Section 512B.11. Organization.

  A domestic society organized on or after January 1, 1991, shall be formed as follows:

  1.  Seven or more citizens of the United States, a majority of whom are citizens of this state, who desire to form a fraternal benefit society, may sign and file with the secretary of state and commissioner of insurance an original or copy of a document containing, at minimum, the following:

  a.  The proposed corporate name of the society, which shall not so closely resemble the name of any other society or insurance company as to be misleading or confusing.

  b.  The purposes for which the society is being formed and the mode in which its corporate powers are to be exercised. The purposes shall not include more liberal powers than are granted by this chapter.

  c.  The names and residences of the incorporators.

  d.  The names, residences, and official titles of all the officers, trustees, directors, or other persons who are to have and exercise the general control of the management of the affairs and funds of the society for the first year or until the ensuing election at which officers shall be elected by the supreme governing body, or board of directors, which election shall be held not later than one year from the date of issuance of the permanent certificate of authority.

  2.  The articles of incorporation, duly certified copies of the society’s regulations and laws, copies of all proposed forms of certificates, applications, and circulars to be issued by the society, and a bond conditioned upon the return to applicants of the advance premiums if the organization is not completed within one year shall be filed with the commissioner of insurance, who may require further information as the commissioner deems necessary. The bond with sureties approved by the commissioner shall be in an amount, not less than three hundred thousand dollars nor more than one million five hundred thousand dollars, as required by the commissioner. All documents filed are to be in the English language. If the purposes of the society conform to the requirements of this chapter and all provisions of the law have been complied with, the commissioner shall so certify, retain and file the articles of incorporation, and furnish the incorporators a preliminary certificate of authority authorizing the society to solicit members as provided in this chapter.

  3.  A preliminary certificate of authority granted under this section is not valid after one year from its date or after a further period, not exceeding one year, as may be authorized by the commissioner upon cause shown, unless the five hundred applicants required in this section have been secured and the organization has been completed as provided in this chapter. The articles of incorporation and all other proceedings become void in one year from the date of the preliminary certificate of authority, or at the expiration of the extended period, unless the society has completed its organization and received a certificate of authority to do business as provided in this chapter.

  4.  Upon receipt of a preliminary certificate of authority from the commissioner, the society may solicit members for the purpose of completing its organization, shall collect from each applicant the amount of not less than one regular monthly premium in accordance with its table of rates, and shall issue to each applicant a receipt for the amount so collected. A society shall not incur a liability other than for the return of advance premiums, shall not issue a certificate, nor pay, allow, offer, or promise to pay or allow, a benefit to any person until all of the following conditions are satisfied:

  a.  Actual bona fide applications for benefits have been secured on not less than five hundred applicants, and any necessary evidence of insurability has been furnished to and approved by the society.

  b.  At least ten subordinate lodges have been established into which the five hundred applicants have been admitted.

  c.  A list of the applicants has been submitted to the commissioner, under oath of the president or secretary, or corresponding officer of the society, giving the applicants’ names and addresses, the date each applicant was admitted, the name and number of the subordinate lodge of which each applicant is a member, the amount of benefits to be granted, and the premiums for the benefits.

  d.  It has been shown to the commissioner, by sworn statement of the treasurer, or corresponding officer of the society, that at least one thousand applicants have each paid in cash at least one regular monthly premium, which premiums in the aggregate shall amount to at least three hundred thousand dollars. Advance premiums shall be held in trust during the period of organization and if the society has not qualified for a certificate of authority within the time permitted by this section, each premium shall be returned to the respective applicant.

  5.  The commissioner may make an examination and require further information as the commissioner deems advisable. Upon presentation of satisfactory evidence that the society has complied with all applicable provisions of law, the commissioner shall issue to the society a certificate of authority and the society is then authorized to transact business pursuant to this chapter. A certificate of authority is prima facie evidence of the existence of the society at the date of the certificate. The commissioner shall cause a record of each certificate of authority to be made. A certified copy of the record shall be accepted in evidence with like effect as the original certificate of authority.

  6.  An incorporated society authorized to transact business in this state on January 1, 1991, is not required to reincorporate. A certified copy of the current articles of incorporation of an existing society shall be filed with the commissioner and the commissioner may request additional records as the commissioner deems necessary before issuing a certificate of authority to an existing society.

90 Acts, ch 1148, §11

; 2013 Acts, ch 90, §153