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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87356</law_id><section_number>38.2-5103</section_number><catch_line>Risk retention groups not chartered in this Commonwealth</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-5102</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="51">Risk Retention Groups and Purchasing Groups</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p><span class="dictionary">Risk retention groups</span> chartered in <span class="dictionary">states</span> other than this Commonwealth and seeking to do business as a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> in this Commonwealth shall observe and abide by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth as follows:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Before offering insurance in this Commonwealth, a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall submit to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> on a form prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>:
			a. A statement identifying the <span class="dictionary">state</span> or <span class="dictionary">states</span> in which the <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> is chartered and licensed as a liability <span class="dictionary">insurance company</span>, date of chartering, its principal place of business, and such other information including information on its membership, as the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may require to verify that the <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> is qualified under the definition set forth in this chapter;
			b. A copy of its <span class="dictionary">plan of operations</span> or a <span class="dictionary">feasibility study</span> and revisions of such plan or study submitted to its <span class="dictionary">state</span> of domicile; however, the provision relating to the submission of a <span class="dictionary">plan of operation</span> or a <span class="dictionary">feasibility study</span> shall not apply with respect to <span class="dictionary">product liability</span> or <span class="dictionary">completed operations liability</span> as defined in this chapter which was offered before October 27, 1986, by any <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> which had been chartered and operating for not less than three years before such date;
			c. A copy of any revision to its <span class="dictionary">plan of operation</span> or <span class="dictionary">feasibility study</span> required by this chapter at the same time that the revision is submitted to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of its chartering <span class="dictionary">state</span>; and
			d. A statement of registration which designates the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> as its agent for the purpose of receiving service of legal documents or process. <a id="paragraph-312819" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> doing business in this Commonwealth shall submit to the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>:
			a. A copy of the group&#x2019;s financial statement submitted to its <span class="dictionary">state</span> of domicile, which shall be certified by an independent public accountant and contain a statement of <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> on loss and loss adjustment expense reserves made by a member of the American Academy of Actuaries or a loss reserve specialist who is qualified under criteria established by the National Association of Insurance <span class="dictionary">Commissioners</span>;
			b. A copy of each examination of the <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> as certified by the <span class="dictionary">commissioner</span> or public official conducting the examination;
			c. Upon request by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, a copy of any information or document pertaining to any outside audit performed with respect to the <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span>; and
			d. Such information as may be required to verify its continuing qualification as a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> under the definition set forth in this chapter. <a id="paragraph-312820" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> All premiums paid for coverages within this Commonwealth to <span class="dictionary">risk retention groups</span> shall be subject to taxation, including the assessment set forth in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Expense of administration of insurance laws borne by licensees; minimum contribution" href="/38.2-400/">38.2-400</a>, at the same <span class="dictionary">rate</span> and subject to the same interest, fines and penalties for nonpayment as applicable to foreign admitted <span class="dictionary">insurers</span>. Each <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall pay the taxes for risks insured within the Commonwealth. Further, each <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall report all premiums paid to it for risks insured within this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-312821" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span>, its agents and representatives, shall comply with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Unfair claim settlement practices" href="/38.2-510/">38.2-510</a>. <a id="paragraph-312822" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="5"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall comply with the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Declaration of purpose" href="/38.2-500/">38.2-500</a>, <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/38.2-501/">38.2-501</a>, <a class="law" title="Misrepresentations and false advertising of insurance policies" href="/38.2-502/">38.2-502</a>, <a class="law" title="False information and advertising generally" href="/38.2-503/">38.2-503</a>, <a class="law" title="Defamation" href="/38.2-504/">38.2-504</a>, <a class="law" title="False statements and entries" href="/38.2-506/">38.2-506</a>, and <a class="law" title="Misrepresentation in insurance documents or communications" href="/38.2-512/">38.2-512</a> regarding deceptive, false, or fraudulent acts or practices. However, the provisions of this subdivision do not relieve a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> from the requirements of any other <span class="dictionary">state</span> <span class="dictionary">statutes</span> regarding deceptive, false, or fraudulent acts or practices. <a id="paragraph-312823" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="6"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> must submit to an examination by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to determine its financial condition if the <span class="dictionary">commissioner</span> of the <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> in which the group is chartered has not initiated an examination or does not initiate an examination within sixty days after a request by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>. Any such examination shall be coordinated to avoid unjustified repetition and conducted in an expeditious manner and in accordance with the NAIC&#x2019;s Examiner Handbook. <a id="paragraph-312824" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="7"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Every application form for insurance from a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> and any policy issued by a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall contain in ten point type on the front page and the declaration page, the following notice:
			NOTICE
			This policy is issued by your <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span>. Your <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> may not be subject to all of the insurance <span class="dictionary">laws</span> and regulations of your <span class="dictionary">state</span>. <span class="dictionary">State</span> insurance insolvency guaranty funds are not available for your <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span>. <a id="paragraph-312825" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="8"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> The following acts by a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> are hereby prohibited:
			a. The solicitation or sale of insurance by a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who is not eligible for membership in such group; and
			b. The solicitation or sale of insurance by, or operation of, a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> that is in a <span class="dictionary">hazardous financial condition</span> or is financially impaired. <a id="paragraph-312826" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="9"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> No <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall be allowed to do business in this Commonwealth if an <span class="dictionary">insurance company</span> is directly or indirectly a member or owner of such <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span>, other than in the case of a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> all of whose members are insurance companies. <a id="paragraph-312827" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="10"><p><span class="prefix-number">10.</span> The terms of any insurance policy provided by a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall not provide or be construed to provide insurance policy coverage prohibited generally by the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth or declared unlawful by the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> of Virginia. For the purpose of this subdivision, a <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> shall comply with &#xA7;&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Public policy regarding punitive damages" href="/38.2-227/">38.2-227</a>, <a class="law" title="Required provisions as to insolvency or bankruptcy, and as to when action maintained against insurer" href="/38.2-2200/">38.2-2200</a>, <a class="law" title="Liability insurance on motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft; standard provisions; &quot;omnibus clause.&quot;" href="/38.2-2204/">38.2-2204</a> and any other applicable <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-312828" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#10"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="11"><p><span class="prefix-number">11.</span> A <span class="dictionary">risk retention group</span> not chartered in this Commonwealth and doing business in this Commonwealth shall comply with a lawful <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued in a voluntary dissolution proceeding or in a delinquency proceeding commenced by a <span class="dictionary">state</span> insurance <span class="dictionary">commissioner</span> or the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> if there has been a <span class="dictionary">finding</span> of financial impairment after an examination under this section. <a id="paragraph-312829" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-5103/#11"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1987, c. 585; 1992, c. 588.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
