83_FR_11824 83 FR 11772 - National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); Assistance to Private Sector Property Insurers, Notice of FY 2019 Arrangement

83 FR 11772 - National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); Assistance to Private Sector Property Insurers, Notice of FY 2019 Arrangement

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 52 (March 16, 2018)

Page Range11772-11778
FR Document2018-05418

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announces the Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement for private property insurers interested in participating in the National Flood Insurance Program's Write Your Own Program.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11772-11778]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05418]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2018-0019]


National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); Assistance to Private 
Sector Property Insurers, Notice of FY 2019 Arrangement

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency announces the Fiscal 
Year 2019 Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement for private property 
insurers interested in participating in the National Flood Insurance 
Program's Write Your Own Program.

DATES: Interested insurers must submit intent to subscribe or re-
subscribe to the Arrangement by June 14, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kelly Bronowicz, Federal Insurance and 
Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20472; 
(202) 557-9488 (phone), or [email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA), as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4001 et seq.), authorizes the Administrator of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and carry out a 
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to enable interested persons to 
purchase insurance against loss resulting from physical damage to or 
loss of real or personal property arising from flood in the United 
States. See 42 U.S.C. 4011(a). Under the NFIA, FEMA has the authority 
to undertake arrangements to carry out the NFIP through the facilities 
of the Federal Government, utilizing, for the purposes of providing 
flood insurance coverage, insurance companies and other insurers, 
insurance agents and brokers, and insurance adjustment organizations, 
as fiscal agents of the United States. See 42 U.S.C. 4071. To this end, 
FEMA may ``enter into any contracts, agreements, or other 
arrangements'' with private insurance companies to utilize their 
facilities and services in administering the NFIP, and on such terms 
and conditions as may be agreed upon. See 42 U.S.C. 4081(a).
    Pursuant to this authority, FEMA enters into a standard Financial 
Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement (Arrangement) with private sector 
property insurers, also known as Write Your Own (WYO) companies, to 
sell NFIP flood insurance policies under their own names and adjust and 
pay claims arising under the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP). 
Each Arrangement entered into by a WYO company must be in the form and 
substance of the standard Arrangement, a copy of which is published in 
the Federal Register annually, at least 6 months prior to becoming 
effective. See 44 CFR 62.23(a).

II. Notice of Availability

    Insurers interested in participating in the WYO Program for Fiscal 
Year 2019 must contact Clark Poland at

[[Page 11773]]

[email protected] by June 14, 2018.
    Prior participation in the WYO Program does not guarantee that FEMA 
will approve continued participation. FEMA will evaluate requests to 
participate in light of publicly available information, industry 
performance data, and other criteria listed in 44 CFR 62.24 and the FY 
2019 Arrangement, copied below. Private insurance companies are 
encouraged to supplement this information with customer satisfaction 
surveys, industry awards or recognition, or other objective performance 
data. In addition, private insurance companies should work with their 
vendors and subcontractors involved in servicing and delivering their 
insurance lines to ensure FEMA receives the information necessary to 
effectively evaluate the criteria set forth in its regulations.
    FEMA will send a copy of the offer for the FY 2019 Arrangement, 
together with related materials and submission instructions, to all 
private insurance companies successfully evaluated by the NFIP. If 
FEMA, after conducting its evaluation, chooses not to renew a Company's 
participation, FEMA, at its option, may require the continued 
performance of all or selected elements of the FY 2018 Arrangement for 
a period required for orderly transfer or cessation of the business and 
settlement of accounts, not to exceed 18 months. See FY 2018 
Arrangement, Article V.C. All evaluations, whether successful or 
unsuccessful, will inform both an overall assessment of the WYO Program 
and any potential changes FEMA may consider regarding the Arrangement 
in future fiscal years.
    Any private insurance company with questions may contact FEMA at: 
Kelly Bronowicz, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 
400 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20472 (mail); (202) 557-9488 (phone), or 
[email protected] (email).

III. Fiscal Year 2019 Arrangement

    Pursuant to 44 CFR 62.23(a), FEMA must publish the Arrangement at 
least 6 months prior to the Arrangement becoming effective. The FY 2019 
Arrangement copied below is substantially similar to the previous 
year's Arrangement. FEMA has made several changes designed to improve 
the overall clarity and readability of the document, as well as 
incorporate existing WYO Program policies and requirements. Noteworthy 
changes include:
     Establishing timeliness requirements for the claim appeals 
process;
     Requiring WYO companies to submit an Operations Plan to 
FEMA.
     Removing the provision increasing the WYO Allowance by 1 
percent of written premium over the rate indicated by expense data from 
non-flood insurance lines.
     Removing the cap on the maximum potential growth bonus 
paid to an individual WYO company, while limiting the total growth 
bonuses paid to all WYO companies at 2 percent of aggregate written 
premium.
     Formalizing FEMA's process to temporarily increase the 
allocated loss adjustment fee schedule when necessary to ensure supply 
of qualified adjusters during a catastrophic flood event.
     Removing restrictions on WYO companies choosing to offer 
private flood insurance, while maintaining requirements that such 
private flood insurance lines remain entirely separate from a WYO 
company's NFIP insurance business.
     Several stylistic changes designed to improve overall 
clarity and readability in accordance with Federal Plain Language 
Guidelines.
    The Fiscal Year 2019 Arrangement reads as follows:

Financial Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement

Article I. Findings, Purposes, and Authority

    Whereas, the Congress in its ``Finding and Declaration of Purpose'' 
in the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, Public Law 90-448, Title 
XIII, as amended, (``the Act'' or ``Act'') recognized the benefit of 
having the National Flood Insurance Program (the ``Program'' or 
``NFIP'') ``carried out to the maximum extent practicable by the 
private insurance industry''; and
    Whereas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (``FEMA''), which 
operates the Program through its Federal Insurance and Mitigation 
Administration (``FIMA''), recognizes this Arrangement as coming under 
the provisions of Sections 1340 and 1345 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 4071 and 
4081, respectively); and
    Whereas, the goal of FEMA is to develop a program with the 
insurance industry where the risk-bearing role for the industry will 
evolve as intended by the Congress (Section 1304 of the Act [42 U.S.C. 
4011]); and
    Whereas, Section 205 of the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood 
Insurance Reform Act of 2004, Public Law 108-264, as implemented by 44 
CFR 62.20, permits Program policyholders to appeal the denial of a 
claim, in completely or in part, to FEMA; and
    Whereas, the NFIP is a program administered by FEMA, all 
participants of this Arrangement, and other entities operating on their 
behalf, shall align themselves toward the common purpose of helping 
survivors and their communities recover from floods by effectively 
delivering customer-focused flood insurance products and information; 
and
    Whereas, the insurer (hereinafter the ``Company'') under this 
Arrangement must charge rates established by FEMA; and
    Whereas, FEMA has promulgated regulations and guidance implementing 
the Act and the Write Your Own (WYO) Program whereby participating 
private insurance companies act in a fiduciary capacity utilizing 
Federal funds to sell and administer the Standard Flood Insurance 
Policies, and has extensively regulated the participating companies' 
activities when selling or administering the Standard Flood Insurance 
Policies; and
    Whereas, any litigation resulting from, related to, or arising from 
the Company's compliance with the written standards, procedures, and 
guidance issued by FEMA arises under the Act or regulations, and legal 
issues thereunder raise a federal question; and
    Whereas, through this Arrangement, the Federal Treasury will back 
all flood policy claim payments by the Company; and
    Whereas, FEMA developed this Arrangement to enable any interested 
qualified insurer to write flood insurance under its own name; and
    Whereas, insured survivors recover faster and more fully than 
uninsusred survivors, and FEMA is committed to developing a culture of 
preparedness and closing the insurance gap across the nation; and
    Whereas, one of the primary objectives of the Program is to provide 
coverage to the maximum number of buildings at risk and because the 
insurance industry has marketing access through its existing facilities 
not directly available to FEMA, FEMA concludes that coverage will be 
extended to those who would not otherwise be insured under the Program; 
andWhereas, flood insurance policies issued subject to this Arrangement 
must be only that insurance written by the Company in its own name 
under prescribed policy conditions and pursuant to this Arrangement, 
the Act, and any guidance issued by FEMA; and
    Whereas, over time, the Program is designed to increase industry 
participation, and, accordingly, reduce or eliminate Government as the

[[Page 11774]]

principal vehicle for delivering flood insurance to the public; and
    Whereas, the sole parties under this Arrangement are the Company 
and FEMA.
    Now, therefore, the parties hereto mutually undertake the 
following:

