(215 ILCS 5/531.10) (from Ch. 73, par. 1065.80-10)

Sec. 531.10. Plan of operation.

(1)(a) The Association must submit to the Director a plan of operation and any amendments thereto necessary or suitable to assure the fair, reasonable, and equitable administration of the Association. The plan of operation and any amendments thereto become effective upon approval in writing by the Director.

(b) If the Association fails to submit a suitable plan of operation within 180 days following the effective date of this Article or if at any time thereafter the Association fails to submit suitable amendments to the plan, the Director may, after notice and hearing, adopt and promulgate such reasonable rules as are necessary or advisable to effectuate the provisions of this Article. Such rules are in force until modified by the Director or superseded by a plan submitted by the Association and approved by the Director.

(2) All member insurers must comply with the plan of operation.

(3) The plan of operation must, in addition to requirements enumerated elsewhere in this Article:

(a) Establish procedures for handling the assets of the Association;

(b) Establish the amount and method of reimbursing members of the board of directors under Section 531.07;

(c) Establish regular places and times for meetings of the board of directors;

(d) Establish procedures for records to be kept of all financial transactions of the Association, its agents, and the board of directors;

(e) Establish the procedures whereby selections for the board of directors will be made and submitted to the Director;

(f) Establish any additional procedures for assessments under Section 531.09; and

(g) Contain additional provisions necessary or proper for the execution of the powers and duties of the Association.

(4) The plan of operation shall establish a procedure for protest by any member insurer of assessments made by the Association pursuant to Section 531.09. Such procedures shall require that:

(a) a member insurer that wishes to protest all or part of an assessment shall pay when due the full amount of the assessment as set forth in the notice provided by the Association. The payment shall be available to meet Association obligations during the pendency of the protest or any subsequent appeal. Payment shall be accompanied by a statement in writing that the payment is made under protest and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds for the protest;

(b) within 30 days following the payment of an assessment under protest by any protesting member insurer, the Association must notify the member insurer in writing of its determination with respect to the protest unless the Association notifies the member that additional time is required to resolve the issues raised by the protest;

(c) in the event the Association determines that the protesting member insurer is entitled to a refund, such refund shall be made within 30 days following the date upon which the Association makes its determination;

(d) the decision of the Association with respect to a protest may be appealed to the Director pursuant to Section 531.11(3);

(e) in the alternative to rendering a decision with respect to any protest based on a question regarding the assessment base, the Association may refer such protests to the Director for final decision, with or without a recommendation from the Association; and

(f) interest on any refund due a protesting member insurer shall be paid at the rate actually earned by the Association.

(5) The plan of operation may provide that any or all powers and duties of the Association, except those under paragraph (3) of subsection (n) of Section 531.08 and Section 531.09 are delegated to a corporation, association or other organization which performs or will perform functions similar to those of this Association, or its equivalent, in 2 or more states. Such a corporation, association or organization shall be reimbursed for any payments made on behalf of the Association and shall be paid for its performance of any function of the Association. A delegation under this subsection shall take effect only with the approval of both the Board of Directors and the Director, and may be made only to a corporation, association or organization which extends protection not substantially less favorable and effective than that provided by this Act.

(Source: P.A. 100-687, eff. 8-3-18.)