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<chapter num="13" heading="Application of a Percentage Deductible in the Case of a Hurricane" title_num="31" subtitle_num="08">
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".01" heading="Purpose.">
    <text>The purpose of this chapter is to implement Insurance Article, §§19-209 and 19-209.1, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".02" heading="Applicability.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>This chapter applies to all property and casualty insurers authorized to write homeowner’s insurance policies in Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>This chapter applies to any policy of homeowner’s insurance that provides a percentage deductible.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" heading="Definitions.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>Terms Defined.</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>“Delivery by electronic means” includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Delivery to an electronic mail address at which a party has consented to receive notice; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>Posting on an electronic network, together with separate notice to a party directed to the electronic mail address at which the party has consented to receive notice of the posting.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>Homeowner’s Insurance.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>“Homeowner’s insurance” means insurance for residential property that provides one or more of the following coverages:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>Fire;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Extended coverage;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>Vandalism and malicious mischief;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iv)">
            <text>Burglary;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(v)">
            <text>Theft; or</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(vi)">
            <text>Personal liability.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>“Homeowner’s insurance” does not include:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>An umbrella policy; or</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>Property insurance or casualty insurance issued to an individual, a sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or similar entity and intended to insure against loss arising from the business pursuits of the insured entity.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>“Hurricane warning” means a warning by the National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service that hurricane conditions are expected in any part of the State.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>“National Hurricane Center of the National Weather Service” includes:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>The National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>A regional National Weather Service Forecast Office covering any part of the State.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>“Percentage deductible” means a deductible equal to a percentage of the Coverage A — Dwelling Limit of a homeowner’s insurance policy.</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>Residential Property.</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>“Residential property” means property that is used primarily as a residence.</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>“Residential property” includes:</text>
          <paragraph num="(i)">
            <text>A residence written on a personal farmowner’s policy form;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(ii)">
            <text>A condominium unit;</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iii)">
            <text>A mobile home; and</text>
          </paragraph>
          <paragraph num="(iv)">
            <text>A multiunit building if one of the units is occupied by the owner of the building and not more than three units are occupied by tenants.</text>
          </paragraph>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(c)">
          <text>“Residential property” does not include a boat.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>“Underwriting standards” means:</text>
        <paragraph num="(a)">
          <text>Underwriting manuals, including any amendments or supplements to underwriting manuals; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(b)">
          <text>The generally accepted practices of an insurer contained in written underwriting instructions, guidelines, and rules that the insurer provides for use by its underwriters and insurance producers as standards for acceptance of risk.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".04" heading="Underwriting Standard.">
    <paragraph num="A.">
      <text>An insurer may not adopt or amend an underwriting standard that requires a hurricane percentage deductible that exceeds 5 percent unless the insurer has filed the underwriting standard or the amendment to the underwriting standard with the Commissioner.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="B.">
      <text>If an insurer withdraws an underwriting standard that requires a percentage deductible that exceeds 5 percent, the insurer shall notify the Commissioner in writing within 10 days of the withdrawal.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="C.">
      <text>An insurer that makes a filing under §A of this regulation shall include the following information in the filing:</text>
      <paragraph num="(1)">
        <text>The insurer’s NAIC number;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(2)">
        <text>A copy of the underwriting standard the insurer proposes to adopt, the amendment to an underwriting standard currently in use, or notice of withdrawal of an underwriting standard currently in use;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(3)">
        <text>The date on which the insurer intends to adopt, amend, or withdraw the underwriting standard;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(4)">
        <text>All of the data on which the insurer relied in developing the proposed underwriting standard, amendment to the underwriting standard, or withdrawal of the underwriting standard;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(5)">
        <text>A copy of each page in the insurer’s rating manual that relates to the underwriting standard;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(6)">
        <text>A copy of any underwriting standard with a percentage deductible currently in use by the insurer for homeowner’s insurance, including any SERFF tracking number associated with the underwriting standard, or a statement that the insurer does not currently have an underwriting standard with a percentage deductible for homeowner’s insurance; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(7)">
        <text>Any other information the Commissioner considers necessary.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </regulation>
  <annotations>
    <annotation type="Authority">Insurance Article, §§2-109, 19-209, and 19-209.1, Annotated Code of Maryland</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Effective date: June 23, 2014 (41:12 Md. R. 669)</annotation>
    <annotation type="History" subtype="Administrative History">Chapter revised effective April 10, 2017 (44:7 Md. R. 357)</annotation>
  </annotations>
</chapter>