Article II. Undertakings of the Company

    A. Eligibility Requirements for Participation in the NFIP.
    1. Policy Administration. All fund receipt, recording, control, 
timely deposit requirements, and disbursement in connection with all 
Policy Administration and any other related activities or 
correspondences, must meet all requirements of the Financial Control 
Plan and any guidance issued by FEMA. The Company shall be responsible 
for:
    a. Compliance with the Community Eligibility/Rating Criteria.
    b. Making Policyholder Eligibility Determinations.
    c. Policy Issuances.
    d. Policy Endorsements.
    e. Policy Cancellations.
    f. Policy Correspondence.
    g. Payment of Agents' Commissions.
    2. Claims Processing. The Company must process all claims 
consistent with the Standard Flood Insurance Policy, Financial Control 
Plan, other guidance adopted by FEMA, and as much as possible, with the 
Company's standard business practices for its non-NFIP policies.
    3. Reports. The Company must submit monthly financial reports and 
statistical transaction reports in accordance with the requirements of 
the NFIP Transaction Record Reporting and Processing Plan for the 
Company and the Financial Control Plan for business written under the 
WYO Program, as well as with WYO Accounting Procedures. FEMA will 
validate, edit, and audit in detail these data and compare and balance 
the results against Company reports.
    4. Operations Plan. Within ninety (90) days of the commencement of 
this Arrangement, the Company must submit an Operations Plan to FEMA 
describing its efforts to perform under this Arrangement. The plan must 
include the following:
    a. A marketing plan describing the Company's forecasted growth, 
efforts to achieve that growth, and ability to comply with any 
marketing guidelines provided by FEMA.
    b. A description of the Company's NFIP flood insurance distribution 
network, including anticipated numbers of agents, efforts to train 
those agents, and an average rate of commissions paid to producers by 
state.
    c. A catastrophic claims handling plan describing how the Company 
will respond and maintain service standards in catastrophic flood 
events.
    d. A business continuity plan identifying threats and risks facing 
the Company's NFIP-related operations and how the Company will maintain 
operations in the event of a disaster affecting its operational 
capabilities.
    B. Time Standards. Time will be measured from the date of receipt 
through the date mailed out. All dates referenced are working days, not 
calendar days. In addition to the standards set forth below, all 
functions performed by the Company must be in accordance with the 
highest reasonably attainable quality standards generally utilized in 
the insurance and data processing field. Continual failure to meet 
these requirements may result in limitations on the company's authority 
to write new business or the removal of the Company from the WYO 
Program. Applicable time standards are:
    1. Application Processing--15 days (Note: if the policy cannot be 
mailed due to insufficient or erroneous information or insufficient 
funds, the Company must mail a request for correction or added moneys 
within 10 days).
    2. Renewal processing--7 days.
    3. Endorsement processing--15 days.
    4. Cancellation processing--15 days.
    5. Claims Draft Processing--7 days from completion of file 
examination.
    6. Claims Adjustment--45 days average from the receipt of Notice of 
Loss (or equivalent) through completion of examination.
    C. Policy Issuance.
    1. The flood insurance subject to this Arrangement must be only 
that insurance written by the Company in its own name pursuant to the 
Act.
    2. The Company must issue policies under the regulations prescribed 
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in accordance with the Act, 
on a form approved by FEMA.
    3. All policies must be issued in consideration of such premiums 
and upon such terms and conditions and in such states or areas or 
subdivisions thereof as may be designated by FEMA and only where the 
Company is licensed by State law to engage in the property insurance 
business.
    D. FEMA may require the Company to discontinue issuing policies 
subject to this Arrangement immediately in the event Congressional 
authorization or appropriation for the NFIP is withdrawn.
    E. The Company must separate federal flood insurance funds from all 
other Company accounts, at a bank or banks of its choosing for the 
collection, retention and disbursement of federal funds relating to its 
obligation under this Arrangement, less the Company's expenses as set 
forth in Article III, and the operation of the Letter of Credit 
established pursuant to Article IV. The Company must remit all funds 
not required to meet current expenditures to the United States 
Treasury, in accordance with the provisions of the WYO Accounting 
Procedures Manual.
    F. The Company must investigate, adjust, settle, and defend all 
claims or losses arising from policies issued under this Arrangement. 
Payment of flood insurance claims by the Company bind FEMA, subject to 
appeal.
    G. Compliance with Agency Standards and Guidelines.
    1. The Company must comply with the Act, regulations, written 
standards, procedures, and guidance issued by FEMA relating to the NFIP 
and applicable to the Company, including, but not limited to:
    a. Financial Control Plan.
    b. Transaction Record Reporting and Processing (TRRP) Plan.
    c. Flood Insurance Manual.
    d. Adjuster Claims Manual.
    e. WYO Bulletins.
    2. The Company must market flood insurance policies in a manner 
consistent with marketing guidelines established by FEMA.
    3. FEMA may require the Company to collect customer service 
information to monitor and improve their program delivery.
    4. The Company must notify its agents of the requirement to comply 
with State regulations regarding flood insurance agent education, 
notify agents of flood insurance training opportunities, and assist 
FEMA in periodic assessment of agent training needs.
    H. Compliance with Appeals Process.
    1. FEMA will notify the Company when a policyholder files an 
appeal. After notification, the Company must provide FEMA the following 
information:
    a. All records created or maintained pursuant to this Arrangement 
requested by FEMA; and
    b. A comprehensive claim file synopsis that includes a summary of 
the appeal issues, the Company's position on each issue, and any 
additional relevant information. If, in the process of writing the 
synopsis, the Company determines that it can address the issue raised 
by the policyholder on appeal without further direction, it must notify 
FEMA. The Company will then work directly with the policyholder to 
achieve resolution and update FEMA upon completion. The Company may

[[Page 11775]]

have a claims examiner review the file who is independent from the 
original decision and who possesses the authority to overturn the 
original decision if the facts support it.
    2. The Company must cooperate with FEMA throughout the appeal 
process until final resolution. This includes adhering to any written 
appeals guidance issued by FEMA.
    3. Resolution of Appeals. FEMA will close an appeal when:
    a. FEMA upholds the denial by the Company;
    b. FEMA overturns the denial by the Company and all necessary 
actions that follow are completed;
    c. The Company independently resolves the issue raised by the 
policyholder without further direction;
    d. The policyholder voluntarily withdraws the appeal; or
    e. The policyholder files litigation.
    4. Processing of Additional Payments from Appeal. The Company must 
follow supplemental claim procedures for appeals that result in 
additional payment to a policyholder.
    5. Time Standards.
    a. Provide FEMA with requested files pursuant to Article II.H.1.a--
10 business days after request.
    b. Provide FEMA with comprehensive claim file synopsis pursuant to 
Article II.H.1.b--10 business days after request.
    c. Responding to inquiries from FEMA regarding an appeal--10 
business days after inquiry.
    I. Other Flood Insurance. If the Company also offers flood 
insurance outside of the NFIP in any geographic area in which Program 
authorizes the purchase of flood insurance, the Company must:
    1. Ensure that all public communications (whether written, 
recorded, electronic, or other) regarding non-NFIP flood insurance 
lines would not lead a reasonable person to believe that the NFIP, 
FEMA, or the Federal Government in any way endorses, sponsors, 
oversees, regulates, or otherwise has any connection with the non-NFIP 
flood insurance line. The Company may assure compliance with this 
requirement by prominently including in such communications the 
following statement: ``This insurance product is not affiliated with 
the National Flood Insurance Program.''
    2. Ensure that data related to this Arrangement are not used to 
further or support the Company's non-NFIP flood insurance lines.

Article III. Loss Costs, Expenses, Expense Reimbursement, and Premium 
Refunds

    A. The Company is liable for operating, administrative and 
production expenses, including any State premium taxes, dividends, 
agents' commissions or any other expense of whatever nature incurred by 
the Company in the performance of its obligations under this 
Arrangement but excluding other taxes or fees, such as municipal or 
county premium taxes, surcharges on flood insurance premium, and 
guaranty fund assessments.
    B. Payment for Selling and Servicing Policies.
    1. Operating and Administrative Expenses. The Company may withhold, 
as operating and administrative expenses, other than agents' or 
brokers' commissions, an amount from the Company's written premium on 
the policies covered by this Arrangement in reimbursement of all of the 
Company's marketing, operating, and administrative expenses, except for 
allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expenses described in Article 
III.C. This amount will equal the sum of the average industry expenses 
ratios for ``Other Acq.'', ``Gen. Exp.'' and ``Taxes'' calculated by 
aggregating premiums and expense amounts for each of five property 
coverages using direct premium and expense information to derive 
weighted average expense ratios. For this purpose, FEMA will use data 
for the property/casualty industry published, as of March 15 of the 
prior Arrangement year, in Part III of the Insurance Expense Exhibit in 
A.M. Best Company's Aggregates and Averages for the following five 
property coverages: Fire, Allied Lines, Farmowners Multiple Peril, 
Homeowners Multiple Peril, and Commercial Multiple Peril (non-liability 
portion).
    2. Agent Compensation. The Company may retain fifteen (15) percent 
of the Company's written premium on the policies covered by this 
Arrangement as the commission allowance to meet the commissions or 
salaries of insurance agents, brokers, or other entities producing 
qualified flood insurance applications and other related expenses.
    3. Growth Bonus. FEMA may increase the amount of expense allowance 
retained by the Company depending on the extent to which the Company 
meets the marketing goals for the Arrangement year contained in 
marketing guidelines established pursuant to Article II.G. The total 
growth bonuses paid to companies pursuant to this Arrangement may not 
exceed two (2) percent of the aggregate net written premium collected 
by all WYO companies. FEMA will pay the Company the amount of any 
increase after the end of the Arrangement year.
    4. Reimbursement for Services of a National Rating Organization. 
The Company, with the consent of FEMA as to terms and costs, may use 
the services of a national rating organization, licensed under state 
law, to help us undertake and carry out such studies and investigations 
on a community or individual risk basis, and to determine equitable and 
accurate estimates of flood insurance risk premium rates as authorized 
under the Act, as amended. FEMA will reimburse the Company for the 
charges or fees for such services under the provisions of the WYO 
Accounting Procedures Manual.
    C. FEMA will reimburse Loss Adjustment Expenses as follows:
    1. FEMA will reimburse unallocated loss adjustment expenses to the 
Company pursuant to a ``ULAE Schedule'' coordinated with the Company 
and provided by FEMA.
    2. FEMA will reimburse allocated loss adjustment expenses to the 
Company pursuant to a ``Fee Schedule'' coordinated with the Company and 
provided by FEMA. To ensure the availability of qualified insurance 
adjusters during catastrophic flood events, FEMA may, in its sole 
discretion, temporarily authorize the use of an alternative Fee 
Schedule with increased amounts during the term of this Arrangement for 
losses incurred during a time frame and geographic area established by 
FEMA.
    3. FEMA will reimburse special allocated loss expenses to the 
Company in accordance with guidelines issued by FEMA.
    D. Loss Payments.
    1. The Company must make loss payments for flood insurance policies 
from federal funds retained in the bank account(s) established under 
Article II.E and, if such funds are depleted, from federal funds 
derived by drawing against the Letter of Credit established pursuant to 
Article IV.
    2. Loss payments include payments because of litigation that arises 
under the scope of this Arrangement, and the Authorities set forth 
herein. All such loss payments and related expenses must meet the 
documentation requirements of the Financial Control Plan and of this 
Arrangement, and the Company must comply with the litigation 
documentation and notification requirements established by FEMA. 
Failure to meet these requirements may result in FEMA's decision not to 
provide reimbursement.
    3. Limitation on Litigation Costs.
    a. Following receipt of notice of such litigation, the FEMA Office 
of Chief Counsel (``OCC'') will review the information submitted. If 
OCC finds that

[[Page 11776]]

the litigation is grounded in actions by the Company that are 
significantly outside the scope of this Arrangement, and/or involves 
issues of agent negligence, then OCC may make a recommendation 
regarding whether all or part of the litigation is significantly 
outside the scope of the Arrangement.
    b. In the event the FEMA determines that the litigation is grounded 
in actions by the Company that are significantly outside the scope of 
this Arrangement, and/or involves issues of agent negligence, then FEMA 
will notify the Company in writing within thirty (30) days that any 
award or judgment for damages and any costs to defend such litigation 
will not be recognized under Article III as a reimbursable loss cost, 
expense, or expense reimbursement.
    c. In the event a question arises whether only part of the costs of 
a litigation is reimbursable, OCC may make a recommendation about the 
appropriate division of responsibility, if possible.
    d. In the event that the Company wishes to petition for 
reconsideration of the determination that it will not be reimbursed for 
any part of the award or judgment or any part of the costs expended to 
defend such litigation made under Article III.D.3.a-c, it may do so by 
mailing, within thirty (30) days of the notice that reimbursement will 
not be made, a written petition to FEMA, who may request advice on 
other than legal matters of the WYO Standards Committee established 
under the WYO Financial Control Plan. The WYO Standards Committee will 
consider the request at its next regularly scheduled meeting or at a 
special meeting called for that purpose by the Chairman and issue a 
written recommendation to the Administrator. FEMA's final determination 
will be made in writing within a reasonable time to the Company.
    E. The Company must make premium refunds required by FEMA to 
applicants and policyholders from federal flood insurance funds 
referred to in Article II.E, and, if such funds are depleted, from 
funds derived by drawing against the Letter of Credit established 
pursuant to Article IV. The Company may not refund any premium to 
applicants or policyholders in any manner other than as specified by 
FEMA since flood insurance premiums are funds of the Federal 
Government.

