1 So in original. The period probably should be a semicolon.
Editorial Notes
References in Text

The Federal Employers’ Liability Act (45 U.S.C. 51 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B), is act Apr. 22, 1908, ch. 149, 35 Stat. 65, which is classified generally to chapter 2 (§ 51 et seq.) of Title 45, Railroads. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 51 of Title 45 and Tables.

Codification

October 27, 1986, referred to in subsec. (a)(4)(C)(ii), was in the original “the date of the enactment of the Risk Retention Act of 1986”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of the Risk Retention Amendments of 1986 to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Amendments

1986—Subsec. (a)(1) to (3). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 3(a), redesignated par. (2) as (1), added pars. (2) and (3), and struck out former par. (1) defining completed operations liability, and former par. (3) defining product liability.

Subsec. (a)(4). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 4(a)(1), struck out “taxable as a corporation, or as an insurance company, formed under the laws of any State, Bermuda, or the Cayman Islands” after “association” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(4)(A). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 4(a)(2), substituted “liability exposure” for “product liability or completed operations liability risk exposure”.

Subsec. (a)(4)(C). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 4(a)(3), amended subpar. (C) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (C) read as follows: “which is chartered or licensed as an insurance company and authorized to engage in the business of insurance under the laws of any State, or which is so chartered or licensed and authorized before January 1, 1985, under the laws of Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, except that any group so chartered or licensed and authorized under the laws of Bermuda or the Cayman Islands shall be considered to be a risk retention group only after it has certified to the insurance commissioner of at least one State that it satisfies the capitalization requirements of such State;”.

Subsec. (a)(4)(E) to (H). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 4(a)(4), added subpars. (E) to (H), and struck out former subpar. (E) which read as follows: “which is composed of member each of whose principal activity consists of the manufacture, design, importation, distribution, packaging, labeling, lease, or sale of a product or products;”.

Subsec. (a)(5). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 4(span), amended par. (5) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (5) read as follows: “ ‘purchasing group’ means any group of persons which has as one of its purposes the purchase of product liability or completed operations liability insurance on a group basis;”.

Subsec. (a)(7). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 3(span), added par. (7).

Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 99–563, § 12(span), substituted “liability, personal risk liability, and insurance” for “product liability and product liability insurance”.

1983—Subsec. (span). Puspan. L. 98–193 substituted provision that nothing in this chapter would be construed to affect either the tort law or the law governing the interpretation of insurance contracts of any State, and that the definitions of product liability and product liability insurance under any State law would not be applied for the purposes of this chapter, including recognition or qualification of risk retention groups or purchasing groups for provision that the definition of product liability in this section would not be construed to affect either the tort law or the law governing the interpretation of insurance contracts of any State.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment; Applicability

Puspan. L. 99–563, § 11(a), (span), and (c)(2), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3177, provided that:

“(a)General Rule.—Subject to subsection (span), this Act [see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note below] shall take effect on the date of its enactment [Oct. 27, 1986].
“(span)Special Rule Regarding Feasibility Study.—The provisions of section 3(d) of the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986 (as added by section 5(span) of this Act) [15 U.S.C. 3902(d)], relating to the submission of a feasibility study, shall not apply with respect to any line or classification of liability insurance which—
“(1) was defined in the Product Liability Risk Retention Act of 1981 [Puspan. L. 97–45, which enacted this chapter] before the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 27, 1986]; and
“(2) was offered before such date of enactment by any risk retention group which has been chartered and operating for not less than 3 years before such date of enactment.
“(c)Rule Regarding Pollution Liability.—
“(2) Nothing in this Act shall be construed, interpreted or applied to diminish the obligations of any person to establish or maintain evidence of financial responsibility or otherwise comply with any of the requirements of Federal environmental laws, including but not limited to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 [42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.] and the Solid Waste Disposal Act [42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.].”

Short Title of 1986 Amendment

Puspan. L. 99–563, § 1, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3170, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 3905 and 3906 of this title, amending this section, sections 3902 and 3903 of this title, and sections 9671 to 9675 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 9671 of Title 42, and amending provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Risk Retention Amendments of 1986’.”

Short Title

Puspan. L. 97–45, § 1, Sept. 25, 1981, 95 Stat. 949, as amended by Puspan. L. 99–563, § 12(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3177, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986’.”

Oversight of Implementation; Report to Congress

Puspan. L. 99–563, § 10, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3176, provided that:

“(a)In General.—
(1) Not later than September 1, 1987, and not later than September 1, 1989, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit reports to the Congress concerning implementation of this Act [see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note above].
“(2) Such report shall be based on—
“(A) the Secretary’s consultation with State insurance commissioners, risk retention groups, purchasing groups, and other interested parties; and
“(B) the Secretary’s analysis of other information available to the Secretary.
“(span)Contents of the Report.—The report shall describe the Secretary’s views concerning—
“(1) the contribution of this Act [see Short Title of 1986 Amendment note above] toward resolution of problems relating to the unavailability and unaffordability of liability insurance;
“(2) the extent to which the structure of regulation and preemption established by this Act is satisfactory;
“(3) the extent to which, in the implementation of this Act, the public is protected from unsound financial practices and other commercial abuses involving risk retention groups and purchasing groups;
“(4) the causes of any financial difficulties of risk retention groups and purchasing groups;
“(5) the extent to which risk retention groups and purchasing groups have been discriminated against under State laws, practices, and procedures contrary to the provisions and underlying policy of this Act and the Product Liability Risk Retention Act (as amended by this Act) [Puspan. L. 97–45, which enacted this chapter]; and
“(6) such other comments and conclusions as the Secretary deems relevant to assessment of the implementation of this Act.”