(a)
(1) Every society authorized to do business in this state shall appoint in writing to the Insurance Commissioner an Arkansas resident as its registered agent to be its true and lawful attorney upon whom all lawful process in any action or proceeding against it shall be served, and shall agree in such a writing that any lawful process against it that is served on the attorney shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served upon the society, and that the authority shall continue in force so long as any liability remains outstanding in this state.
(2) Copies of the registration, certified by the commissioner, shall be deemed sufficient evidence thereof and shall be admitted in evidence with the same force and effect as the original thereof might be admitted.
(b) On or after January 1, 2003, service shall be made upon the registered agent listed with the commissioner in the manner provided in §§ 23-63-301 — 23-63-304, except that no service of legal process shall require a society to file its answer, pleading, or defense in less than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of service upon its registered agent in this state.