Title 33, Chapter 9, Section 8
( 33-9-8)
(a) Agreements shall be made among admitted property and casualty
insurers with respect to the equitable apportionment among them of
property and casualty insurance which may be afforded applicants who
are in good faith entitled to but who are unable to procure such
insurance through ordinary methods upon the determination by the
Commissioner in writing that an agreement relative to a given kind
or kinds of property and casualty insurance is necessary to protect
the health, property, and welfare of the citizens of Georgia. All
of the agreements shall be subject to the approval of the
Commissioner and upon his approval shall have the effect of rules
and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner. (b) All of the agreements shall be submitted in writing to the Commissioner for his consideration and approval within the period of time specified by the Commissioner in his determination, as provided for in this Code section, together with such information as he may reasonably require. The approval of the agreements shall comply with the requirements of the rule-making process as set forth in Code Section 33-2-9, as now or hereafter amended. The Commissioner shall approve only such agreements as are found by him to contemplate the use of rates which meet the standards prescribed by this chapter and activities and practices that are not unfair, unreasonable, or otherwise inconsistent with this chapter. (c) If, as provided in this Code section, the Commissioner
determines that it is necessary to protect the health, property, and
welfare of the citizens of this state, in addition to all other
authority granted in this title, the Commissioner shall also have
and may exercise the following authority: (1) The Commissioner may require that any rates contemplated to be
used under this Code section shall be approved by him prior to
their use; (2) The Commissioner may declare that any policies, contracts, or
rates used pursuant to any agreement or plan established under
this Code section shall be the exclusive policies, contracts, or
rates authorized to be used in Georgia for the kind or kinds of
insurance; and he may prohibit the use by any person of policies,
contracts, or rates in this state which are different from those
established in accordance with this Code section; and (3) The Commissioner may amend or modify in whole or in part and
may adopt any agreement submitted to him in accordance with this
Code section. If no agreement is submitted within the time
prescribed by the Commissioner or if after a hearing the agreement
submitted is unacceptable to the Commissioner, the Commissioner
may on his own motion promulgate and adopt a reasonable plan to
implement this Code section which plan shall become effective on a
date not sooner than ten days as specified by the Commissioner in
his order. (d) At any time after the agreements are in effect the Commissioner
may review the practices and activities of the adherents to such
agreements and, if after a hearing upon not less than ten days'
notice to such adherents, he finds that any such practice or
activity is unfair or unreasonable, or is otherwise inconsistent
with this chapter, he may issue a written order to the parties of
the agreement specifying in what respect the act or practice is
unfair or unreasonable or otherwise inconsistent with this chapter
and requiring the discontinuance of the activity or practice. For
good cause, and after hearing upon not less than ten days' notice to
the adherents thereto, the Commissioner may revoke approval of the
agreement. (e) Whenever the Commissioner determines that a lack of competition
or a lack of availability exists in this state in either property or
casualty insurance, the Commissioner is authorized to protect the
health, property, and welfare of the citizens of this state by
exercising the following authority: (1) The Commissioner shall approve all rates contemplated to be
used under this Code section prior to their use; (2) The Commissioner shall approve any policies or contracts used
pursuant to any agreement or plan established under this Code
section and such policies or contracts shall be used exclusively
in this state for those kinds of insurance. The use by any person
of any policies or contracts which are different from those
established in accordance with this Code section shall be
prohibited; and (3) The Commissioner may by order implement a plan or program to
provide the necessary insurance coverages to the citizens of this
state by equitable apportionment among all property and casualty
insurers licensed to transact those kinds of insurance in this
state. (f) The powers contained in this Code section are cumulative and
shall be in addition to all other powers of the Commissioner
contained elsewhere in this title or under the laws of this state. |