33-4-206. Initial qualifications. When applying for an original certificate of authority as an insurer newly organized in this state or for an amended certificate of authority in the case of a county mutual insurer that is changing its status to that of a state mutual insurer pursuant to 33-4-204, the insurer must have surplus as required by 33-4-401 and be otherwise qualified under this chapter, and:

(1) if a county mutual insurer, it must have received acceptable bona fide written applications from 25 separate persons for substantial insurance of the kinds of insurance proposed to be transacted, aggregating at least $100,000. The applicants must have given to the insurer the obligations referred to in 33-4-508 or paid the premium required for the insurance, subject to the insurer qualifying to transact the kinds of insurance for which it has applied.

(2) if a state mutual insurer or a county mutual insurer that has changed its status to that of a state mutual insurer pursuant to 33-4-204, it must have received acceptable bona fide written applications from 100 separate persons, each for substantial insurance, aggregating at least $500,000 of the kinds of insurance proposed to be transacted. The applicants must have given to the insurer the obligations referred to in 33-4-508 or paid the premium required for the insurance, subject to the insurer qualifying to transact the kinds of insurance for which it has applied.

(3) if to insure growing crops against loss or damage by hail, it must have received applications for hail insurance from not less than 100 persons residing in Montana and owning in the aggregate not less than 5,000 acres of grain. Each applicant must have given to the insurer the obligations referred to in 33-4-508 or paid the premium required for the insurance, subject to the insurer qualifying to transact hail insurance.