33-6-401. Continuous certificate of authority -- fee -- evidence. (1) A benevolent association may not insure a risk in this state unless it holds a subsisting certificate of authority issued to it by the commissioner.
(2) A benevolent association's certificate of authority continues in force as long as the benevolent association is entitled to it under this chapter and until suspended, revoked, or otherwise terminated. However, the certificate is subject to continuance of the certificate by the benevolent association each year by payment before May 15 of the continuation fee of $25, to be deposited by the commissioner with the state treasurer to the credit of the state general fund.
(3) If a benevolent association does not continue its certificate of authority in accordance with subsection (2), its certificate of authority expires at midnight on May 31 following its failure to continue it in force. The commissioner shall promptly notify a benevolent association that has not continued its certificate of authority of the impending expiration of its certificate of authority.
(4) The commissioner may reinstate a certificate of authority that a benevolent association has inadvertently permitted to expire after the benevolent association has fully cured all failures that resulted in the expiration and upon payment by the benevolent association of a $25 fee for reinstatement in addition to the current continuation fee as provided in subsection (2). If a certificate is not reinstated, the commissioner may grant a benevolent association another certificate of authority only after the benevolent association files an application for a certificate of authority and meets all other requirements for an original certificate of authority in this state.
(5) The commissioner may amend a certificate of authority at any time to accord with changes in the benevolent association's charter of insuring powers.
(6) A duly certified copy or duplicate of the license is prima facie evidence that the licensee is a benevolent association within the meaning of this chapter.