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<section article="gin" article_name="Insurance" number="19-212" title_number="19" title_name="Property and Casualty Insurance" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Homeowner's Insurance Policies">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Material reduction” means during a 1–year period a reduction of homeowner’s insurance policies in force for an insurer on a statewide basis by 3% or more due to cancellations or nonrenewals solely because the subject of the risk or the insured’s address is located in a certain geographic area of the State.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Material reduction” does not include a homeowner’s insurance policy:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>cancelled, nonrenewed, or otherwise terminated by an insured; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>cancelled or nonrenewed by an insurer pursuant to reasons other than a material reduction plan.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>“Minimizes market disruption” means actions to be taken by an  insurer  that  intends  to  engage  in  a  plan  of  material  reduction  of  its  volume of policies to provide for the orderly reduction in homeowner’s insurance coverage.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>“Minimizes market disruption” includes:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>efforts by the insurer to maintain a service force in affected areas during the period of material reduction;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>efforts to inform insureds of options available for replacement of coverage with authorized insurers; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>any actions serving to minimize market disruption.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>At least 60 days in advance of implementing a plan of material reduction, an insurer shall file with the Commissioner a plan for orderly reduction.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The plan shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>describe the insurer’s contemplated actions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>set forth the reasons for the actions;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>describe the measures the insurer intends to take in order to minimize market disruption; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>provide any other information required by the Commissioner.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in this section, a filing under this section may not take effect until 60 days after it is filed with the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>During the initial 60–day waiting period, the Commissioner may extend the waiting period for an additional period, not to exceed 60 days, by written notice to the insurer that the Commissioner needs additional time for consideration of the filing.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A filing is deemed approved unless disapproved by the Commissioner during the waiting period or any extension of the waiting period.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If the Commissioner finds that compliance with subsection (b) of this section would result in impairment of the insurer or a significant financial loss to the insurer, the Commissioner may allow an insurer to implement its plan of material reduction within 60 days after the filing of the plan.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Commissioner shall approve the plan of material reduction if the insurer demonstrates that the material reduction is accomplished in a manner that minimizes market disruption in the areas of material reduction.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>In reviewing a plan of material reduction, the Commissioner shall assess the impact of the plan of material reduction in:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>each county of the State; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>areas within 1 mile of any saltwater shoreline or any shoreline directly adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <level label="1">
      <text>If the Commissioner disapproves the plan of material reduction, the Commissioner shall state:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>the points of objection with the plan; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>any amendments to the plan that the Commissioner may require, consistent with this section, including amendments designed to accomplish the plan of material reduction in a manner that minimizes market disruption.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The insurer shall file an amended plan within 15 days after the date of return of the disapproved plan.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any intended withdrawal in accordance with a plan of material reduction that is disapproved is prohibited until the original or an amended plan of material reduction is approved by the Commissioner.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Commissioner may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
