Unless the provision or context otherwise requires, the following definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter:

(a) “Association,” “industry placement facility,” or “facility,” means a joint reinsurance association (the California FAIR Plan Association), formed by insurers licensed to write and engaged in writing basic property insurance within this state to assist persons in securing basic property insurance and to formulate and administer a program for the equitable apportionment among such insurers of such basic property insurance.

(b) “Commissioner” means the Insurance Commissioner of this state.

(c) “Basic property insurance” means insurance against direct loss to real or tangible personal property at a fixed location in those geographic or urban areas designated by the commissioner, from perils insured under the standard fire policy and extended coverage endorsement and vandalism and malicious mischief and such other insurance coverages as may be added with respect to such property by the industry placement facility with the approval of the commissioner or by the commissioner, but shall not include insurance on automobile or farm risks.

For the purposes of earthquake coverage that is provided as a component of basic property insurance, the association shall sell only the policy described in Section 10089. In force policies of basic property insurance that include earthquake coverage shall be renewed with the coverage specified in Section 10089, and the association shall comply with the notice requirements of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 10086.

(d) “Inspection bureau” means the organization or organizations designated by the association with the approval of the commissioner to make inspections to determine the condition of the properties for which basic property insurance is sought and to perform such other duties as may be authorized by the association.

(e) “Premiums written” means gross direct premiums charged with respect to property in this state on all policies of basic property insurance and the basic property insurance premium components of all multiperil policies, less return premiums, dividends paid or credited to policyholders, or the unused or unabsorbed portions of premium deposits.

(f) “Insurer” means any person who undertakes to indemnify another against loss, damage, or liability arising from a contingent or unknown event, and shall include reciprocals and interinsurance exchanges.

(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 939, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 1996.)