South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 38 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 38-38-550. Authorization to transact business in State; what to file with director.

A society may not transact business in this State without a certificate of authority issued by the director or his designee. A society desiring admission to, or wishing to continue to transact business in this State, shall comply with the requirements and limitations of this chapter. A society may be authorized to transact, or continue to transact, business in this State upon filing with the director or his designee:
(1) a certified copy of its articles of incorporation;
(2) a copy of its bylaws, certified by its secretary or corresponding officer;
(3) a power of attorney to the director or his designee as prescribed in Section 38-38-710;
(4) a statement of its business under the oath of its president and secretary or corresponding officers in a form prescribed by the director or his designee, verified by an examination made by the supervising insurance official of its home state or other state, territory, province, or country, satisfactory to the director or his designee;
(5) certification from the proper official of this State or its home state, territory, province, or country that the society is legally incorporated, and that, for a foreign or alien society, it is licensed to transact business there and to write the lines of business for which authority is being requested;
(6) copies of its certificate forms;
(7) evidence that its assets are invested in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(8) evidence that its name is not substantially similar to another society authorized to do business in this State;
(9) evidence that the society's surplus complies with the amount required by Section 38-9-20. A society, if possessed of surplus on December 31, 1998, that was in compliance with the law at that time but is less than the minimum required to be maintained by Section 38-9-20, shall maintain not less than the amount of surplus stated in its 1998 annual statement. If the surplus of the society is reduced to less than eighty percent of the amount shown in its 1998 annual statement, the society is considered delinquent, and the director or his designee may begin delinquency proceedings as provided by Chapter 27 of this title. If the surplus of the society is increased to an amount greater than the amount possessed on December 31, 1998, eighty percent of that greater amount of surplus, or the minimum amount required to be maintained by Section 38-9-20, whichever amount is the lesser, must be maintained after the increase, and if it is not maintained, the society is considered delinquent, and the director or his designee may begin delinquency proceedings as provided by Chapter 27 of this title;
(10) evidence that the society's deposit complies with the amount required by Section 38-9-80 and Regulation 69-15, Section 38-9-100, or Section 38-9-110;
(11) evidence that the society's reserves are adequate for the protection of certificate holders of this State;
(12) evidence that the society's directors and officers are competent, trustworthy, and have a good business reputation and that none of the directors and officers has been convicted of a crime in any jurisdiction involving fraud, dishonesty, or like moral turpitude or convicted of violating an insurance statute of any jurisdiction;
(13) evidence that the society has employed one or more persons residing in this State with adequate experience and training to manage properly its business and affairs;
(14) evidence that the society has not entered into any management contract, agency agreement, or other agreement which may materially affect its financial condition so as to render its proceedings hazardous to the public or to its certificate holders;
(15) evidence that the society has made adequate reinsurance arrangements if required;
(16) evidence that the society's proposed method of operation, when considered in light of its financial condition and the absence of any prior operating experience, will not likely render its proceedings hazardous to the public or to its policyholders;
(17) an affidavit of its president or other chief officer that it has not violated this title in the past year and that it accepts the terms and obligations of this title as part of the consideration for license;
(18) evidence that the society is safe and solvent;
(19) evidence that society's dealings are fair and equitable;
(20) evidence that the society conducts its business in a manner not contrary to the public interest; and
(21) any other information the director or his designee considers necessary.
The above requirements are subject to retaliatory provisions, if applicable, pursuant to Section 38-7-90. If subsequently the director or his designee is of the opinion that a condition exists which would have prohibited him from issuing the original certificate of authority or license to the society, then that condition also constitutes a ground for license revocation under Section 38-5-120.
HISTORY: 2000 Act No. 259, Section 1.