Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware Senate Bill SB249 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Sen. Mantzavinos & Rep. Bush       Sen. Walsh           DELAWARE STATE SENATE   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       SENATE BILL NO. 249       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Sen. Mantzavinos & Rep. Bush       Sen. Walsh     

SPONSOR: Sen. Mantzavinos & Rep. Bush
Sen. Walsh

 SPONSOR:  

 Sen. Mantzavinos & Rep. Bush 

 Sen. Walsh 

   

 DELAWARE STATE SENATE 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 SENATE BILL NO. 249 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO CAPTIVE INSURANCE. 

   

  BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:    Section 1. Amend 6905, Title 18, of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:      6905. Minimum capital and surplus; letter of credit.    (a) No captive insurance company shall be issued a certificate of authority unless it shall possess and thereafter maintain capital and surplus of:    (1) In the case of a pure captive insurance company, not less than $250,000;    (2) In the case of an association captive insurance company, not less than $750,000;    (3) In the case of an industrial insured captive insurance company, not less than $500,000;    (4) In the case of an agency captive insurance company, not less than $250,000;    (5) In the case of a risk retention group, not less than $1,000,000;    (6) In the case of a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $500,000;    (7) In the case of a special purpose captive insurance company, not less than $250,000 or such other amount determined by the Commissioner;     (8) In the case of a branch captive insurance company, not less than $250,000 or such other amount determined by the Commissioner;    (9) In the case of a special purpose financial captive insurance company that is also a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $500,000, and in the case of a special purpose financial captive insurance company that is not also a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $250,000; and    (10) In the case of a series captive insurance company, the minimum capital and surplus shall be an amount as specified by the Commissioner.    (b) In connection with the issuance of a certificate of authority, the Commissioner may prescribe additional minimum capital and surplus based upon the type, volume, and nature of insurance business transacted.    (c)  (1)  Minimum capital and surplus described in  paragraphs   (a)(1)-(9)   of  this section shall be maintained  in this State and may be  in the form of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution chartered by or licensed or otherwise authorized to do banking business in this State, or by any other financial institution approved by the Commissioner, or such other assets as may be approved by the Commissioner.      (2) Minimum capital and surplus described in this section held in the form of cash or other assets approved by the Commissioner shall be maintained in a financial institution approved by the Commissioner and in compliance with any condition imposed by the Commissioner.    (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum capital and surplus funds may be proceeds received by the captive insurance company resulting from the issuance by the captive insurance company of a surplus note as approved by the Commissioner.      

 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE: 

  Section 1. Amend 6905, Title 18, of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:  

   6905. Minimum capital and surplus; letter of credit. 

  (a) No captive insurance company shall be issued a certificate of authority unless it shall possess and thereafter maintain capital and surplus of: 

  (1) In the case of a pure captive insurance company, not less than $250,000; 

  (2) In the case of an association captive insurance company, not less than $750,000; 

  (3) In the case of an industrial insured captive insurance company, not less than $500,000; 

  (4) In the case of an agency captive insurance company, not less than $250,000; 

  (5) In the case of a risk retention group, not less than $1,000,000; 

  (6) In the case of a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $500,000; 

  (7) In the case of a special purpose captive insurance company, not less than $250,000 or such other amount determined by the Commissioner; 

   (8) In the case of a branch captive insurance company, not less than $250,000 or such other amount determined by the Commissioner; 

  (9) In the case of a special purpose financial captive insurance company that is also a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $500,000, and in the case of a special purpose financial captive insurance company that is not also a sponsored captive insurance company, not less than $250,000; and 

  (10) In the case of a series captive insurance company, the minimum capital and surplus shall be an amount as specified by the Commissioner. 

  (b) In connection with the issuance of a certificate of authority, the Commissioner may prescribe additional minimum capital and surplus based upon the type, volume, and nature of insurance business transacted. 

  (c)  (1)  Minimum capital and surplus described in  paragraphs   (a)(1)-(9)   of  this section shall be maintained  in this State and may be  in the form of cash, an irrevocable letter of credit issued by a financial institution chartered by or licensed or otherwise authorized to do banking business in this State, or by any other financial institution approved by the Commissioner, or such other assets as may be approved by the Commissioner.   

  (2) Minimum capital and surplus described in this section held in the form of cash or other assets approved by the Commissioner shall be maintained in a financial institution approved by the Commissioner and in compliance with any condition imposed by the Commissioner. 

  (d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum capital and surplus funds may be proceeds received by the captive insurance company resulting from the issuance by the captive insurance company of a surplus note as approved by the Commissioner. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This bill amends Chapter 69 of Title 18 relating to captive insurance to provide the Commissioner with additional flexibility to approve those types of financial institutions that would be authorized to hold required capital and surplus of captive insurance companies. This change would recognize the current financial environment and practices of financial institutions and captive insurers. Assets can be safely held in financial institutions other than banks and do not need to be held in Delaware in many circumstances where the type of risk does not require it, and the Commissioner will be authorized to impose additional conditions on captives related to capital and surplus to ensure the solvency and efficient operations of captives.    Author: Senator Mantzavinos  

 SYNOPSIS 

 This bill amends Chapter 69 of Title 18 relating to captive insurance to provide the Commissioner with additional flexibility to approve those types of financial institutions that would be authorized to hold required capital and surplus of captive insurance companies. This change would recognize the current financial environment and practices of financial institutions and captive insurers. Assets can be safely held in financial institutions other than banks and do not need to be held in Delaware in many circumstances where the type of risk does not require it, and the Commissioner will be authorized to impose additional conditions on captives related to capital and surplus to ensure the solvency and efficient operations of captives.  

 Author: Senator Mantzavinos