MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Insurance

By: Senator(s) Kirby

Senate Bill 2164

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 83-2-33 AND 83-5-72, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH A MINIMUM AMOUNT TO BE ASSESSED ON ALL PROPERTY AND CASUALTY, AND LIFE, HEALTH AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANIES LICENSED IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM TOTAL ASSESSMENTS WHICH MAY BE COLLECTED FOR THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

 

SECTION 1. Section 83-2-33, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

83-2-33. All property and casualty insurance companies doing business in this state shall contribute annually, at such times as the Insurance Commissioner shall determine, in proportion to their gross premiums collected within the State of Mississippi during the preceding year, to a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the "Insurance Department Fund" to be expended by the Insurance Commissioner in the payment of the expenses of the Department of Insurance as the commissioner may deem necessary. The commissioner is hereby authorized to employ such actuarial and other assistance as shall be necessary to carry out the duties of the department; and such employees shall be under the authority and direction of the Insurance Commissioner. The amount to be contributed annually to the fund shall be fixed each year by the Insurance Commissioner at a percentage of the gross premiums so collected during the preceding year * * *. However, a minimum assessment of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) shall be charged to each licensed property and casualty insurance company regardless of the gross premium amount collected during the preceding year.

The total contributions collected for the Insurance Department Fund * * * shall not exceed the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in each fiscal year.

SECTION 2. Section 83-5-72, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

83-5-72. All life, health and accident insurance companies and health maintenance organizations doing business in this state shall contribute annually, at such times as the Insurance Commissioner shall determine, in proportion to their gross premiums collected within the State of Mississippi during the preceding year, to a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the "Insurance Department Fund" to be expended by the Insurance Commissioner in the payment of the expenses of the Department of Insurance as the commissioner may deem necessary. The commissioner is hereby authorized to employ such actuarial and other assistance as shall be necessary to carry out the duties of the department; and the employees shall be under the authority and direction of the Insurance Commissioner. The amount to be contributed annually to the fund shall be fixed each year by the Insurance Commissioner at a percentage of the gross premiums so collected during the preceding year * * *. However, a minimum assessment of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) shall be charged each licensed life, health and accident insurance company regardless of the gross premium amount collected during the preceding year.

The total contributions collected for the Insurance Department Fund * * * shall not exceed the sum of Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) in each fiscal year.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.