(A) Any private insurer licensed to underwrite "essential property insurance" as defined by Section 38-75-310(1), notwithstanding any limitations included within this title, may file and use any rates for the coverages detailed within Section 38-75-310(1) which result in insurance premium rates of ninety percent, or less, of the insurance premium rates then approved for the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association for use within the coastal area of South Carolina as defined by Section 38-75-310(5). Filings for these insurance premium rates must be made upon forms prescribed by the director or his designee and must apply only to essential property insurance premium rates for the coastal area. Within thirty days after the filing of the rates, the director or his designee must notify the insurer or rating organization filing the rates of his approval or his disapproval of those rates. If the rates are disapproved, then the director or his designee must notify the insurer or the rating organization of the specific reason for disapproval. The director or his designee may extend for up to an additional thirty days the period within which he must approve or disapprove the rates. Any rates received, which are neither approved nor disapproved by the director, must be deemed approved at the expiration of the thirty-day period or, if that period has been extended, at the expiration of the extended period. However, no insurer or rating organization may use rates considered approved under the provisions of this section unless and until the insurer or rating organization has filed a written notice of its intent to use the rates. The notice must be filed with the director or his designee at least ten days before the insurer's or rating organization's use of the deemed rates.

(B) In considering any rate filing for insurance premium rates for essential property insurance in the coastal area or in the seacoast area, the director or his designee, in addition to other factors considered under this title, may consider past and prospective expenses and recoveries associated with catastrophe reinsurance and past and prospective loss experience including windstorm catastrophe models and simulations.

(C) Rating plans for essential property insurance in the coastal area or in the seacoast area, shall include discounts and credits or surcharges and debits calculated upon the following rating factors:

(1) use of storm shutters;

(2) use of roof tie downs;

(3) construction standards;

(4) building codes;

(5) distance from water;

(6) elevation;

(7) flood insurance;

(8) policy deductibles; and

(9) other applicable factors requested by the insurer or rating organization or selected by order of the director involving the risk or hazard. An order issued pursuant to this section must comply with the requirements of Section 1-23-140.

The department may by regulation define how the implementation of these factors qualify for credits or discounts. The regulation must specify what evidence or proof the policyholder or applicant shall present to obtain the credit or discount. This section applies to policies issued or renewed after December 31, 2007.

(D) This section does not preclude any insurer from using consent-to-rate pursuant to Section 38-73-1060 for any essential property insurance risk in the coastal area or the seacoast area of this State.

HISTORY: 1996 Act No. 360 Section 1 and 1996 Act No. 378, Section 1; 2007 Act No. 78, Section 9, eff June 11, 2007, applicable to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2006.