Title 27
Insurance

Chapter 1
Domestic Insurance Companies

R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-1-37

§ 27-1-37. Minimum capital and surplus requirement — Charters.

(a) No domestic insurance corporation shall commence business and write, issue, or effect any policy of insurance unless the capital stock of the company is at least equal to one million dollars ($1,000,000) and the gross paid in and contributed surplus of the company is at least equal to two million dollars ($2,000,000), or, if a mutual company, its net assets over all liabilities amount to not less than three million dollars ($3,000,000), or, if a mono line business company, has a combined capital and surplus of two million dollars ($2,000,000), and until it has secured from the commissioner of insurance a certificate in compliance with the provisions of its charter and this section. “Commence business” as used in this section means the date of issuance of a certificate in compliance by the insurance commissioner.

(b) The provisions of this section relating to capital and surplus requirements shall also apply to all charters for domestic insurance companies which have not commenced business prior to June 18, 1991. The provisions of this section relating to capital and surplus requirements shall also apply to domestic insurance companies which have undergone a change in control subsequent to August 1, 1995, except that the commissioner of insurance may require lesser capital and surplus, but in no event less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) as he or she deems appropriate for the protection of all policyholders and the general public, based upon his or her review of the transaction resulting in the change in control of the insurer. “Control” as used in this section shall be defined in accordance with § 27-35-1.

History of Section.
P.L. 1974, ch. 144, § 1; P.L. 1977, ch. 186, § 1: P.L. 1978, ch. 349, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 348, § 5; P.L. 1996, ch. 188, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 122, § 1.