Article IV. Undertakings of the Government

    A. FEMA must establish Letter(s) of Credit against which the 
Company may withdraw funds daily, if needed, pursuant to prescribed 
procedures implemented by FEMA. The amounts of the authorizations will 
be increased as necessary to meet the obligations of the Company under 
Article III.C-E. The Company may only request funds when net premium 
income has been depleted. The timing and amount of cash advances must 
be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements 
by the recipient organization for allowable Letter of Credit expenses. 
Request for payment on Letters of Credit may not ordinarily be drawn 
more frequently than daily. This Letter of Credit may be drawn by the 
Company for any of the following reasons:
    1. Payment of claims, as described in Article III.D;
    2. Refunds to applicants and policyholders for insurance premium 
overpayment, or if the application for insurance is rejected or when 
cancellation or endorsement of a policy results in a premium refund, as 
described in Article III.E; and
    3. Allocated and unallocated loss adjustment expenses, as described 
in Article III.C.
    B. FEMA must provide technical assistance to the Company as 
follows:
    1. FEMA's policy, history concerning underwriting, and claims 
handling.
    2. A mechanism to assist in clarification of coverage and claims 
questions.
    3. Other assistance as needed.
    C. FEMA must provide the Company with a copy of all formal written 
appeal decisions conducted in accordance with Section 205 of the 
Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004, Public 
Law 108-264 and 44 CFR 62.20.
    D. Prior to the end of the Arrangement period, FEMA may provide the 
Company a statistical summary of their performance during the signed 
Arrangement period. This summary will detail the Company's performance 
individually, as well as compare the Company's performance to the 
aggregate performance of all WYO companies and the NFIP Direct 
Servicing Agent.

Article V. Commencement and Termination

    A. The effective period of this Arrangement begins on October 1, 
2018 and terminates no earlier than September 30, 2019, subject to 
extension pursuant to Article V.C. FEMA may provide financial 
assistance only for policy applications and endorsements accepted by 
the Company during this period pursuant to the Program's effective 
date, underwriting, and eligibility rules.
    B. Pursuant to 44 CFR 62.23(a), FEMA will publish the Arrangement 
and the terms for subscription or re-subscription for Fiscal Year 2020 
in the Federal Register no later than April 1, 2019. Upon such 
publication, the Company must notify FEMA of its intent to re-subscribe 
or not re-subscribe to the WYO Program for the following term within 
ninety (90) calendar days.
    C. In addition to the requirements of Article V.B, in order to 
assure uninterrupted service to policyholders, the Company must 
promptly notify FEMA in the event the Company elects not to re-
subscribe to the WYO Program during the term of this Arrangement. If so 
notified, or if FEMA chooses not to renew the Company's participation, 
FEMA, at its option, may require the continued performance of all or 
selected elements of this Arrangement for the period required for 
orderly transfer or cessation of business and settlement of accounts, 
not to exceed eighteen (18) months after the end of this Arrangement 
(September 30, 2019), and may either require transfer of activities to 
FEMA under Article V.C.1 or allow transfer of activities to another WYO 
company under Article V.C.2:
    1. FEMA may require the Company to transfer all activities under 
this Arrangement to FEMA. Within 30 calendar days of FEMA's election of 
this option, the Company must deliver to FEMA the following:
    a. A plan for the orderly transfer to FEMA of any continuing 
responsibilities in administering the policies issued by the Company 
under the Program including provisions for coordination assistance.
    b. All data received, produced, and maintained through the life of 
the Company's participation in the Program, including certain data, as 
determined by FEMA, in a standard format and medium.
    c. All claims and policy files, including those pertaining to 
receipts and disbursements that have occurred during the life of each 
policy. In the event of a transfer of the services provided, the 
Company must provide FEMA with a report showing, on a policy basis, any 
amounts due from or payable to insureds, agents, brokers, and others as 
of the transition date.
    d. All funds in its possession with respect to any policies 
transferred to FEMA for administration and the unearned expenses 
retained by the Company.
    e. A point of contact within the Company responsible for addressing 
issues that may arise from the Company's previous participation under 
the WYO Program.

[[Page 11777]]

    2. FEMA may allow the Company to transfer all activities under this 
Arrangement to one or more other WYO companies. Prior to commencing 
such transfer, the Company must submit and FEMA must approve a formal 
request. Such request must include the following:
    a. An assurance of uninterrupted service to policyholders.
    b. A detailed transfer plan providing for either: (1) The renewal 
of the Company's NFIP policies by one or more other WYO companies or 
(2) the transfer of the Company's NFIP policies to one or more other 
WYO companies.
    c. A description who the responsible party will be for liabilities 
relating to losses incurred by the Company in this or preceding 
Arrangement years.
    d. A point of contact within the Company responsible for addressing 
issues that may arise from the Company's previous participation under 
the WYO Program.
    D. Cancellation by FEMA.
    1. FEMA may cancel financial assistance under this Arrangement in 
its entirety upon thirty (30) days written notice to the Company by 
certified mail stating one or more of the following reasons for such 
cancellation:
    a. Fraud or misrepresentation by the Company subsequent to the 
inception of the Arrangement; or
    b. Nonpayment to FEMA of any amount due; or
    c. Material failure to comply with the requirements of this 
Arrangement or with the written standards, procedures, or guidance 
issued by FEMA relating to the NFIP and applicable to the Company.
    2. If FEMA cancels this Arrangement pursuant to Article V.D.1, FEMA 
may require the transfer of administrative responsibilities and the 
transfer of data and records as provided in Article V.C.1.a-d. If 
transfer is required, the Company must remit to FEMA the unearned 
expenses retained by the Company. In such event, FEMA will assume all 
obligations and liabilities owed to policyholders under such policies, 
arising before and after the date of transfer.
    3. As an alternative to the transfer of the policies to FEMA 
pursuant to Article V.D.2, FEMA will consider a proposal, if it is made 
by the Company, for the assumption of responsibilities by another WYO 
company as provided in Article V.C.2.
    E. In the event that the Company is unable or otherwise fails to 
carry out its obligations under this Arrangement by reason of any order 
or directive duly issued by the Department of Insurance of any 
jurisdiction to which the Company is subject, the Company agrees to 
transfer, and FEMA will accept, any and all WYO policies issued by the 
Company and in force as of the date of such inability or failure to 
perform. In such event FEMA will assume all obligations and liabilities 
within the scope of the Arrangement owed to policyholders arising 
before and after the date of transfer, and the Company will immediately 
transfer to FEMA all needed records and data and all funds in its 
possession with respect to all such policies transferred and the 
unearned expenses retained by the Company. As an alternative to the 
transfer of the policies to FEMA, FEMA will consider a proposal, if it 
is made by the Company, for the assumption of responsibilities by 
another WYO company as provided by Article V.C.2.
    F. In the event the Act is amended, repealed, expires, or if FEMA 
is otherwise without authority to continue the Program, FEMA may cancel 
financial assistance under this Arrangement for any new or renewal 
business, but the Arrangement will continue for policies in force that 
shall be allowed to run their term under the Arrangement.

Article VI. Information and Annual Statements

    A. The Company must furnish to FEMA such summaries and analysis of 
information including claim file information, and property address, 
location, and/or site information in its records as may be necessary to 
carry out the purposes of the Act, in such form as FEMA, in cooperation 
with the Company, will prescribe.
    B. Upon FEMA's request, the Company must provide FEMA with a true 
and correct copy of the Company's Fire and Casualty Annual Statement, 
and Insurance Expense Exhibit or amendments thereof as filed with the 
State Insurance Authority of the Company's domiciliary State.

Article VII. Cash Management and Accounting

    A. FEMA must make available to the Company during the entire term 
of this Arrangement, and any continuation period required by FEMA 
pursuant to Article V.C, the Letter of Credit provided for in Article 
IV drawn on a repository bank within the Federal Reserve System. This 
Letter of Credit may be drawn by the Company for reimbursement of its 
expenses as set forth in Article IV that exceed net written premiums 
collected by the Company from the effective date of this Arrangement or 
continuation period to the date of the draw. In the event that adequate 
Letter of Credit funding is not available to meet current Company 
obligations for flood policy claim payments issued, FEMA must direct 
the Company to immediately suspend the issuance of loss payments until 
such time as adequate funds are available. The Company is not required 
to pay claims from their own funds in the event of such suspension.
    B. The Company must remit all funds, including interest, not 
required to meet current expenditures to the United States Treasury, in 
accordance with the provisions of the WYO Accounting Procedures Manual 
or procedures approved in writing by FEMA.
    C. In the event the Company elects not to participate in the 
Program in this or any subsequent fiscal year, or is otherwise unable 
or not permitted to participate, the Company and FEMA must make a 
provisional settlement of all amounts due or owing within three (3) 
months of the expiration or termination of this Arrangement. This 
settlement must include net premiums collected, funds drawn on the 
Letter of Credit, and reserves for outstanding claims. The Company and 
FEMA agree to make a final settlement, subject to audit, of accounts 
for all obligations arising from this Arrangement within eighteen (18) 
months of its expiration or termination, except for contingent 
liabilities that must be listed by the Company. At the time of final 
settlement, the balance, if any, due FEMA or the Company must be 
remitted by the other immediately and the operating year under this 
Arrangement must be closed.

Article VIII. Arbitration

    If any misunderstanding or dispute arises between the Company and 
FEMA with reference to any factual issue under any provisions of this 
Arrangement or with respect to FEMA's nonrenewal of the Company's 
participation, other than as to legal liability under or interpretation 
of the Standard Flood Insurance Policy, such misunderstanding or 
dispute may be submitted to arbitration for a determination that will 
be binding upon approval by FEMA. The Company and FEMA may agree on and 
appoint an arbitrator who will investigate the subject of the 
misunderstanding or dispute and make a determination. If the Company 
and FEMA cannot agree on the appointment of an arbitrator, then two 
arbitrators will be appointed, one to be chosen by the Company and one 
by FEMA.
    The two arbitrators so chosen, if they are unable to reach an 
agreement, must select a third arbitrator who must act as

[[Page 11778]]

umpire, and such umpire's determination will become final only upon 
approval by FEMA. The Company and FEMA shall bear in equal shares all 
expenses of the arbitration. Findings, proposed awards, and 
determinations resulting from arbitration proceedings carried out under 
this section, upon objection by FEMA or the Company, shall be 
inadmissible as evidence in any subsequent proceedings in any court of 
competent jurisdiction.
    This Article shall indefinitely succeed the term of this 
Arrangement.

