Md. Code Ann., Ins. § 3-103
Formation of domestic insurers
Effective Oct 1, 2019Added by Acts 1995, c. 36, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2019, c. 234, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.State of Maryland
- (a) A domestic insurer may be formed for insurance purposes under Title 2 of the Corporations and Associations Article.
- (b) A domestic insurer may be formed either as a mutual insurer or stock insurer, as stated in its articles of incorporation.
(c)
- (1) Each policyholder of a domestic mutual insurer, other than a holder of a reinsurance contract, is a member of the mutual insurer, with each right and obligation of membership.
- (2) Each policy shall state the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection.
- (3) Any person, government, governmental unit, state, or political subdivision may be a member of a domestic, foreign, or alien mutual insurer.
(4) An officer, stockholder, trustee, or legal representative of a member:
- (i) may be recognized as acting in a representative capacity for or on behalf of the member for the purpose of the membership; and
- (ii) is not personally liable on the insurance contract for acting in that representative capacity.
- (5) A Maryland corporation may participate as a member of a mutual insurer incidentally to the purpose for which the corporation is organized.
(d)
(1) Each member of a domestic mutual insurer is entitled to one vote, or to the number of votes the bylaws provide, based on:
- (i) the insurance in force;
- (ii) the number of policies held; or
- (iii) the amount of premium paid.
- (2) Only the policyholder under a group policy is a member of the mutual insurer and is entitled to vote at the meetings of the mutual insurer.
(e)
- (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the board of directors of a domestic insurer shall have at least nine members.
- (2) The board of directors of a domestic financial guaranty insurance company that is prohibited from issuing new policies of financial guaranty insurance shall have at least five members.
Added by Acts 1995, c. 36, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2019, c. 234, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019.