California Code, Insurance Code - INS § 995.1

An agent, broker, surplus line broker, general agent or other person operating under a contingent or retrospective compensation arrangement with any insurer shall promptly notify the insurer of every policy claim against the insurer of which he has knowledge with sufficient particulars to enable the insurer to establish an adequate claim reserve. Every insurer so notified of a policy claim or receiving independent knowledge of any policy claim shall promptly make a record thereof and establish a claim reserve for the same.

If the commissioner has reason to believe such agent, broker, general agent or other person is not so notifying the insurer, he shall give the insurer seven days written notice of such belief and if the insurer does not correct the situation within seven days thereafter he may examine such agent, broker, general agent or other person at the expense of the insurer.

In the case of any arrangement whereby the producer receives from the insurer an initial percentage commission to be augmented if loss ratios or profits are more favorable than a stated standard, the insurer shall establish a contingent commission reserve for the amount, if any, which will become due to the producer because of such favorable loss ratios or profits.

Notwithstanding any provision of the contingent or retrospective arrangement, such claims and contingent commission reserves shall be a liability of the insurer.

Nothing contained in this section is intended to prohibit reasonable arrangements between a managing general agent, surplus line broker or general agent and an insurer which provide (a) for the amount of claim reserve to be recommended by the managing general agent, surplus line broker or general agent to the insurer, without particulars other than those needed by the insurer to establish the claim reserve on its books, or (b) for the handling of claim reserves on smaller claims of not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) each on a bulk or group basis, upon recommendation of the amount by the managing general agent, surplus line broker or general agent, or (c) for the handling of losses not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) each by the managing general agent, surplus line broker or general agent without establishment of claim reserves, or (d) for the reporting of losses and recommended reserves by the managing general agent, surplus line broker, or general agent on a monthly basis.