Article IX. Errors and Omissions

    In the event of negligence by the Company that has not resulted in 
litigation but has resulted in a claim against the Company, FEMA will 
not consider reimbursement of the Company for costs incurred due to 
that negligence unless the Company takes all reasonable actions to 
rectify the negligence and to mitigate any such costs as soon as 
possible after discovery of the negligence. The Company may choose not 
to seek reimbursement from FEMA.
    Further, if the claim against the Company is grounded in actions 
significantly outside the scope of this Arrangement or if there is 
negligence by the agent, FEMA will not reimburse any costs incurred due 
to that negligence. The Company will be notified in writing within 
thirty (30) days of a decision not to reimburse. In the event the 
Company wishes to petition for reconsideration of the decision not to 
reimburse, the procedure in Article III.D.3.d applies.
    However, in the event that the Company has made a claim payment to 
an insured without including a mortgagee (or trustee) of which the 
Company had actual notice prior to making payment, and subsequently 
determines that the mortgagee (or trustee) is also entitled to any part 
of said claim payment, any additional payment may not be paid by the 
Company from any portion of the premium and any funds derived from any 
federal letter of credit deposited in the bank account described in 
Article II.E. In addition, the Company agrees to hold the Federal 
Government harmless against any claim asserted against the Federal 
Government by any such mortgagee (or trustee), as described in the 
preceding sentence, by reason of any claim payment made to any insured 
under the circumstances described above.

Article X. Officials Not To Benefit

    No Member or Delegate to Congress, or Resident Commissioner, may be 
admitted to any share or part of this Arrangement, or to any benefit 
that may arise therefrom; but this provision may not be construed to 
extend to this Arrangement if made with a corporation for its general 
benefit.

Article XI. Offset

    At the settlement of accounts, the Company and FEMA has, and may 
exercise, the right to offset any balance or balances, whether on 
account of premiums, commissions, losses, loss adjustment expenses, 
salvage, or otherwise due one party to the other, its successors or 
assigns, hereunder or under any other Arrangements heretofore or 
hereafter entered into between the Company and FEMA. This right of 
offset shall not be affected or diminished because of insolvency of the 
Company.
    All debts or credits of the same class, whether liquidated or 
unliquidated, in favor of or against either party to this Arrangement 
on the date of entry, or any order of conservation, receivership, or 
liquidation, shall be deemed to be mutual debts and credits and shall 
be offset with the balance only to be allowed or paid. No offset shall 
be allowed where a conservator, receiver, or liquidator has been 
appointed and where an obligation was purchased by or transferred to a 
party hereunder to be used as an offset.
    Although a claim on the part of either party against the other may 
be unliquidated or undetermined in amount on the date of the entry of 
the order, such claim will be regarded as being in existence as of the 
date of such order and any credits or claims of the same class then in 
existence and held by the other party may be offset against it.

Article XII. Equal Opportunity

    The Company shall not discriminate against any applicant for 
insurance because of race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, marital 
status, or national origin.

Article XIII. [Reserved]

[Reserved]

Article XIV. Access to Books and Records

    FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Comptroller 
General of the United States, or their duly authorized representatives, 
for the purpose of investigation, audit, and examination shall have 
access to any books, documents, papers and records of the Company that 
are pertinent to this Arrangement. The Company shall keep records that 
fully disclose all matters pertinent to this Arrangement, including 
premiums and claims paid or payable under policies issued pursuant to 
this Arrangement. Records of accounts and records relating to financial 
assistance shall be retained and available for three (3) years after 
final settlement of accounts, and to financial assistance, three (3) 
years after final adjustment of such claims. FEMA shall have access to 
policyholder and claim records at all times for purposes of the review, 
defense, examination, adjustment, or investigation of any claim under a 
flood insurance policy subject to this Arrangement.

Article XV. Compliance With Act and Regulations

    This Arrangement and all policies of insurance issued pursuant 
thereto are subject to federal law and regulations.

Article XVI. Relationship Between the Parties and the Insured

    Inasmuch as the Federal Government is a guarantor hereunder, the 
primary relationship between the Company and the Federal Government is 
one of a fiduciary nature, that is, to assure that any taxpayer funds 
are accounted for and appropriately expended. The Company is a fiscal 
agent of the Federal Government, but is not a general agent of the 
Federal Government. The Company is solely responsible for its 
obligations to its insured under any policy issued pursuant hereto, 
such that the Federal Government is not a proper party to any lawsuit 
arising out of such policies.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4071, 4081; 44 CFR 62.23.

    Dated: March 8, 2018.
Roy E. Wright,
Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance and Mitigation, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2018-05418 Filed 3-15-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-52-P



                                               11772                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices

                                                                        Location and case                                                                                                                       Community
                                                 State and county                                 Chief executive officer of community      Community map repository            Date of modification
                                                                               No.                                                                                                                                 No.

                                               South Dakota:          City of Sturgis (17–    Mr Daniel Ainslie, Manager, City of         Engineering Department, 1040       Jan 25, 2018 ..................       460055
                                                 Meade (FEMA            08–0491P).              Sturgis, 1040 Harley-Davidson Way,          Harley-Davidson       Way,
                                                 Docket No: B–                                  Sturgis, SD 57785.                          Sturgis, SD 57785.
                                                 1762).
                                               Texas:
                                                   Burnet (FEMA       Unincorporated          The Honorable James Oakley, Burnet          Burnet County Environmental        Jan 25, 2018 ..................       481209
                                                     Docket No:         areas of Burnet         County Judge, 220 South Pierce Street,      Services Department, 133
                                                     B–1762).           County (17–06–          Burnet, TX 78611.                           East Jackson Street, Room
                                                                        3660X).                                                             107, Burnet, TX 78611.
                                                   Collin (FEMA       Town of Prosper         The Honorable Ray Smith, Mayor, Town        Engineering Services Depart-       Jan 16, 2018 ..................       480141
                                                     Docket No:         (17–06–1400P).          of Prosper, PO Box 307, Prosper, TX         ment, 407 East 1st Street,
                                                     B–1762).                                   75078.                                      Prosper, TX 75078.
                                                   Collin (FEMA       Town of Prosper         The Honorable Ray Smith, Mayor, Town        Engineering Services Depart-       Jan 18, 2018 ..................       480141
                                                     Docket No:         (17–06–1828P).          of Prosper, PO Box 307, Prosper, TX         ment, 407 East 1st Street,
                                                     B–1762).                                   75078.                                      Prosper, TX 75078.
                                                   Collin and Den-    City of Celina (17–     The Honorable Sean Terry, Mayor, City of    City Hall, 142 North Ohio          Jan 16, 2018 ..................       480133
                                                     ton (FEMA          06–1400P).              Celina, 142 North Ohio Street, Celina,      Street, Celina, TX 75009.
                                                     Docket No:                                 TX 75009.
                                                     B–1762).
                                                   El Paso (FEMA      Unincorporated          The Honorable Veronica Escobar, El          El Paso County Public Works        Jan 22, 2018 ..................       480212
                                                     Docket No:         areas of El Paso        Paso County Judge, 500 East San An-         Department, 800 East Over-
                                                     B–1762).           County (17–06–          tonio Street, Suite 301, El Paso, TX        land Avenue, Suite 407, El
                                                                        1021P).                 79901.                                      Paso, TX 79901.
                                                   McLennan           City of Robinson        The Honorable Bert Echterling, Mayor,       City Hall, 111 West Lyndale        Feb 5, 2018 ....................      480460
                                                     (FEMA Dock-        (17–06–1462P).          City of Robinson, 111 West Lyndale          Drive, Robinson, TX 76706.
                                                     et No: B–                                  Drive, Robinson, TX 76706.
                                                     1767).
                                                   Tarrant (FEMA      City of Fort Worth      The Honorable Betsy Price, Mayor, City      Transportation     and    Public   Jan 29, 2018 ..................       480596
                                                     Docket No:         (17–06–2839P).          of Fort Worth, 200 Texas Street, Fort       Works      Department,    200
                                                     B–1762).                                   Worth, TX 76102.                            Texas Street, Fort Worth, TX
                                                                                                                                            76102.
                                                   Tarrant (FEMA      City of Grand Prairie   The Honorable Ron Jensen, Mayor, City       Development Center, 206 West       Jan 25, 2018 ..................       485472
                                                     Docket No:         (17–06–2864P).          of Grand Prairie, PO Box 534045,            Church Street, Grand Prairie,
                                                     B–1762).                                   Grand Prairie, TX 75053.                    TX 75050.
                                                   Tarrant (FEMA      City of Saginaw (17–    The Honorable Todd Flippo, Mayor, City      City Hall, 333 West McLeroy        Jan 25, 2018 ..................       480610
                                                     Docket No:         06–1745P).              of Saginaw, 333 West McLeroy Boule-         Boulevard,     Saginaw,    TX
                                                     B–1762).                                   vard, Saginaw, TX 76179.                    76179.
                                                   Williamson         Unincorporated          The Honorable Dan A Gattis, Williamson      Williamson County Department       Jan 25, 2018 ..................       481079
                                                     (FEMA Dock-        areas of                County Judge, 710 South Main Street,        of Infrastructure, 3151 South-
                                                     et No: B–          Williamson County       Suite 101, Georgetown, TX 78626.            east Inner Loop, Suite B,
                                                     1762).             (17–06–3660X).                                                      Georgetown, TX 78626.



