Section 48.36A.370. Exemptions.

(1) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as to affect or apply to:

(a) Grand or subordinate lodges of Masons, Odd Fellows, Improved Order of Red Men, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Loyal Order of Moose, or Knights of Pythias, exclusive of the insurance department of the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias, the Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, exclusive of the beneficiary degree of insurance branch of the National Council Junior Order [of] United American Mechanics, or similar societies which do not issue insurance certificates;

(b) Orders, societies, or associations which admit to membership only persons engaged in one or more crafts or hazardous occupations, in the same or similar lines of business, insuring only their own members and their families, and the ladies' societies or ladies' auxiliaries to such orders, societies, or associations;

(c) Any association of local lodges of a society now doing business in this state which provides death benefits not exceeding three hundred dollars to any one person, or disability benefit not exceeding three hundred dollars in any one year to any one person, or both; or any contracts of reinsurance business on such plan in this state;

(d) Domestic societies which limit their membership to the employees of a particular city or town, designated firm, business house, or corporation;

(e) Domestic lodges, orders, or associations of a purely religious, charitable, and benevolent description, which do not provide for a death benefit of more than one hundred dollars, or for disability benefits of more than one hundred fifty dollars to any one person in any one year: PROVIDED, That any such domestic order or society which has more than five hundred members and provides for death or disability benefits, and any such domestic lodge, order, or society which issues to any person a certificate providing for the payment of benefits, shall not be exempt by the provisions of this section, but shall comply with all the requirements of this chapter.

The commissioner may require from any society such information as will enable the commissioner to determine whether the society is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(2) No society, which is exempt by the provisions of this section from the requirements of this chapter shall give or allow or promise to give or allow to any person any compensation for procuring new members.

(3) Any fraternal benefit society, heretofore organized and incorporated and operating as set forth in RCW 48.36A.010, 48.36A.020, and 48.36A.030, providing for benefits in case of death or disability resulting solely from accidents, but which does not obligate itself to pay other death or sick benefits, may be licensed under the provisions of this chapter, and shall have all the privileges and shall be subject to all the provisions and regulations of this chapter, except that the provisions of this chapter requiring medical examinations, valuations of benefit certificates, and that the certificate shall specify the amount of benefits, shall not apply to such society.

(4) The commissioner may require from any society or association, by examination or otherwise, such information as will enable the commissioner to determine whether the society or association is exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(5) Societies, exempted under the provisions of this section, shall also be exempt from all other provisions of the insurance laws of this state.

[ 1987 c 366 § 37.]

1987 c 366 § 37.