1.  Assessments; collection.  For the purpose of providing the funds necessary to carry out the powers and duties of the association, the board of directors shall assess the member insurers, separately for each account, at such times and for such amounts as the board finds necessary. Assessments are due not less than 30 days after prior written notice to the member insurers and accrue interest at 10% annually on and after the due date.  

2.  Classes of assessments. 

2-A.  Classes of assessments.  There are 2 classes of assessments, as set out in this subsection.  

3.  Determination of assessments. 

3-A.  Determination of assessments.  Assessments must be determined as follows:  

4.  Abatement or deferral of assessments.  The association may abate or defer, in whole or in part, the assessment of a member insurer if, in the opinion of the board of directors, payment of the assessment would endanger the ability of the member insurer to fulfill its contractual obligations. Once the conditions that caused a deferral have been removed or rectified, the member insurer shall pay all assessments that were deferred pursuant to a repayment plan approved by the association. The total of all assessments upon a member insurer for each account may not in any one calendar year exceed 2% of the insurer's premiums in this State on the policies covered by the account.  

5.  Additional assessment for abatements or deferrals.  In the event an assessment against a member insurer is abated or deferred, in whole or in part, because of the limitations set forth in subsection 4, the amount by which the assessment is abated or deferred must be assessed against the other member insurers in a manner consistent with the basis for assessments set forth in this section.  

6.  Refunds.  The board of directors may, by an equitable method as established in the plan of operation, refund to member insurers, in proportion to the contribution of each insurer to that account, the amount by which the assets of the account exceed the amount the board finds is necessary to carry out during the coming year the obligations of the association with regard to that account, including assets accruing from net realized gains and income from investments. A reasonable amount may be retained in any account to provide funds for the continuing expenses of the association and for future losses if refunds are impractical.  

7.  Consideration of assessments in determining premium rates and dividends.  It is proper for any member insurer in determining its premium rates and policyowner dividends as to any kind of insurance within the scope of this chapter, to consider the amount reasonably necessary to meet its assessment obligations under this chapter.  

8.  Assessment shortfalls.  If the maximum assessment, together with the other assets of the association in any account, does not provide in any one year in any one account an amount sufficient to make all necessary payments from that account, the shortfall must be assessed as an obligation of the other accounts of the association. Each member insurer's assessment must be in the proportion that its premium for the calendar year preceding the assessment on the kinds of insurance in the accounts to be assessed bears to the total premium of all member insurers for the same calendar year on the kinds of insurance in those accounts. The total of assessments against a member insurer for shortfalls under this section and section 4440 in any one calendar year may not exceed 2% of that member insurer's premiums in this State or for policies covered by the account.  

9.  Certificate of contribution.  The association shall issue to each insurer paying an assessment under this chapter, other than a Class A assessment, a certificate of contribution, in a form prescribed by the superintendent, for the amount of the assessment so paid. All outstanding certificates are of equal dignity and priority without reference to amounts or dates of issue.