                                               [FR Doc. 2018–05420 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am]              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       U.S.C. 4071. To this end, FEMA may
                                               BILLING CODE 9110–12–P                                   Kelly Bronowicz, Federal Insurance and                 ‘‘enter into any contracts, agreements, or
                                                                                                        Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400                   other arrangements’’ with private
                                                                                                        C St. SW, Washington, DC 20472; (202)                  insurance companies to utilize their
                                               DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND                                   557–9488 (phone), or Kelly.Bronowicz@                  facilities and services in administering
                                               SECURITY                                                 fema.dhs.gov (email).                                  the NFIP, and on such terms and
                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             conditions as may be agreed upon. See
                                               Federal Emergency Management                                                                                    42 U.S.C. 4081(a).
                                               Agency                                                   I. Background
                                                                                                                                                                  Pursuant to this authority, FEMA
                                               [Docket ID FEMA–2018–0019]                                  The National Flood Insurance Act of
                                                                                                                                                               enters into a standard Financial
                                                                                                        1968 (NFIA), as amended (42 U.S.C.
                                                                                                                                                               Assistance/Subsidy Arrangement
                                               National Flood Insurance Program                         4001 et seq.), authorizes the
                                                                                                                                                               (Arrangement) with private sector
                                               (NFIP); Assistance to Private Sector                     Administrator of the Federal Emergency
                                                                                                                                                               property insurers, also known as Write
                                               Property Insurers, Notice of FY 2019                     Management Agency (FEMA) to
                                                                                                                                                               Your Own (WYO) companies, to sell
                                               Arrangement                                              establish and carry out a National Flood
                                                                                                        Insurance Program (NFIP) to enable                     NFIP flood insurance policies under
                                               AGENCY: Federal Emergency                                interested persons to purchase                         their own names and adjust and pay
                                               Management Agency, DHS.                                  insurance against loss resulting from                  claims arising under the Standard Flood
                                               ACTION: Notice.                                          physical damage to or loss of real or                  Insurance Policy (SFIP). Each
                                                                                                        personal property arising from flood in                Arrangement entered into by a WYO
                                               SUMMARY:   The Federal Emergency                         the United States. See 42 U.S.C. 4011(a).              company must be in the form and
                                               Management Agency announces the                          Under the NFIA, FEMA has the                           substance of the standard Arrangement,
                                               Fiscal Year 2019 Financial Assistance/                   authority to undertake arrangements to                 a copy of which is published in the
                                               Subsidy Arrangement for private                          carry out the NFIP through the facilities              Federal Register annually, at least 6
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                                               property insurers interested in                          of the Federal Government, utilizing, for              months prior to becoming effective. See
                                               participating in the National Flood                      the purposes of providing flood                        44 CFR 62.23(a).
                                               Insurance Program’s Write Your Own                       insurance coverage, insurance
                                               Program.                                                                                                        II. Notice of Availability
                                                                                                        companies and other insurers, insurance
                                               DATES:  Interested insurers must submit                  agents and brokers, and insurance                        Insurers interested in participating in
                                               intent to subscribe or re-subscribe to the               adjustment organizations, as fiscal                    the WYO Program for Fiscal Year 2019
                                               Arrangement by June 14, 2018.                            agents of the United States. See 42                    must contact Clark Poland at


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices                                           11773

                                               Clark.Poland@fema.dhs.gov by June 14,                      • Requiring WYO companies to                          Whereas, the NFIP is a program
                                               2018.                                                   submit an Operations Plan to FEMA.                    administered by FEMA, all participants
                                                 Prior participation in the WYO                           • Removing the provision increasing                of this Arrangement, and other entities
                                               Program does not guarantee that FEMA                    the WYO Allowance by 1 percent of                     operating on their behalf, shall align
                                               will approve continued participation.                   written premium over the rate indicated               themselves toward the common purpose
                                               FEMA will evaluate requests to                          by expense data from non-flood                        of helping survivors and their
                                               participate in light of publicly available              insurance lines.                                      communities recover from floods by
                                               information, industry performance data,                    • Removing the cap on the maximum                  effectively delivering customer-focused
                                               and other criteria listed in 44 CFR 62.24               potential growth bonus paid to an                     flood insurance products and
                                               and the FY 2019 Arrangement, copied                     individual WYO company, while                         information; and
                                               below. Private insurance companies are                  limiting the total growth bonuses paid                   Whereas, the insurer (hereinafter the
                                               encouraged to supplement this                           to all WYO companies at 2 percent of                  ‘‘Company’’) under this Arrangement
                                               information with customer satisfaction                  aggregate written premium.                            must charge rates established by FEMA;
                                               surveys, industry awards or recognition,                   • Formalizing FEMA’s process to                    and
                                               or other objective performance data. In                 temporarily increase the allocated loss                  Whereas, FEMA has promulgated
                                               addition, private insurance companies                   adjustment fee schedule when necessary                regulations and guidance implementing
                                               should work with their vendors and                      to ensure supply of qualified adjusters               the Act and the Write Your Own (WYO)
                                               subcontractors involved in servicing                    during a catastrophic flood event.                    Program whereby participating private
                                               and delivering their insurance lines to                    • Removing restrictions on WYO                     insurance companies act in a fiduciary
                                               ensure FEMA receives the information                    companies choosing to offer private                   capacity utilizing Federal funds to sell
                                               necessary to effectively evaluate the                   flood insurance, while maintaining                    and administer the Standard Flood
                                               criteria set forth in its regulations.                  requirements that such private flood                  Insurance Policies, and has extensively
                                                 FEMA will send a copy of the offer for                insurance lines remain entirely separate              regulated the participating companies’
                                               the FY 2019 Arrangement, together with                  from a WYO company’s NFIP insurance                   activities when selling or administering
                                               related materials and submission                        business.                                             the Standard Flood Insurance Policies;
                                               instructions, to all private insurance                     • Several stylistic changes designed               and
                                                                                                       to improve overall clarity and                           Whereas, any litigation resulting from,
                                               companies successfully evaluated by the
                                                                                                       readability in accordance with Federal                related to, or arising from the
                                               NFIP. If FEMA, after conducting its
                                                                                                       Plain Language Guidelines.                            Company’s compliance with the written
                                               evaluation, chooses not to renew a
                                                                                                          The Fiscal Year 2019 Arrangement                   standards, procedures, and guidance
                                               Company’s participation, FEMA, at its
                                                                                                       reads as follows:                                     issued by FEMA arises under the Act or
                                               option, may require the continued
                                                                                                                                                             regulations, and legal issues thereunder
                                               performance of all or selected elements                 Financial Assistance/Subsidy                          raise a federal question; and
                                               of the FY 2018 Arrangement for a period                 Arrangement                                              Whereas, through this Arrangement,
                                               required for orderly transfer or cessation                                                                    the Federal Treasury will back all flood
                                               of the business and settlement of                       Article I. Findings, Purposes, and
                                                                                                       Authority                                             policy claim payments by the Company;
                                               accounts, not to exceed 18 months. See                                                                        and
                                               FY 2018 Arrangement, Article V.C. All                      Whereas, the Congress in its ‘‘Finding                Whereas, FEMA developed this
                                               evaluations, whether successful or                      and Declaration of Purpose’’ in the                   Arrangement to enable any interested
                                               unsuccessful, will inform both an                       National Flood Insurance Act of 1968,                 qualified insurer to write flood
                                               overall assessment of the WYO Program                   Public Law 90–448, Title XIII, as                     insurance under its own name; and
                                               and any potential changes FEMA may                      amended, (‘‘the Act’’ or ‘‘Act’’)                        Whereas, insured survivors recover
                                               consider regarding the Arrangement in                   recognized the benefit of having the                  faster and more fully than uninsusred
                                               future fiscal years.                                    National Flood Insurance Program (the                 survivors, and FEMA is committed to
                                                 Any private insurance company with                    ‘‘Program’’ or ‘‘NFIP’’) ‘‘carried out to             developing a culture of preparedness
                                               questions may contact FEMA at: Kelly                    the maximum extent practicable by the                 and closing the insurance gap across the
                                               Bronowicz, Federal Insurance and                        private insurance industry’’; and                     nation; and
                                               Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400                       Whereas, the Federal Emergency                        Whereas, one of the primary
                                               C St. SW, Washington, DC 20472 (mail);                  Management Agency (‘‘FEMA’’), which                   objectives of the Program is to provide
                                               (202) 557–9488 (phone), or                              operates the Program through its Federal              coverage to the maximum number of
                                               Kelly.Bronowicz@fema.dhs.gov (email).                   Insurance and Mitigation                              buildings at risk and because the
                                               III. Fiscal Year 2019 Arrangement                       Administration (‘‘FIMA’’), recognizes                 insurance industry has marketing access
                                                                                                       this Arrangement as coming under the                  through its existing facilities not
                                                 Pursuant to 44 CFR 62.23(a), FEMA                     provisions of Sections 1340 and 1345 of               directly available to FEMA, FEMA
                                               must publish the Arrangement at least 6                 the Act (42 U.S.C. 4071 and 4081,                     concludes that coverage will be
                                               months prior to the Arrangement                         respectively); and                                    extended to those who would not
                                               becoming effective. The FY 2019                            Whereas, the goal of FEMA is to                    otherwise be insured under the
                                               Arrangement copied below is                             develop a program with the insurance                  Program; andWhereas, flood insurance
                                               substantially similar to the previous                   industry where the risk-bearing role for              policies issued subject to this
                                               year’s Arrangement. FEMA has made                       the industry will evolve as intended by               Arrangement must be only that
                                               several changes designed to improve the                 the Congress (Section 1304 of the Act                 insurance written by the Company in its
                                               overall clarity and readability of the                  [42 U.S.C. 4011]); and                                own name under prescribed policy
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                                               document, as well as incorporate                           Whereas, Section 205 of the Bunning-               conditions and pursuant to this
                                               existing WYO Program policies and                       Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance                   Arrangement, the Act, and any guidance
                                               requirements. Noteworthy changes                        Reform Act of 2004, Public Law 108–                   issued by FEMA; and
                                               include:                                                264, as implemented by 44 CFR 62.20,                     Whereas, over time, the Program is
                                                 • Establishing timeliness                             permits Program policyholders to                      designed to increase industry
                                               requirements for the claim appeals                      appeal the denial of a claim, in                      participation, and, accordingly, reduce
                                               process;                                                completely or in part, to FEMA; and                   or eliminate Government as the


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                                               11774                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices

