900 | requirements can result in higher costs that are passed on to |
| 901 | Florida consumers. However, if more time is available, |
| 902 | residential property insurers should experience greater |
| 903 | competition for their business with a corresponding beneficial |
| 904 | effect for Florida consumers. |
| 905 | 2. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide insurers |
| 906 | with the terms and conditions of the reimbursement contract well |
| 907 | in advance of the insurers' need to finalize their procurement |
| 908 | of private reinsurance or other sources of capital, and thereby |
| 909 | improve insurers' negotiating position with reinsurers and other |
| 910 | sources of capital. |
| 911 | 3. It is also the intent of the Legislature that the board |
| 912 | publish the fund's maximum statutory limit of coverage and the |
| 913 | fund's total retention early enough that residential property |
| 914 | insurers can have the opportunity to better estimate their |
| 915 | coverage from the fund. |
| 916 | (b) The board shall adopt the reimbursement contract for a |
| 917 | particular contract year by February 1 of the immediately |
| 918 | preceding contract year. However, the reimbursement contract |
| 919 | shall be adopted as soon as possible in advance of the 2010-2011 |
| 920 | contract year. |
| 921 | (c) Insurers writing covered policies shall execute the |
| 922 | reimbursement contract by March 1 of the immediately preceding |
| 923 | contract year, and the contract shall have an effective date as |
| 924 | defined in paragraph (2)(o). |
| 925 | (d) The board shall publish in the Florida Administrative |
| 926 | Weekly the maximum statutory adjusted capacity for the mandatory |
| 927 | coverage for a particular contract year, the maximum statutory |
| 928 | coverage for any optional coverage for the particular contract |
| 929 | year, and the aggregate fund retention used to calculate |
| 930 | individual insurer's retention multiples for the particular |
| 931 | contract year no later than January 1 of the immediately |
| 932 | preceding contract year. |
| 933 | Section 2. Subsection (5) of section 627.0629, Florida |
| 934 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 935 | 627.0629 Residential property insurance; rate filings.- |
| 936 | (5) In order to provide an appropriate transition period, |
| 937 | an insurer may implement an approved rate filing for residential |
| 938 | property insurance over a period of years. Such insurer must |
| 939 | provide an informational notice to the office setting out its |
| 940 | schedule for implementation of the phased-in rate filing. The |
| 941 | insurer may include in its rate the actual cost of private |
| 942 | market reinsurance that corresponds to available coverage of the |
| 943 | Temporary Increase in Coverage Limits, TICL, from the Florida |
| 944 | Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. The insurer may also include the |
| 945 | cost of reinsurance to replace the TICL reduction implemented |
| 946 | pursuant to s. 215.555(16)(d)9 s. 215.555(17)(d)9. However, this |
| 947 | cost for reinsurance may not include any expense or profit load |
| 948 | or result in a total annual base rate increase in excess of 10 |
| 949 | percent. |
| 950 | Section 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. |