                                               principal vehicle for delivering flood                     c. A catastrophic claims handling                  of its choosing for the collection,
                                               insurance to the public; and                            plan describing how the Company will                  retention and disbursement of federal
                                                 Whereas, the sole parties under this                  respond and maintain service standards                funds relating to its obligation under
                                               Arrangement are the Company and                         in catastrophic flood events.                         this Arrangement, less the Company’s
                                               FEMA.                                                      d. A business continuity plan                      expenses as set forth in Article III, and
                                                 Now, therefore, the parties hereto                    identifying threats and risks facing the              the operation of the Letter of Credit
                                               mutually undertake the following:                       Company’s NFIP-related operations and                 established pursuant to Article IV. The
                                                                                                       how the Company will maintain                         Company must remit all funds not
                                               Article II. Undertakings of the Company
                                                                                                       operations in the event of a disaster                 required to meet current expenditures to
                                                  A. Eligibility Requirements for                      affecting its operational capabilities.               the United States Treasury, in
                                               Participation in the NFIP.                                 B. Time Standards. Time will be                    accordance with the provisions of the
                                                  1. Policy Administration. All fund                   measured from the date of receipt                     WYO Accounting Procedures Manual.
                                               receipt, recording, control, timely                     through the date mailed out. All dates                  F. The Company must investigate,
                                               deposit requirements, and disbursement                  referenced are working days, not                      adjust, settle, and defend all claims or
                                               in connection with all Policy                           calendar days. In addition to the                     losses arising from policies issued under
                                               Administration and any other related                    standards set forth below, all functions              this Arrangement. Payment of flood
                                               activities or correspondences, must                     performed by the Company must be in                   insurance claims by the Company bind
                                               meet all requirements of the Financial                  accordance with the highest reasonably                FEMA, subject to appeal.
                                               Control Plan and any guidance issued                    attainable quality standards generally                  G. Compliance with Agency
                                               by FEMA. The Company shall be                           utilized in the insurance and data                    Standards and Guidelines.
                                               responsible for:                                        processing field. Continual failure to                  1. The Company must comply with
                                                  a. Compliance with the Community                     meet these requirements may result in                 the Act, regulations, written standards,
                                               Eligibility/Rating Criteria.                            limitations on the company’s authority                procedures, and guidance issued by
                                                  b. Making Policyholder Eligibility                   to write new business or the removal of               FEMA relating to the NFIP and
                                               Determinations.                                         the Company from the WYO Program.                     applicable to the Company, including,
                                                  c. Policy Issuances.                                 Applicable time standards are:                        but not limited to:
                                                  d. Policy Endorsements.                                 1. Application Processing—15 days                    a. Financial Control Plan.
                                                  e. Policy Cancellations.                             (Note: if the policy cannot be mailed                   b. Transaction Record Reporting and
                                                  f. Policy Correspondence.                            due to insufficient or erroneous                      Processing (TRRP) Plan.
                                                  g. Payment of Agents’ Commissions.                   information or insufficient funds, the                  c. Flood Insurance Manual.
                                                  2. Claims Processing. The Company                                                                            d. Adjuster Claims Manual.
                                                                                                       Company must mail a request for
                                               must process all claims consistent with                                                                         e. WYO Bulletins.
                                                                                                       correction or added moneys within 10
                                               the Standard Flood Insurance Policy,                                                                            2. The Company must market flood
                                                                                                       days).
                                               Financial Control Plan, other guidance                     2. Renewal processing—7 days.                      insurance policies in a manner
                                               adopted by FEMA, and as much as                            3. Endorsement processing—15 days.                 consistent with marketing guidelines
                                               possible, with the Company’s standard                      4. Cancellation processing—15 days.                established by FEMA.
                                               business practices for its non-NFIP                        5. Claims Draft Processing—7 days                    3. FEMA may require the Company to
                                               policies.                                               from completion of file examination.                  collect customer service information to
                                                  3. Reports. The Company must submit                     6. Claims Adjustment—45 days                       monitor and improve their program
                                               monthly financial reports and statistical               average from the receipt of Notice of                 delivery.
                                               transaction reports in accordance with                  Loss (or equivalent) through completion                 4. The Company must notify its agents
                                               the requirements of the NFIP                            of examination.                                       of the requirement to comply with State
                                               Transaction Record Reporting and                           C. Policy Issuance.                                regulations regarding flood insurance
                                               Processing Plan for the Company and                        1. The flood insurance subject to this             agent education, notify agents of flood
                                               the Financial Control Plan for business                 Arrangement must be only that                         insurance training opportunities, and
                                               written under the WYO Program, as                       insurance written by the Company in its               assist FEMA in periodic assessment of
                                               well as with WYO Accounting                             own name pursuant to the Act.                         agent training needs.
                                               Procedures. FEMA will validate, edit,                      2. The Company must issue policies                   H. Compliance with Appeals Process.
                                               and audit in detail these data and                      under the regulations prescribed by the                 1. FEMA will notify the Company
                                               compare and balance the results against                 Federal Emergency Management                          when a policyholder files an appeal.
                                               Company reports.                                        Agency, in accordance with the Act, on                After notification, the Company must
                                                  4. Operations Plan. Within ninety (90)               a form approved by FEMA.                              provide FEMA the following
                                               days of the commencement of this                           3. All policies must be issued in                  information:
                                               Arrangement, the Company must submit                    consideration of such premiums and                      a. All records created or maintained
                                               an Operations Plan to FEMA describing                   upon such terms and conditions and in                 pursuant to this Arrangement requested
                                               its efforts to perform under this                       such states or areas or subdivisions                  by FEMA; and
                                               Arrangement. The plan must include                      thereof as may be designated by FEMA                    b. A comprehensive claim file
                                               the following:                                          and only where the Company is                         synopsis that includes a summary of the
                                                  a. A marketing plan describing the                   licensed by State law to engage in the                appeal issues, the Company’s position
                                               Company’s forecasted growth, efforts to                 property insurance business.                          on each issue, and any additional
                                               achieve that growth, and ability to                        D. FEMA may require the Company to                 relevant information. If, in the process
                                               comply with any marketing guidelines                    discontinue issuing policies subject to               of writing the synopsis, the Company
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                                               provided by FEMA.                                       this Arrangement immediately in the                   determines that it can address the issue
                                                  b. A description of the Company’s                    event Congressional authorization or                  raised by the policyholder on appeal
                                               NFIP flood insurance distribution                       appropriation for the NFIP is                         without further direction, it must notify
                                               network, including anticipated numbers                  withdrawn.                                            FEMA. The Company will then work
                                               of agents, efforts to train those agents,                  E. The Company must separate federal               directly with the policyholder to
                                               and an average rate of commissions paid                 flood insurance funds from all other                  achieve resolution and update FEMA
                                               to producers by state.                                  Company accounts, at a bank or banks                  upon completion. The Company may


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices                                          11775

                                               have a claims examiner review the file                  production expenses, including any                       4. Reimbursement for Services of a
                                               who is independent from the original                    State premium taxes, dividends, agents’               National Rating Organization. The
                                               decision and who possesses the                          commissions or any other expense of                   Company, with the consent of FEMA as
                                               authority to overturn the original                      whatever nature incurred by the                       to terms and costs, may use the services
                                               decision if the facts support it.                       Company in the performance of its                     of a national rating organization,
                                                  2. The Company must cooperate with                   obligations under this Arrangement but                licensed under state law, to help us
                                               FEMA throughout the appeal process                      excluding other taxes or fees, such as                undertake and carry out such studies
                                               until final resolution. This includes                   municipal or county premium taxes,                    and investigations on a community or
                                               adhering to any written appeals                         surcharges on flood insurance premium,                individual risk basis, and to determine
                                               guidance issued by FEMA.                                and guaranty fund assessments.                        equitable and accurate estimates of
                                                  3. Resolution of Appeals. FEMA will                     B. Payment for Selling and Servicing               flood insurance risk premium rates as
                                               close an appeal when:                                   Policies.                                             authorized under the Act, as amended.
                                                  a. FEMA upholds the denial by the                       1. Operating and Administrative                    FEMA will reimburse the Company for
                                               Company;                                                Expenses. The Company may withhold,                   the charges or fees for such services
                                                  b. FEMA overturns the denial by the                                                                        under the provisions of the WYO
                                                                                                       as operating and administrative
                                               Company and all necessary actions that                                                                        Accounting Procedures Manual.
                                                                                                       expenses, other than agents’ or brokers’
                                               follow are completed;                                                                                            C. FEMA will reimburse Loss
                                                  c. The Company independently                         commissions, an amount from the
                                                                                                       Company’s written premium on the                      Adjustment Expenses as follows:
                                               resolves the issue raised by the                                                                                 1. FEMA will reimburse unallocated
                                               policyholder without further direction;                 policies covered by this Arrangement in
                                                                                                       reimbursement of all of the Company’s                 loss adjustment expenses to the
                                                  d. The policyholder voluntarily                                                                            Company pursuant to a ‘‘ULAE
                                               withdraws the appeal; or                                marketing, operating, and
                                                                                                       administrative expenses, except for                   Schedule’’ coordinated with the
                                                  e. The policyholder files litigation.
                                                                                                       allocated and unallocated loss                        Company and provided by FEMA.
                                                  4. Processing of Additional Payments
                                                                                                       adjustment expenses described in                         2. FEMA will reimburse allocated loss
                                               from Appeal. The Company must follow
                                                                                                       Article III.C. This amount will equal the             adjustment expenses to the Company
                                               supplemental claim procedures for
                                                                                                       sum of the average industry expenses                  pursuant to a ‘‘Fee Schedule’’
                                               appeals that result in additional
                                                                                                       ratios for ‘‘Other Acq.’’, ‘‘Gen. Exp.’’ and          coordinated with the Company and
                                               payment to a policyholder.
                                                  5. Time Standards.                                   ‘‘Taxes’’ calculated by aggregating                   provided by FEMA. To ensure the
                                                  a. Provide FEMA with requested files                 premiums and expense amounts for                      availability of qualified insurance
                                               pursuant to Article II.H.1.a—10 business                each of five property coverages using                 adjusters during catastrophic flood
                                               days after request.                                     direct premium and expense                            events, FEMA may, in its sole
                                                  b. Provide FEMA with comprehensive                   information to derive weighted average                discretion, temporarily authorize the
                                               claim file synopsis pursuant to Article                 expense ratios. For this purpose, FEMA                use of an alternative Fee Schedule with
                                               II.H.1.b—10 business days after request.                will use data for the property/casualty               increased amounts during the term of
                                                  c. Responding to inquiries from                      industry published, as of March 15 of                 this Arrangement for losses incurred
                                               FEMA regarding an appeal—10 business                    the prior Arrangement year, in Part III               during a time frame and geographic area
                                               days after inquiry.                                     of the Insurance Expense Exhibit in                   established by FEMA.
                                                  I. Other Flood Insurance. If the                                                                              3. FEMA will reimburse special
                                                                                                       A.M. Best Company’s Aggregates and
                                               Company also offers flood insurance                                                                           allocated loss expenses to the Company
                                                                                                       Averages for the following five property
                                               outside of the NFIP in any geographic                                                                         in accordance with guidelines issued by
                                                                                                       coverages: Fire, Allied Lines,
                                               area in which Program authorizes the                                                                          FEMA.
                                                                                                       Farmowners Multiple Peril,                               D. Loss Payments.
                                               purchase of flood insurance, the                        Homeowners Multiple Peril, and
                                               Company must:                                                                                                    1. The Company must make loss
                                                                                                       Commercial Multiple Peril (non-liability              payments for flood insurance policies
                                                  1. Ensure that all public
                                                                                                       portion).                                             from federal funds retained in the bank
                                               communications (whether written,
                                               recorded, electronic, or other) regarding                  2. Agent Compensation. The                         account(s) established under Article II.E
                                               non-NFIP flood insurance lines would                    Company may retain fifteen (15) percent               and, if such funds are depleted, from
                                               not lead a reasonable person to believe                 of the Company’s written premium on                   federal funds derived by drawing
                                               that the NFIP, FEMA, or the Federal                     the policies covered by this                          against the Letter of Credit established
                                               Government in any way endorses,                         Arrangement as the commission                         pursuant to Article IV.
                                               sponsors, oversees, regulates, or                       allowance to meet the commissions or                     2. Loss payments include payments
                                               otherwise has any connection with the                   salaries of insurance agents, brokers, or             because of litigation that arises under
                                               non-NFIP flood insurance line. The                      other entities producing qualified flood              the scope of this Arrangement, and the
                                               Company may assure compliance with                      insurance applications and other related              Authorities set forth herein. All such
                                               this requirement by prominently                         expenses.                                             loss payments and related expenses
                                               including in such communications the                       3. Growth Bonus. FEMA may increase                 must meet the documentation
                                               following statement: ‘‘This insurance                   the amount of expense allowance                       requirements of the Financial Control
                                               product is not affiliated with the                      retained by the Company depending on                  Plan and of this Arrangement, and the
                                               National Flood Insurance Program.’’                     the extent to which the Company meets                 Company must comply with the
                                                  2. Ensure that data related to this                  the marketing goals for the Arrangement               litigation documentation and
                                               Arrangement are not used to further or                  year contained in marketing guidelines                notification requirements established by
                                               support the Company’s non-NFIP flood                    established pursuant to Article II.G. The             FEMA. Failure to meet these
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                                               insurance lines.                                        total growth bonuses paid to companies                requirements may result in FEMA’s
                                                                                                       pursuant to this Arrangement may not                  decision not to provide reimbursement.
                                               Article III. Loss Costs, Expenses,                      exceed two (2) percent of the aggregate                  3. Limitation on Litigation Costs.
                                               Expense Reimbursement, and Premium                      net written premium collected by all                     a. Following receipt of notice of such
                                               Refunds                                                 WYO companies. FEMA will pay the                      litigation, the FEMA Office of Chief
                                                 A. The Company is liable for                          Company the amount of any increase                    Counsel (‘‘OCC’’) will review the
                                               operating, administrative and                           after the end of the Arrangement year.                information submitted. If OCC finds that


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                                               11776                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices

                                               the litigation is grounded in actions by                implemented by FEMA. The amounts of                      B. Pursuant to 44 CFR 62.23(a), FEMA
                                               the Company that are significantly                      the authorizations will be increased as               will publish the Arrangement and the
                                               outside the scope of this Arrangement,                  necessary to meet the obligations of the              terms for subscription or re-subscription
                                               and/or involves issues of agent                         Company under Article III.C–E. The                    for Fiscal Year 2020 in the Federal
                                               negligence, then OCC may make a                         Company may only request funds when                   Register no later than April 1, 2019.
                                               recommendation regarding whether all                    net premium income has been depleted.                 Upon such publication, the Company
                                               or part of the litigation is significantly              The timing and amount of cash                         must notify FEMA of its intent to re-
                                               outside the scope of the Arrangement.                   advances must be as close as is                       subscribe or not re-subscribe to the
                                                  b. In the event the FEMA determines                  administratively feasible to the actual               WYO Program for the following term
                                               that the litigation is grounded in actions              disbursements by the recipient                        within ninety (90) calendar days.
                                               by the Company that are significantly                   organization for allowable Letter of                     C. In addition to the requirements of
                                               outside the scope of this Arrangement,                  Credit expenses. Request for payment                  Article V.B, in order to assure
                                               and/or involves issues of agent                         on Letters of Credit may not ordinarily               uninterrupted service to policyholders,
                                               negligence, then FEMA will notify the                   be drawn more frequently than daily.                  the Company must promptly notify
                                               Company in writing within thirty (30)                   This Letter of Credit may be drawn by                 FEMA in the event the Company elects
                                               days that any award or judgment for                     the Company for any of the following                  not to re-subscribe to the WYO Program
                                               damages and any costs to defend such                    reasons:                                              during the term of this Arrangement. If
                                               litigation will not be recognized under                   1. Payment of claims, as described in               so notified, or if FEMA chooses not to
                                               Article III as a reimbursable loss cost,                Article III.D;                                        renew the Company’s participation,
                                               expense, or expense reimbursement.                        2. Refunds to applicants and                        FEMA, at its option, may require the
                                                  c. In the event a question arises                    policyholders for insurance premium                   continued performance of all or selected
                                               whether only part of the costs of a                     overpayment, or if the application for                elements of this Arrangement for the
                                               litigation is reimbursable, OCC may                     insurance is rejected or when                         period required for orderly transfer or
                                               make a recommendation about the                         cancellation or endorsement of a policy               cessation of business and settlement of
                                               appropriate division of responsibility, if              results in a premium refund, as                       accounts, not to exceed eighteen (18)
                                               possible.                                               described in Article III.E; and                       months after the end of this
                                                  d. In the event that the Company                                                                           Arrangement (September 30, 2019), and
                                               wishes to petition for reconsideration of                 3. Allocated and unallocated loss
                                                                                                       adjustment expenses, as described in                  may either require transfer of activities
                                               the determination that it will not be                                                                         to FEMA under Article V.C.1 or allow
                                               reimbursed for any part of the award or                 Article III.C.
                                                                                                         B. FEMA must provide technical                      transfer of activities to another WYO
                                               judgment or any part of the costs                                                                             company under Article V.C.2:
                                               expended to defend such litigation                      assistance to the Company as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                1. FEMA may require the Company to
                                               made under Article III.D.3.a–c, it may                    1. FEMA’s policy, history concerning                transfer all activities under this
                                               do so by mailing, within thirty (30) days               underwriting, and claims handling.                    Arrangement to FEMA. Within 30
                                               of the notice that reimbursement will                     2. A mechanism to assist in                         calendar days of FEMA’s election of this
                                               not be made, a written petition to                      clarification of coverage and claims                  option, the Company must deliver to
                                               FEMA, who may request advice on                         questions.                                            FEMA the following:
                                               other than legal matters of the WYO                       3. Other assistance as needed.                         a. A plan for the orderly transfer to
                                               Standards Committee established under                     C. FEMA must provide the Company                    FEMA of any continuing responsibilities
                                               the WYO Financial Control Plan. The                     with a copy of all formal written appeal              in administering the policies issued by
                                               WYO Standards Committee will                            decisions conducted in accordance with                the Company under the Program
                                               consider the request at its next regularly              Section 205 of the Bunning-Bereuter-                  including provisions for coordination
                                               scheduled meeting or at a special                       Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform                     assistance.
                                               meeting called for that purpose by the                  Act of 2004, Public Law 108–264 and 44                   b. All data received, produced, and
                                               Chairman and issue a written                            CFR 62.20.                                            maintained through the life of the
                                               recommendation to the Administrator.                      D. Prior to the end of the Arrangement              Company’s participation in the Program,
                                               FEMA’s final determination will be                      period, FEMA may provide the                          including certain data, as determined by
                                               made in writing within a reasonable                     Company a statistical summary of their                FEMA, in a standard format and
                                               time to the Company.                                    performance during the signed                         medium.
                                                  E. The Company must make premium                     Arrangement period. This summary will                    c. All claims and policy files,
                                               refunds required by FEMA to applicants                  detail the Company’s performance                      including those pertaining to receipts
                                               and policyholders from federal flood                    individually, as well as compare the                  and disbursements that have occurred
                                               insurance funds referred to in Article                  Company’s performance to the aggregate                during the life of each policy. In the
                                               II.E, and, if such funds are depleted,                  performance of all WYO companies and                  event of a transfer of the services
                                               from funds derived by drawing against                   the NFIP Direct Servicing Agent.                      provided, the Company must provide
                                               the Letter of Credit established pursuant               Article V. Commencement and                           FEMA with a report showing, on a
                                               to Article IV. The Company may not                      Termination                                           policy basis, any amounts due from or
                                               refund any premium to applicants or                                                                           payable to insureds, agents, brokers, and
                                               policyholders in any manner other than                    A. The effective period of this                     others as of the transition date.
                                               as specified by FEMA since flood                        Arrangement begins on October 1, 2018                    d. All funds in its possession with
                                               insurance premiums are funds of the                     and terminates no earlier than                        respect to any policies transferred to
                                               Federal Government.                                     September 30, 2019, subject to                        FEMA for administration and the
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                                                                                                       extension pursuant to Article V.C.                    unearned expenses retained by the
                                               Article IV. Undertakings of the                         FEMA may provide financial assistance                 Company.
                                               Government                                              only for policy applications and                         e. A point of contact within the
                                                 A. FEMA must establish Letter(s) of                   endorsements accepted by the Company                  Company responsible for addressing
                                               Credit against which the Company may                    during this period pursuant to the                    issues that may arise from the
                                               withdraw funds daily, if needed,                        Program’s effective date, underwriting,               Company’s previous participation under
                                               pursuant to prescribed procedures                       and eligibility rules.                                the WYO Program.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices                                          11777

                                                  2. FEMA may allow the Company to                     Company is subject, the Company                       adequate Letter of Credit funding is not
                                               transfer all activities under this                      agrees to transfer, and FEMA will                     available to meet current Company
                                               Arrangement to one or more other WYO                    accept, any and all WYO policies issued               obligations for flood policy claim
                                               companies. Prior to commencing such                     by the Company and in force as of the                 payments issued, FEMA must direct the
                                               transfer, the Company must submit and                   date of such inability or failure to                  Company to immediately suspend the
                                               FEMA must approve a formal request.                     perform. In such event FEMA will                      issuance of loss payments until such
                                               Such request must include the                           assume all obligations and liabilities                time as adequate funds are available.
                                               following:                                              within the scope of the Arrangement                   The Company is not required to pay
                                                  a. An assurance of uninterrupted                     owed to policyholders arising before                  claims from their own funds in the
                                               service to policyholders.                               and after the date of transfer, and the               event of such suspension.
                                                  b. A detailed transfer plan providing                Company will immediately transfer to                     B. The Company must remit all funds,
                                               for either: (1) The renewal of the                      FEMA all needed records and data and                  including interest, not required to meet
                                               Company’s NFIP policies by one or                       all funds in its possession with respect              current expenditures to the United
                                               more other WYO companies or (2) the                     to all such policies transferred and the              States Treasury, in accordance with the
                                               transfer of the Company’s NFIP policies                 unearned expenses retained by the                     provisions of the WYO Accounting
                                               to one or more other WYO companies.                     Company. As an alternative to the                     Procedures Manual or procedures
                                                  c. A description who the responsible                 transfer of the policies to FEMA, FEMA                approved in writing by FEMA.
                                               party will be for liabilities relating to               will consider a proposal, if it is made by               C. In the event the Company elects
                                               losses incurred by the Company in this                  the Company, for the assumption of                    not to participate in the Program in this
                                               or preceding Arrangement years.                         responsibilities by another WYO                       or any subsequent fiscal year, or is
                                                  d. A point of contact within the                     company as provided by Article V.C.2.                 otherwise unable or not permitted to
                                               Company responsible for addressing                         F. In the event the Act is amended,                participate, the Company and FEMA
                                               issues that may arise from the                          repealed, expires, or if FEMA is                      must make a provisional settlement of
                                               Company’s previous participation under                  otherwise without authority to continue               all amounts due or owing within three
                                               the WYO Program.                                        the Program, FEMA may cancel                          (3) months of the expiration or
                                                  D. Cancellation by FEMA.                             financial assistance under this                       termination of this Arrangement. This
                                                  1. FEMA may cancel financial                         Arrangement for any new or renewal                    settlement must include net premiums
                                               assistance under this Arrangement in its                business, but the Arrangement will                    collected, funds drawn on the Letter of
                                               entirety upon thirty (30) days written                  continue for policies in force that shall             Credit, and reserves for outstanding
                                               notice to the Company by certified mail                 be allowed to run their term under the                claims. The Company and FEMA agree
                                               stating one or more of the following                    Arrangement.                                          to make a final settlement, subject to
                                               reasons for such cancellation:                                                                                audit, of accounts for all obligations
                                                  a. Fraud or misrepresentation by the                 Article VI. Information and Annual                    arising from this Arrangement within
                                               Company subsequent to the inception of                  Statements                                            eighteen (18) months of its expiration or
                                               the Arrangement; or                                       A. The Company must furnish to                      termination, except for contingent
                                                  b. Nonpayment to FEMA of any                         FEMA such summaries and analysis of                   liabilities that must be listed by the
                                               amount due; or                                          information including claim file                      Company. At the time of final
                                                  c. Material failure to comply with the               information, and property address,                    settlement, the balance, if any, due
                                               requirements of this Arrangement or                     location, and/or site information in its              FEMA or the Company must be remitted
                                               with the written standards, procedures,                 records as may be necessary to carry out              by the other immediately and the
                                               or guidance issued by FEMA relating to                  the purposes of the Act, in such form as              operating year under this Arrangement
                                               the NFIP and applicable to the                          FEMA, in cooperation with the                         must be closed.
                                               Company.                                                Company, will prescribe.
                                                  2. If FEMA cancels this Arrangement                    B. Upon FEMA’s request, the                         Article VIII. Arbitration
                                               pursuant to Article V.D.1, FEMA may                     Company must provide FEMA with a                         If any misunderstanding or dispute
                                               require the transfer of administrative                  true and correct copy of the Company’s                arises between the Company and FEMA
                                               responsibilities and the transfer of data               Fire and Casualty Annual Statement,                   with reference to any factual issue
                                               and records as provided in Article                      and Insurance Expense Exhibit or                      under any provisions of this
                                               V.C.1.a-d. If transfer is required, the                 amendments thereof as filed with the                  Arrangement or with respect to FEMA’s
                                               Company must remit to FEMA the                          State Insurance Authority of the                      nonrenewal of the Company’s
                                               unearned expenses retained by the                       Company’s domiciliary State.                          participation, other than as to legal
                                               Company. In such event, FEMA will                                                                             liability under or interpretation of the
                                               assume all obligations and liabilities                  Article VII. Cash Management and                      Standard Flood Insurance Policy, such
                                               owed to policyholders under such                        Accounting                                            misunderstanding or dispute may be
                                               policies, arising before and after the date               A. FEMA must make available to the                  submitted to arbitration for a
                                               of transfer.                                            Company during the entire term of this                determination that will be binding upon
                                                  3. As an alternative to the transfer of              Arrangement, and any continuation                     approval by FEMA. The Company and
                                               the policies to FEMA pursuant to                        period required by FEMA pursuant to                   FEMA may agree on and appoint an
                                               Article V.D.2, FEMA will consider a                     Article V.C, the Letter of Credit                     arbitrator who will investigate the
                                               proposal, if it is made by the Company,                 provided for in Article IV drawn on a                 subject of the misunderstanding or
                                               for the assumption of responsibilities by               repository bank within the Federal                    dispute and make a determination. If the
                                               another WYO company as provided in                      Reserve System. This Letter of Credit                 Company and FEMA cannot agree on
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                                               Article V.C.2.                                          may be drawn by the Company for                       the appointment of an arbitrator, then
                                                  E. In the event that the Company is                  reimbursement of its expenses as set                  two arbitrators will be appointed, one to
                                               unable or otherwise fails to carry out its              forth in Article IV that exceed net                   be chosen by the Company and one by
                                               obligations under this Arrangement by                   written premiums collected by the                     FEMA.
                                               reason of any order or directive duly                   Company from the effective date of this                  The two arbitrators so chosen, if they
                                               issued by the Department of Insurance                   Arrangement or continuation period to                 are unable to reach an agreement, must
                                               of any jurisdiction to which the                        the date of the draw. In the event that               select a third arbitrator who must act as


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                                               11778                           Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 52 / Friday, March 16, 2018 / Notices

                                               umpire, and such umpire’s                               Arrangement, or to any benefit that may               under policies issued pursuant to this
                                               determination will become final only                    arise therefrom; but this provision may               Arrangement. Records of accounts and
                                               upon approval by FEMA. The Company                      not be construed to extend to this                    records relating to financial assistance
                                               and FEMA shall bear in equal shares all                 Arrangement if made with a corporation                shall be retained and available for three
                                               expenses of the arbitration. Findings,                  for its general benefit.                              (3) years after final settlement of
                                               proposed awards, and determinations                                                                           accounts, and to financial assistance,
                                               resulting from arbitration proceedings                  Article XI. Offset
                                                                                                                                                             three (3) years after final adjustment of
                                               carried out under this section, upon                       At the settlement of accounts, the                 such claims. FEMA shall have access to
                                               objection by FEMA or the Company,                       Company and FEMA has, and may                         policyholder and claim records at all
                                               shall be inadmissible as evidence in any                exercise, the right to offset any balance             times for purposes of the review,
                                               subsequent proceedings in any court of                  or balances, whether on account of                    defense, examination, adjustment, or
                                               competent jurisdiction.                                 premiums, commissions, losses, loss                   investigation of any claim under a flood
                                                 This Article shall indefinitely succeed               adjustment expenses, salvage, or                      insurance policy subject to this
                                               the term of this Arrangement.                           otherwise due one party to the other, its             Arrangement.
                                               Article IX. Errors and Omissions                        successors or assigns, hereunder or
                                                                                                       under any other Arrangements                          Article XV. Compliance With Act and
                                                  In the event of negligence by the                    heretofore or hereafter entered into                  Regulations
                                               Company that has not resulted in                        between the Company and FEMA. This                      This Arrangement and all policies of
                                               litigation but has resulted in a claim                  right of offset shall not be affected or              insurance issued pursuant thereto are
                                               against the Company, FEMA will not                      diminished because of insolvency of the               subject to federal law and regulations.
                                               consider reimbursement of the                           Company.
                                               Company for costs incurred due to that                                                                        Article XVI. Relationship Between the
                                                                                                          All debts or credits of the same class,
                                               negligence unless the Company takes all                                                                       Parties and the Insured
                                                                                                       whether liquidated or unliquidated, in
                                               reasonable actions to rectify the                       favor of or against either party to this                 Inasmuch as the Federal Government
                                               negligence and to mitigate any such                     Arrangement on the date of entry, or any              is a guarantor hereunder, the primary
                                               costs as soon as possible after discovery               order of conservation, receivership, or               relationship between the Company and
                                               of the negligence. The Company may                      liquidation, shall be deemed to be                    the Federal Government is one of a
                                               choose not to seek reimbursement from                   mutual debts and credits and shall be                 fiduciary nature, that is, to assure that
                                               FEMA.                                                   offset with the balance only to be                    any taxpayer funds are accounted for
                                                  Further, if the claim against the                    allowed or paid. No offset shall be                   and appropriately expended. The
                                               Company is grounded in actions                          allowed where a conservator, receiver,                Company is a fiscal agent of the Federal
                                               significantly outside the scope of this                 or liquidator has been appointed and                  Government, but is not a general agent
                                               Arrangement or if there is negligence by                where an obligation was purchased by                  of the Federal Government. The
                                               the agent, FEMA will not reimburse any                  or transferred to a party hereunder to be             Company is solely responsible for its
                                               costs incurred due to that negligence.                  used as an offset.                                    obligations to its insured under any
                                               The Company will be notified in writing                    Although a claim on the part of either             policy issued pursuant hereto, such that
                                               within thirty (30) days of a decision not               party against the other may be                        the Federal Government is not a proper
                                               to reimburse. In the event the Company                  unliquidated or undetermined in                       party to any lawsuit arising out of such
                                               wishes to petition for reconsideration of               amount on the date of the entry of the                policies.
                                               the decision not to reimburse, the                      order, such claim will be regarded as                   Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4071, 4081; 44 CFR
                                               procedure in Article III.D.3.d applies.                 being in existence as of the date of such             62.23.
                                                  However, in the event that the                       order and any credits or claims of the
                                               Company has made a claim payment to                                                                             Dated: March 8, 2018.
                                                                                                       same class then in existence and held by              Roy E. Wright,
                                               an insured without including a                          the other party may be offset against it.
                                               mortgagee (or trustee) of which the                                                                           Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance
                                               Company had actual notice prior to                      Article XII. Equal Opportunity                        and Mitigation, Federal Emergency
                                               making payment, and subsequently                                                                              Management Agency.
                                                                                                         The Company shall not discriminate
                                               determines that the mortgagee (or                                                                             [FR Doc. 2018–05418 Filed 3–15–18; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                       against any applicant for insurance
                                               trustee) is also entitled to any part of                because of race, color, religion, sex, age,           BILLING CODE 9111–52–P

                                               said claim payment, any additional                      handicap, marital status, or national
                                               payment may not be paid by the                          origin.
                                               Company from any portion of the                                                                               DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
                                               premium and any funds derived from                      Article XIII. [Reserved]                              SECURITY
                                               any federal letter of credit deposited in               [Reserved]                                            Federal Emergency Management
                                               the bank account described in Article                                                                         Agency
                                                                                                       Article XIV. Access to Books and
                                               II.E. In addition, the Company agrees to
                                                                                                       Records                                               [Docket ID FEMA–2018–0002; Internal
                                               hold the Federal Government harmless
                                               against any claim asserted against the                    FEMA, the Department of Homeland                    Agency Docket No. FEMA–B–1815]
                                               Federal Government by any such                          Security, and the Comptroller General of
                                                                                                       the United States, or their duly                      Proposed Flood Hazard
                                               mortgagee (or trustee), as described in
                                                                                                       authorized representatives, for the                   Determinations
                                               the preceding sentence, by reason of any
                                               claim payment made to any insured                       purpose of investigation, audit, and                  AGENCY: Federal Emergency
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES




                                               under the circumstances described                       examination shall have access to any                  Management Agency, DHS.
                                               above.                                                  books, documents, papers and records                  ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                       of the Company that are pertinent to this
                                               Article X. Officials Not To Benefit                     Arrangement. The Company shall keep                   SUMMARY:  Comments are requested on
                                                 No Member or Delegate to Congress,                    records that fully disclose all matters               proposed flood hazard determinations,
                                               or Resident Commissioner, may be                        pertinent to this Arrangement, including              which may include additions or
                                               admitted to any share or part of this                   premiums and claims paid or payable                   modifications of any Base Flood


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Document Created: 2018-03-16 01:11:55
Document Modified: 2018-03-16 01:11:55
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesInterested insurers must submit intent to subscribe or re- subscribe to the Arrangement by June 14, 2018.
ContactKelly Bronowicz, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C St. SW, Washington, DC 20472; (202) 557-9488 (phone), or [email protected] (email).
FR Citation83 FR 11772 

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